Procurement Category Specialist

Procurement Category Specialists

• Be part of a safety-driven team that values inclusion and respect.
• Join a leading company that offers outstanding personal development and global career opportunities.
• Rio Tinto Borates – Boron & Wilmington, CA
• Hybrid Role – Minimum 3 Days Per Week Onsite
• The salary range for this role in California is $125,440 – $172,480

About these Roles

Rio Tinto Borates is hiring multiple Procurement Category Specialists to support California Operations (Boron and Wilmington). These positions report directly to the Site Procurement Manager and serve as category leaders within a defined portfolio.

These roles offer exposure to site ownership, project management, and category strategy development within a global procurement framework. Working directly with Operations, Engineering, HSE, IT, and site leadership, the successful candidates will deliver strategic sourcing outcomes and commercial value.

This is a hybrid role, however successful candidates will be required to work onsite at Boron CA or Wilmington CA a minimum of three days per week to ensure strong operational alignment and stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Procurement Manager you will:

(Strong Southern California natural gas market knowledge strongly preferred)

Lead procurement strategy for chemicals, fuels, and energy-related categories critical to mining and processing operations.

Scope includes:

• Natural gas contracting and execution
  • Develop sourcing strategies aligned to site demand, burn forecasts, and operational constraints.
  • Run competitive events (RFI/RFQ/RFP) and/or negotiate directly with marketers, utilities, and brokers as appropriate.
  • Manage contract award, nominations/confirmations handoffs, and ongoing supplier performance to ensure continuity of supply.
• Sulfuric Acid
  • Secure reliable supply for process requirements, balancing delivered cost, quality specifications, and safety requirements.
  • Coordinate with Operations/HSE on storage, handling, and delivery scheduling (rail/truck) to minimize disruption and risk.
  • Monitor market drivers (sulfur, smelter outages, logistics constraints) and implement mitigation plans.
• Diesel and Lubricants supply agreements
  • Establish supply frameworks covering bulk fuel, packaged lubes, and on-site service support (as applicable).
  • Negotiate pricing mechanisms, surcharges, and service levels (delivery windows, minimums, emergency supply).
  • Drive value through demand management, inventory optimization, and supplier performance/KPI reviews.
• Process chemicals and bulk reagents
  • Manage end-to-end sourcing for critical reagents, ensuring alignment to technical specifications and production needs.
  • Partner with Engineering/Operations to validate specifications, identify alternates, and challenge requirements to lower total cost.
  • Implement supply continuity plans (dual sourcing, safety stock, logistics contingencies) for high-risk materials.
• Industrial gases
  • Source bulk and packaged gases and related services (delivery, cylinder management, on-site installations where applicable).
  • Evaluate contract models (merchant supply vs. on-site generation) and negotiate commercial terms, uptime/service levels, and escalation clauses.
  • Coordinate with stakeholders on demand forecasting and safety/compliance requirements for storage and handling.
• Index-based pricing and contract structuring
  • Build and negotiate pricing formulas tied to relevant indices (e.g., energy, feedstock, freight) with clear caps, floors, and pass-through logic.
  • Define contract governance: term, renewal options, volume bands, performance credits, and dispute/escalation processes.
  • Partner with Finance and stakeholders to validate should-cost models and quantify savings/value.
• Market intelligence and supplier risk mitigation
  • Track market trends, supplier dynamics, and cost drivers; translate insights into category strategies and negotiation levers.
  • Assess and manage risks (single-source, logistics, financial viability, ESG/HSE) and implement mitigation actions.
  • Maintain supplier performance scorecards and lead periodic business reviews with corrective action plans.

Strong preference for candidates with experience in the Southern California natural gas market, including tariff structures, transportation economics, and regulatory considerations. The ideal candidate can interpret pipeline/utility tariffs, understand basis differentials and transportation constraints, and translate that knowledge into contract terms and sourcing recommendations. Familiarity with California-specific regulatory and compliance requirements (and how they impact commercial structures and risk) is highly valued.

Core Responsibilities

• Serve as category lead within assigned portfolio
• Develop and maintain stakeholder-approved Category Strategies
• Lead RFI/RFQ/RFP processes
• Conduct commercial analysis and present sourcing recommendations
• Lead complex negotiations and secure strategic outcomes
• Draft and execute contracts and Master Service Agreements
• Ensure supplier qualification and compliance with Rio Tinto Procurement Policy
• Deliver measurable savings and value creation
• Partner closely with site leadership to support operational continuity.
• Transition selected category management responsibilities currently supported by corporate teams into the site organization
• Support separation activities including contract novation, supplier transitions, and procurement readiness planning as required.

About You

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, supply chain, or related discipline preferred

• 2+ years of procurement or project management experience
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills
• Analytical and critical thinking capability
• Ability to challenge specifications and drive commercial value
• Strong health, safety, and ethical mindset
• SAP Materials Management experience preferred

What we offer

We are committed to providing a generous benefits package to recognize your contributions, your way of thinking and your hard work. Therefore, our benefits include:

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment.
• Access to family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
• A 401(k)-matching program in which the company matches .35 per dollar up to 5% of your base pay.
• A generous employee share program which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto shares.
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: paid time off, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program.
• Ongoing Employee Assistance Program for you and your family to address educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to incentives to support your wellbeing.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive. We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents.

Our purpose is to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs while striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce them with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. We need you, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities

Where you’ll be working

Rio Tinto Borates is a global leader in industrial mineral supply and science. We supply approximately 25% of the world’s demand for refined borates, minerals essential to life and modern living. Our 20 Mule Team Borax brand pays tribute to our first borates mining operation in Death Valley in 1872. 

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Respect and Inclusion

Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.

Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.

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