Category Manager - OEM and Lifecycle Services

Smurfit Westrock; Atlanta, Northern (GA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging, seeks a Category Manager for OEM & Lifecycle Services. You will oversee a $150–$250 million annual spend across North America, shaping procurement strategies and ensuring reliable, cost-efficient supply of controls, automation, and infrastructure services.

You will collaborate with stakeholders, analyze market trends, and drive strategic sourcing initiatives to deliver continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in procurement or supply chain roles.
• Ability to collaborate with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with project objectives.
• Negotiation and contract management skills.
• Experience working with consultants to support sourcing activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Bachelor's degree in related field; Master’s preferred.
• Certifications CPSM or CSCP.
• Paper Mill controls, automation, infrastructure knowledge.
• Customer-focused with strong service orientation.
• Effective oral and written communication.
• Excellent planning and prioritization.
• Influence and persuasion capabilities.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Oversee an annual category spend of $150–$250 million across North America.
• Optimize procurement strategies and ensure seamless supply of parts and services.
• Manage supplier relationships and negotiate contracts.
• Lead strategic sourcing, supplier selection, and implementation processes.
• Develop category strategies using market and spend data and supplier insights.
• Track KPIs and drive cost savings and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet stakeholder needs.
• Identify and mitigate supplier risk and ensure business continuity.

Skills

Procurement

Stakeholder Mgmt

Negotiation

Contract Mgmt

Data Analysis

Customer Focus

Communication

Planning & Prioritizing

Influence

Decision Making

Travel Flexibility

Paper Mill Ops

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain / business / engineering

Master's degree preferred

CPSM / CSCP certifications

Job description

Category Manager - OEM and Lifecycle Services

Locations

Employment Type

Full Time

Date Posted

07-Oct-2026

Relocation Support

No

Description & Requirements

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

Job Description / Category Manager – OEM & Lifecycle Services Procurement

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE: SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers, and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber-based packaging forward. Learn more at www.Smurfit Westrock.com .

The opportunity:

As a Category Manager for the OEM & Lifecycle Services team, you will oversee an annual category spend of $150 – 250 million at operations across North America. You will be instrumental in optimizing procurement strategies and ensuring the seamless supply of controls, automation, mechanical, civil, electrical and infrastructure parts and services. Your primary objectives include managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and driving cost efficiencies while maintaining high standards of quality and reliability for the company’s operations. A typical day involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand the needs of stakeholders, analyzing market trends, and implementing strategic sourcing initiatives. You will play a crucial role in aligning procurement activities with broader organizational goals, contributing to operational excellence and continuous improvement. This role requires strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, negotiations, and the ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Create and manage the strategic procurement and sourcing process for categories in the OEM & Lifecycle parts and services, including demand and market analysis, sourcing, negotiations, supplier award, implementation and performance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to define business requirements and understand operational needs.
• Gather, cleanse, and analyze data from multiple systems to generate insights and recommendations that drive decision-making.
• Understand market trends, supplier base, and supplier economics for categories.
• Develop and execute category strategies and strategic plans leveraging market and spend data, information about suppliers, competitors, industry trends, and the company’s needs.
• Clearly articulate the value of the category strategy and how it aligns to the organization’s objectives.
• Perform assessments of suppliers and vendors to identify risks and implications.
• Lead strategic sourcing process, including supplier sourcing, negotiation, selection, and implementation processes.
• Negotiate final agreements that are consistent with achieved negotiated results. Ensure agreements contain provisions that meet Company’s objectives and standards.
• Drive cost savings and continuous improvement initiatives while maintaining product quality and reliability.
• Measure and track results and outcomes using data from multiple systems.
• Monitor field compliance to strategy and ensure TCO reductions are realized.
• Forecast budgetary impact and track actual savings.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure savings are incorporated into annual operating plans.
• Implement inventory management practices to optimize stock levels, reduce inventories and reduce lead times.
• Continuously improve procurement processes and drive productivity gains.
• Meet with suppliers to conduct regular business reviews and stay updated on business and upcoming changes that may affect Smurfit Westrock and suppliers in assigned categories.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to handle supply chain disruptions and ensure business continuity.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, industry regulations, and ethical standards in all procurement activities.
• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of category management strategies and initiatives.

What you need to succeed:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement, or supply chain management roles.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with project objectives.
• Negotiation and contract management skills.
• Experience working with consultants to support sourcing activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to travel as needed
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Certifications in procurement, sourcing or supply chain management (e.g. CPSM, CSCP)
• Paper Mill operational knowledge in the areas of controls, automation, infrastructure (roofing, construction)
• Customer Focused – Demonstrates a high level of service excellence, does what is necessary to ensure customer satisfaction; reinforces excellence as a fundamental priority. Understands and works to meet customer requirements. Listens to and responds to customers’ needs. Build relationships with and gains trust of customer by always meeting commitments.
• Communication – Clearly presents information through oral and written communication, reads and interprets complex information; talks with employees, customers, and suppliers; demonstrates strong listening skills.
• Planning/Prioritizing/Goal Setting – Manages multiple projects, prioritizes project urgency in a meaningful and practical way. Use goals to guide actions and create action plans. Organizes and schedules people and tasks. Communicates vision in a way that inspires and motivates others.
• Influence/Persuasion – Exhibits a ‘can-do’ approach and inspires employees to excel, uses competition to encourage others. Develops performance standards and confronts negative attitudes. Fosters a team spirit, uses tact when expressing ideas or opinions, presents new ideas to authority figures, adapts presentation to suit a particular audience, responds to objections successfully.
• Decision Making/Problem-Solving – Acts in solving problems while exhibiting judgment and a realistic understanding of issues, able to use reason even when dealing with emotional or sensitive subjects. Reviews facts and weighs options, focuses on process rather than isolated events.

What we offer:

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

Smurfit Westrock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create and maintain a diverse workforce where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Smurfit Westrock does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

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 state or federal law.