Direct Purchasing Analyst

Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Direct Purchasing 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
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Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey
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
The Direct Purchasing Analyst is responsible for managing the end-to-end purchasing process for assigned raw material categories to ensure uninterrupted production operations. This role maintains optimal inventory levels, oversees supplier performance, and supports purchasing system functionality within SAP. The analyst collaborates cross-functionally to resolve order, delivery, and invoicing issues while driving reporting accuracy and process efficiency. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to coordinate effectively across internal stakeholders and suppliers.
Essential Duties
Functional Operations:

Manage purchase orders for raw materials within assigned categories
Coordinate direct materials suppliers, including on-time shipments, logistics tracking, and goods receipts
Maintain target inventory levels for specific raw material categories
Monitor inventory of materials and components on hand, identify shortages, and schedule production or purchase accordingly
Manage Panasonic’s Purchasing module in SAP
Address purchasing system service or delivery issues directly with suppliers
Resolve order and invoicing issues with internal users, suppliers, and/or Corporate Accounts Payable
Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement

Generate and analyze reports on PSI, purchase orders, and invoices to track performance and identify efficiency improvement opportunities
Partner with the Technology organization to enhance purchasing systems and reporting capabilities
Training & Team Support

Provide system and process guidance to internal users related to purchasing transactions and issue resolution
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication

Engage relevant internal stakeholders including Operations, Planning, Logistics, Engineering, Quality Control, IT, Legal, Risk Assessment, and Sourcing teams as needed to finalize agreements and ensure supply continuity
Quality, Safety, & Compliance

Ensure purchasing activities align with company policies, supplier agreements, and financial controls
Support audit requirements and maintain accurate purchasing documentation within SAP
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements

To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.
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 Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education.
Preferred

Professional certification or progress toward certification (e.g., CPIM, CSCP, CPSM)
Essential Qualifications

2+ years of relevant experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, or Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes
Hands-on experience with SAP Purchasing and Supply Chain modules
Experience managing purchase orders, supplier performance, and inventory levels in a manufacturing or production environment
Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret purchasing, inventory, and cost data
Demonstrated experience in sourcing support and supplier management
Proven analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills
Ability to support cross-functional initiatives and effectively influence stakeholders to resolve issues
Working knowledge of procurement technologies and systems supporting strategic sourcing and P2P workflows
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel; working knowledge of PowerPoint and Word
Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet time-sensitive deadlines
Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact with all levels of management
Self-starter who can work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, dynamic organization
Highly motivated, flexible, and proactive with a continuous improvement mindset
Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
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 Qualifications

4+ years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, or Procure-to-Pay (P2P) environments
Experience leading supplier performance improvement initiatives
Experience supporting or leading sourcing events and contract implementation
Supply Chain Planning experience, including demand forecasting or production planning alignment
Experience resolving complex order, delivery, invoicing, or system discrepancies across multiple stakeholders
Experience generating and presenting KPI dashboards and performance reports (e.g., PSI, PO accuracy, supplier OTIF metrics)
Tableau or other advanced data visualization/reporting tool experience
Demonstrated experience influencing change and driving process improvements across functions
Physical Demands
Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

Sit: 10%
Walk: 70%
Stand: 20%
Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)
For This Position, The Required Frequency Is

Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional
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:

Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.
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.
Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing 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 Corporation of North America.
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