Director, Global Logistics Procurement and Enterprise Procurement Risk Management

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Job Description

The Director, Global Logistics Procurement and Enterprise Procurement Risk Management leads procurement strategies that optimize cost efficiency while ensuring long-term resilience. This role drives total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements through strategic supplier partnerships, digital procurement advancements, and modal optimization. It is accountable for the development, execution, and governance of global logistics procurement strategies, with a primary focus on ocean freight, while overseeing other modes, including air, truck, rail, and warehousing.

Overseeing a global category spend exceeding ~$300M, this role is responsible for strategic supplier relationship management, procurement risk mitigation, service optimization, and cost leadership in logistics procurement. The Director collaborates closely with regional supply chain leaders, legal, finance, operations, and external partners to build long-term competitive advantage and resilience within the logistics network. Additionally, they proactively mitigate risk by ensuring contract flexibility, multi-sourcing strategies, and scenario planning for geopolitical and supply chain disruptions, securing a robust and cost-effective logistics network.

This role ensures enterprise-level procurement risk management practices are embedded across the logistics category, including third-party risk assessments, supplier financial health monitoring, early warning systems, and business continuity planning.

Given the global scope of this role, occasional work outside of standard business hours will be required to support direct team members, international stakeholders and partners across multiple time zones. This role requires travel as needed (~10%-25% travel), including international travel. This role follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring in-office presence three days per week in our Charlotte, NC office.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and lead the global logistics procurement vision, strategy, and execution roadmap in alignment with corporate core values and objectives.

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across all regions to optimize supplier portfolio, drive value creation, and ensure security of supply.

• Provide executive-level guidance on logistics procurement trends, disruptions, and emerging technologies to support risk-informed decision-making.

• Champion the integration of enterprise procurement risk management into sourcing strategy and supplier segmentation.

• Provide thought leadership in evolving logistics procurement practices, digital transformation, and sustainability.

• Build and develop a high-performing team and foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Direct reports are based in the U.S., APAC, & EMEA, with indirect reports in Australia & Chile.

Procurement & Contracting

• Lead global tender events (RFI, RFP, RFQ) for logistics services including long-term agreements and strategic partnerships; drive total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements and value-based negotiations.

• Own global contract strategy, terms, and compliance for all logistics providers, ensuring alignment and collaboration with legal, trade compliance, insurance, and risk departments and policies.

• Incorporate contract clauses that ensure supply continuity, performance guarantees, liability coverage, and proactive risk mitigation

• Establish and manage governance and escalations around carrier performance, dispute resolution, and contract lifecycle management.

Procurement Risk Governance

• Develop and implement a supplier risk segmentation model and risk scoring criteria across all procurement categories.

• Establish enterprise-wide risk registers, dashboards, and early warning systems using market intelligence, supplier data, and digital tools.

• Create policies for third-party risk due diligence, onboarding, and periodic re-evaluation for critical suppliers.

• Partner with legal to ensure procurement contracts include force majeure, continuity of supply, cyber/ESG liability, and escalation clauses.

• Lead risk assessments during M&A activity, major capital projects, or supplier transitions.

• Align PRM metrics with ESG, compliance, and financial reporting requirements.

• Integrate risk insights into sourcing decisions, supplier selection, and long-term planning.

• Regularly report procurement risk status to Procurement Leadership Team, ERM Council, and executive stakeholders.

Financial Management

• Lead enterprise-wide spend visibility and risk exposure analytics using Power BI, SAP S/4HANA, or similar tools.

• Develop and manage the global logistics procurement budget, including freight forecasts cost, hard savings targets, cost avoidance and rate benchmarking.

• Deliver annual productivity and working capital improvements through sourcing strategies, modal optimization, innovation partnerships and leveraging technology.

• Develop dashboards that include supplier risk indicators, early warning signals, and risk-adjusted performance metrics.

• Quantify cost of risk, cost avoidance, and mitigation ROI as part of executive dashboards.

• Lead executive reporting on spend, savings, and KPI dashboards.

Operational Excellence

• Establish a global framework for Logistics Service Provider (LSP) management, onboarding, scorecarding, and performance reviews.

• Lead initiatives to harmonize procurement processes and digital tools across regions.

• Drive logistics procurement's role in integrated business planning (IBP), network design, and sustainability programs.

• Embed procurement risk frameworks into supplier onboarding and performance reviews.

• Institutionalize procurement risk controls, policies, and SOPs across all categories.

• Integrate PRM within supplier onboarding, scorecards, and performance reviews.

• Collaborate with IT, cybersecurity, and digital teams to deploy procurement risk tools and platforms (e.g., risk intelligence platforms, supplier scorecards, audit systems).

Risk & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to global trade compliance, customs, and dangerous goods regulations (DOT, IMDG, IATA).

• Build business continuity strategies addressing supplier risk, geopolitical disruptions, and regulatory changes.

• Establish and govern a Procurement Risk Management (PRM) framework covering all categories, suppliers, regions, and risk types (supply, financial, ESG, cyber, regulatory).

• Serve as Albemarle's enterprise lead for procurement risk, driving alignment with enterprise risk management (ERM), compliance, and internal audit.

• Advise senior executives on emerging procurement risks, including geopolitical shifts, trade regulations, ESG compliance, cyber threats, and market volatility.

• Design playbooks and business continuity strategies for high-risk and critical supply categories.

• Lead scenario planning, stress testing, and response simulation exercises related to procurement and logistics disruptions.

• Conduct recurring supplier risk assessments, including financial health reviews, operational audits, and geopolitical risk mapping.

• Develop and maintain a logistics and procurement category risk register and lead quarterly risk reviews with senior stakeholders.

• Collaborate with internal audit and enterprise risk teams to ensure procurement risk aligns with corporate risk frameworks.

• Lead enterprise efforts to comply with ESG regulations affecting suppliers (e.g., EU Supply Chain Due Diligence, UFLPA, REACH, etc.).

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as key liaison to internal business units, supply chain operations, and manufacturing to ensure logistics alignment with business needs.

• Collaborate with global leadership teams to support growth, expansions, and transformation initiatives through proactive logistics sourcing.

• Partner with enterprise risk, legal, and compliance teams to align logistics procurement risk practices with broader business continuity strategies.

• Facilitate cross-functional forums and risk governance councils

This job profile is intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by employees in this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.

ADDITIONAL, SKILLS, AND CAPABILITIES

• Deep expertise in procurement and third-party risk management frameworks (ISO 31000, COSO, etc.)

• Familiarity with risk intelligence platforms (e.g., Resilinc, Everstream, RapidRatings, Dun & Bradstreet, EcoVadis)

• Strong command of risk-related contract clauses and legal frameworks

• Advanced contract negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
  - Expertise in ERP (SAP S/4 HANA), spend analytics (Power BI)

• Chemical industry experience in the movement of Regulated DG/Haz-Mat and Non-Regulated bulk (dry/liquid) and packaged goods by ground, rail, ocean, and air

• Knowledge of Dangerous Goods transportation regulations (DOT, IATA, IMDG) a plus

• Excellent executive communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to collaborate in cross-functional, team-oriented environment

• Ability to interact with multiple levels of leadership internally and externally

• Data driven, addresses partner and customer needs

• Strong sense of urgency and follow through

• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, matrixed, and global environment

• Proficient User of MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint

• Fluent in English; Spanish a strong advantage

Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field; MBA or equivalent master's degree strongly preferred.

Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in global procurement and logistics, with at least 5 years in procurement risk, compliance, or governance roles

• Proven ability to lead risk mitigation programs across global procurement organizations.

• Proven success managing over ~$250M in annual logistics spend

• Deep experience in global ocean freight, Over The Road (Full Truck Load, Less than Truck Load, Parcel, Drayage, Rail), and multimodal transportation procurement

• Demonstrated success in leading cross-regional and cross-functional teams and influencing global stakeholders

Benefits of Joining Albemarle

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive benefits package

• A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.

We are partners to one another in pioneering new ways to be better for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. When you join Albemarle, you become our most essential element and you can anticipate competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and resources that foster your well-being and fuel your personal growth. Help us shape the future, build with purpose and grow together.