Category Specialist - Indirect

At Motiva, our employees’ energy, passion, and dedication to excellence are what make us who we are and what allows us to generate energy that makes a house a home, gets us from point A to point B, and enables our health and wellbeing. We invest in every aspect of our employees’ lives because, at Motiva, our people matter.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Motiva refines, distributes and markets petroleum products throughout the Americas. The company’s Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex in Port Arthur, TX, is comprised of North America’s largest refinery with a total throughput of 720,000 barrels per day, the largest base oil plant in the western hemisphere, and an integrated chemical plant. Under exclusive long-term brand licenses with Shell and Phillips 66 (for the 76® brand), Motiva’s commercial operations supply more than 12 billion gallons of fuel to customers annually. Motiva is wholly owned by Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies.

Position Overview:

The Category Specialist - Indirect develops and executes low‑ to medium‑complexity sourcing strategies, manages purchasing activities, negotiates contracts, and supports strong supplier and stakeholder relationships to ensure the safe, reliable, and cost‑efficient delivery of materials and services for Motiva.

This role provides strategic direction across assigned categories by driving cross-functional alignment, proactively engaging internal stakeholders and external suppliers, and translating business requirements into actionable sourcing, contracting and execution plans. The Category Specialist - Indirect positions Supply Chain (SC) as a strategic, value-adding business partner by championing continuous improvement, risk management, and value creation initiatives while ensuring full compliance with Motiva’s Supply Chain policies, processes, and governance standards.

The role reports to the Lead Category Manager – Materials and works closely with Marketing and Sales, Finance, Operations, Maintenance, and suppliers to deliver optimized commercial and operational outcomes for the business. Will also require occasional travel to Motiva’s Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex in Port Arthur, TX.

Responsibilities:

• Work with internal stakeholders, external suppliers, and the SC team to continuously improve value delivery through the Motiva SC Framework

• Actively engage with key stakeholders from different business units to gather requirements and specifications to incorporate into sourcing strategies, supplier selections and award decisions

• Conduct spend analysis by collecting, validating and analyzing spend data

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for assigned categories (subscriptions, contingent workforce, leased vehicles and materials) designed to support business needs

• Perform sourcing activities in compliance with procurement standards, controls, and ethical business practices

• Negotiate key commercial terms and conditions and liaise with Legal, Risk Management and others as required to ensure contractual terms and conditions are acceptable and serve to minimize risk

• Track and document scope of work changes, communicate with suppliers as focal point for ongoing issue resolution

• Demonstrate strong presentation skills and effectively communicates with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders

• Develop and maintain on-going relationships with relevant stakeholders to influence, shape and support key business initiatives

Experience and Qualifications:

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s in business, Finance, Engineering or a related technical or commercial field.

• 3 or more years’ experience in procurement, supply chain, commercial, contract management or related field

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Strategic thinking skills with ability to analyze and simplify large, complex data sets

• Ability to work independently and in a strong team environment

• Able to build relationships with internal and external business partners

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Knowledge of sourcing and contracting processes and procedures

• Organizational skills to manage concurrent initiatives and projects.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability

• Strong understanding of SCM ERP/MRP systems; experience with Ariba or SAP

• Manufacturing (refinery) experience

We reserve the right to amend or withdraw Motiva jobs at any time, including prior to the closing date. Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate may be offered a position at a more appropriate level and/or grade.

Applicants for regular U.S. positions must be authorized to work in the United States for Motiva Enterprises LLC without the need for sponsorship of an immigration authorization or visa (for example, TN, H-1B, or other employment-based immigration authorization or visa).

Motiva participates in E-Verify.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status under federal, state, or local laws.