Sr. Indirect Strategic Sourcing Analyst

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Sr. Indirect Strategic Sourcing Analyst? 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

Meet the Recruiter: Anh Martin

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

This role is responsible for leading the development and execution of advanced sourcing strategies across a wide range of indirect categories, including Travel, Professional Services, Contingent Labor, MRO, and Facilities Operations. Focused on supporting Panasonic Energy’s battery manufacturing operations in De Soto, Kansas, the position plays a critical role in driving value, cost optimization, and supplier performance. As an individual contributor, the analyst acts as a strategic bridge between local operations and global procurement teams in Newark, NJ, and Osaka, Japan. Success in this role requires deep analytical expertise, strong negotiation capabilities, and the ability to align sourcing solutions with business objectives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Essential Duties

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management:

• Lead development and execution of category strategies across indirect categories using market intelligence, spend analysis, and business requirements
• Drive sourcing strategies that deliver value beyond cost, such as innovation, process efficiency, and risk mitigation
• Continuously monitor market conditions and identify trends, supplier innovations, and consolidation opportunities
• Conduct make-vs-buy and insource-vs-outsource analyses to inform strategic decisions
  
  

Supplier Management & Contracting

• Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers through rigorous capability assessments and financial reviews
• Develop negotiation strategies and lead contract negotiations to maximize value and minimize risk
• Establish and manage supplier contracts and ensure seamless transitions to new suppliers when applicable
• Lead local implementation of regional/global contracts and ensure compliance with business needs
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Serve as the procurement liaison between PECNA and global procurement teams
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with stakeholders and ensure alignment of sourcing solutions with operational goals
• Support issue resolution by collaborating with internal and external partners to address supplier performance or compliance gaps
  
  

Value Creation & Compliance

• Identify and implement value engineering, process improvement, and demand management opportunities
• Ensure procurement strategies, policies, and procedures are effectively implemented and enforced
• Track and report savings, benefits realization, and performance against procurement KPIs
  
  

Analytics & Reporting

• Conduct advanced data analysis and build financial models (e.g., ROI, NPV, cost models) to support sourcing and business case development
• Use tools like Excel, Tableau, and BI platforms to perform spend analysis and identify opportunities for cost optimization
• Analyze RFP responses, summarize outcomes, and present sourcing recommendations to senior leadership
  
  

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements

• To ensure health and safety in the workplace and for employee protection, wearing PPE is a possibility 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

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or STEM
• Preferred: Master’s degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Supply Chain or Operations) strongly preferred
  
  

Essential Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant sourcing experience with increasing responsibility
• Proven success in developing and executing procurement strategies across indirect categories
• Strong expertise in supplier selection, contract negotiation, risk mitigation, and cost optimization
• Demonstrated experience with category management, including opportunity diagnostics and supplier performance management
• Proficient in project management, including stakeholder coordination and timeline management
• Advanced analytical and financial modeling skills (e.g., should-cost models, ROI, NPV)
• Strong interpersonal skills and a track record of effective stakeholder engagement across functions
• Proficient in MS Office (especially Excel), Tableau, and sourcing tools such as Ariba or equivalent platforms
• Experience using Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) tools and conducting supplier performance reviews (e.g., QBRs)
• Understanding of Lean Six Sigma principles and involvement in process improvement initiatives
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and influencing across global, matrixed teams
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• 7 years of sourcing experience, preferably in a senior or strategic sourcing role
• Experience in a manufacturing or engineering-driven organization
• Japanese language proficiency
• Familiarity with global sourcing strategies and experience working with international suppliers or corporate teams
• 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 Certification(s)

• CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management), or CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
• Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt or higher
  
  

Physical Demands

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

• Sit: 40%
• Walk: 30%
• Stand: 20%
• Lift: 10%
  
  

Required Lifting and Carrying: Not required (0%), 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.: Occasional
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Not Required
  
  

Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You

Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:

• Highly inclusive and class-leading healthcare options to include family planning, mental health, and pet insurance
• Employee assistance programs that support total well-being with complimentary session offered each and every month
• Company-matched and fully vested 401K retirement program that starts immediately from date of enrollment
• Annual bonus program, High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Simplified access to self-guided and representative-supported short and long-term financial wellness and retirement planning
• Educational Assistance & Reimbursement Program
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and associated employee resource groups that promote representation and belonging
• Leadership, career, and mentorship development programs opportunities at all levels across the organization
• Collaborative and motivating culture routed in continuous personal and professional growth and much more.
  
  

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.

This is an exciting time to join us as we expand our operations to De Soto, Kansas and build the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. We will provide 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 of North America.

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