Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Procurement Manager? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities

Procurement Manager

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Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey

Summary:

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary:

The Procurement Manager leads category management and strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize cost, quality, delivery, and innovation across the organization for indirect materials and services, including construction-related services. This scope includes materials that do not go into battery cells and business-critical services not directly tied to battery cell production, such as IT, facility maintenance, and production equipment maintenance. The role is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, negotiating complex agreements, and managing supplier performance to deliver long-term value and operational excellence. Partnering cross-functionally, the Procurement Manager aligns procurement activities with business objectives by leveraging data analytics and market intelligence to support informed decision-making while driving continuous improvement, risk mitigation, and supplier innovation. The role also plays a key part in advancing sustainability, diversity, and compliance initiatives to strengthen overall supply chain and procurement performance.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

Lead category management and strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize cost, quality, and supply continuity
Develop and execute sourcing strategies, including RFx processes, supplier selection, and contract negotiations
Manage supplier performance through governance processes, scorecards, and continuous improvement actions
Oversee procurement analytics, including spend analysis, cost modeling, and financial evaluations
Ensure adherence to procurement policies, procedures, and best practices

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

Align procurement strategies with business objectives to deliver total value beyond cost savings
Identify and implement process improvements, demand management strategies, and cost optimization initiatives
Leverage market intelligence, supplier innovation, and industry trends to inform sourcing decisions
Develop data-driven business cases to support strategic initiatives

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning
Promote knowledge sharing of category strategies, market insights, and best practices
Support development of procurement tools, capabilities, and methodologies

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

Partner with stakeholders across engineering, operations, and finance to align sourcing strategies
Influence decision-making through data-driven insights and strategic recommendations
Build strong internal and external relationships to drive supplier performance and innovation

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contracts, and regulatory requirements
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including supplier performance and market volatility
Support safety and environmental initiatives, including adherence to PPE requirements as applicable
Drive supplier quality, service reliability, and risk management practices

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Provide direct and indirect leadership for the procurement team, including setting strategic direction, establishing performance expectations, driving accountability, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals
Responsible for talent planning, performance management, coaching, development, and succession planning

Travel Requirement:

Travel as needed to support supplier engagement, sourcing initiatives, and business operations

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

To ensure health and safety in the workplace and for employee protection, wearing PPE is required and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. A respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Qualifications

Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Education, Certifications, and Licenses:

Required:

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, Operations, or related field
Relevant experience may be substituted for required education

Preferred:

Master’s Degree (MBA, Supply Chain, Operations, or Engineering)
Professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, or equivalent)
Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
Contract management or commercial negotiation certifications

Essential Qualifications:

5+ years of progressive procurement leadership experience
Proven experience in category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management
Strong analytical and financial modeling capabilities
Demonstrated success driving cost savings and value-generating initiatives
Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement principles
Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and deliver business results
Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Preferred Qualifications:

7+ years of procurement leadership experience managing teams in high-volume manufacturing environments (battery, electronics, automotive, or related industries)
Strong contract negotiation and commercial strategy expertise
Advanced analytics skills (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau) supporting data-driven decision making
Experience with ERP and procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Ariba, Coupa)
Proven cost modeling expertise (should-cost, total cost of ownership, cost breakdown analysis)
Experience with global sourcing and supply chain risk management
Background in supplier innovation, new product introduction (NPI), or engineering collaboration (design-to-cost)
Experience leading digital or procurement transformation initiatives
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost control
Change management experience leading cross-functional initiatives
Knowledge of sustainability, ESG, or supplier diversity programs
Experience with business continuity planning and supply risk mitigation
Exposure to CAPEX, logistics, or indirect procurement categories
Experience working in regulated or highly complex industries

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

Sit: 40%
Walk: 30%
Stand: 30%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)

For this position, the required frequency is:

Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional
Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
Up to 35 lbs.: Rare
Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare

Where You'll Be:

For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.

Who We Are:

Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.

Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.

As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.

We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

We Take Opportunity Seriously:

At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!

Supplemental Information:

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.

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R-105750

Panasonic

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Procurement Manager