Now hiring! Category Buyer (Equipment)

Houston, TX or Freeport, TX or Port Arthur, TX or Geismar, LA (Hybrid)

We are looking for three Category Buyers to join our Global Procurement team.

Where the chemistry happens…

Global Indirect Procurement (GPI) is responsible for purchasing technical goods and services for BASF Group. We understand the business needs, are close to our stakeholders, drive cost savings, innovation and sustainable practices by negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.

As a Category Buyer, you will be responsible for developing, executing, and continuously improving sourcing strategies for your assigned categories. You will manage category performance across multiple sites and businesses, translate business needs and market intelligence into actionable category plans, and lead complex procurement initiatives across the full Source-to-Contract lifecycle. As the procurement owner and subject-matter expert for your assigned categories, you will deliver measurable value through cost optimization, risk mitigation, supplier performance, innovation, sustainability, and supply continuity while operating with substantial autonomy and accountability.

Come create chemistry with us!

As a Category Buyer (Equipment), you create chemistry by...

• Developing and executing category strategies that optimize cost, mitigate risk, and ensure a resilient supply base.
• Leading complex sourcing and negotiation initiatives across the full Source-to-Contract lifecycle to deliver sustainable business value.
• Translating sourcing strategies into effective contracts and commercial agreements while managing financial, operational, and compliance risks.
• Driving savings, productivity, innovation, and total-cost improvements through analytics, demand management, and supplier collaboration.
• Managing strategic supplier relationships, performance, and governance to strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and continuous improvement.
• Leveraging market intelligence and stakeholder partnerships to shape category strategies, guide procurement decisions, and enhance business outcomes.

If you...

• Have a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Possess 5+ years of experience in strategic procurement, services procurement, category buying, strategic sourcing, contract management, engineering, operations, supply chain, or a business function with commercial responsibility. Experience with industrial, technical, facilities, professional, business, or other site-based services is preferred.
• Bring demonstrated experience developing or materially contributing to category and sourcing strategies and independently leading their execution. You also have experience leading complex sourcing projects, competitive bidding events, commercial evaluations, negotiations, supplier selections, and contract development from planning through implementation.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of services procurement, including scopes of work, pricing and rate models, service levels, performance measures, change control, claims, risk allocation, and supplier-delivered work. You can conduct spend, market, supplier, cost, and risk analyses and convert the findings into clear business cases, sourcing plans, stakeholder recommendations, measurable value, and risk reduction.
• Possess strong commercial judgment, analytical capability, negotiation skills, problem-solving ability, and decision-making confidence. You can influence stakeholders, present recommendations to management, constructively challenge requirements and established practices, and lead cross-functional work across multiple sites, businesses, categories, suppliers, and stakeholder groups with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.
• Are an effective written and verbal communicator who can build trusted relationships across functions and organizational levels and guide, coach, and share category expertise with Buyers and other Procurement colleagues. You also bring strong attention to detail and a commitment to Procurement governance, compliance, risk management, data quality, and audit-ready documentation. Experience with SAP, strategic procurement platforms, procurement systems, contract databases, reporting tools, advanced data analysis, and regional, cross-site, or international environments is preferred.

Create your own chemistry with you@BASF

At BASF, you will have the chance to do meaningful work towards building a more sustainable future. In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, BASF provides you with access to a wide range of elements to help you be your best. It’s what we call you@BASF. We are committed to providing benefits, programs, and opportunities that support our employees’ overall well-being, personal growth, and a safe, collaborative, and inclusive work environment.

Just some of the many benefits we offer include:

• Flexible work arrangements whenever possible
• Highly competitive retirement savings plan with company match and investment options
• Well-being programs that include comprehensive mental health support for you and your household family members
• Family forming benefits (fertility, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, maternity/parental leave, and more)
• Back-up child and elder care with discount programs for families of all ages and stages
• Mentoring and career development opportunities that allow you to share, learn, and thrive
• Matching gifts program that allows you to deepen the impact of your contributions to qualified charities.
• Employee crisis support for when the unexpected happens
• Access to our BASF wine cellar, employee discounts, and much more!

About us

As one of the largest chemical companies in North America we have been finding solutions for your everyday needs and addressing the most complex economic, environmental, and sustainability challenges for more than 150 years!

At BASF we empower our employees with the tools, guidance and opportunities they need to advance and succeed in work and life. Giving you the support you need to be your best and fulfill your personal ambitions is what helps us create chemistry. After all, our success is linked to yours. Whatever path you envision, BASF is a great place to build a rewarding, successful career.

Belong to Something Bigger. #belongatBASF

Privacy statement

BASF takes security & data privacy very seriously. We will never request financial information of any kind via email, private text message or direct message on any social medial platform or job board. Furthermore, we will never send a candidate a check for equipment or request any type of payment during the job application process. If you have experienced any of the above, please contact Careers.NorthAmerica@basf.com to report fraud.

Equal employment opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, citizenship, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, disability status, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.