Category Sourcing Manager

PPC Flex; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

PPC Flex is seeking a Category Manager – Flexible Packaging in Chicago to lead strategic sourcing across films and related packaging. You will optimize supplier performance, drive cost efficiency, and ensure quality, sustainability, and innovation in the supply base.

You will collaborate with purchasing, engineering, sales, operations, and sustainability to align packaging initiatives with business goals and maintain strong supplier partnerships while supporting fast-to-market production.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of purchasing/materials management experience in manufacturing.
• Experience in Flexible Packaging preferred.
• English fluency in reading and writing; attention to detail.
• Strong supplier relationship skills and cost-saving mindset.

Responsibilities

• Execute strategic sourcing plans for films and related packaging categories.
• Identify and document supplier improvement and cost-saving initiatives.
• Analyze market trends, supplier capabilities, and internal needs.
• Administer supplier scorecards and provide performance feedback.
• Maintain positive supplier relationships and manage supply risk.
• Support Film Stocking programs to balance lead times and inventory.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier relationship

Cost optimization

Supply chain risk

Packaging sustainability

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven Decision making

Project management

Tools

Excel

Windows/Office

Job description

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Category Manager – Flexible Packaging to lead the management of flexible packaging solutions across our product lines. This role is responsible for optimizing supplier performance and ensuring cost efficiency while maintaining high standards of quality, sustainability, and innovation. The ideal candidate will have market knowledge of flexible packaging materials (e.g., films, laminates, pouches), excellent supplier relationship skills, and the ability to balance operational execution with material demand planning. This role collaborates closely with purchasing, engineering, sales, operations, and sustainability teams to align packaging initiatives with broader business goals

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Executes the strategic sourcing plan for the identified category - films
• Identifies, pursues, implements, and documents improvement initiatives with suppliers
• Analyze market trends, supplier capabilities, and internal requirements to identify cost-saving and innovation opportunities
• Administers and reports on supplier performance through Supplier Scorecards for key suppliers and provides regular feedback to those suppliers for improvement efforts and allocation decisions
• Develops and maintains positive/proactive relationships with suppliers and manufacturing
• Identify and mitigate supply risks, ensuring supply chain resilience and continuity of film materials
• Implement Product Line Simplification (PLS) strategy across all film categories
• Monitor category performance metrics including cost, quality, delivery, and sustainability KPIs
• Follow up and manage supplier corrective actions as needed
• Supports agreed to Film Stocking Programs to assure our short lead times are responsive for key customers while closely managing the substantial investment in the related film inventory to minimize obsolescence
• Key player in our Commercialization process as we trial and scale-up production in a safe and timely manner
• Possess strong organization skills
• Work closely with product development, sustainability, and quality teams to support packaging innovation and compliance
• Generates improvement ideas and embraces improvement projects to better the business
• As an agent of the company, this position is expected to project a professional image and positive attitude while assertively getting the results needed to support a fast-to-market production environment

Skills and Qualifications:

• Action-oriented, assertive, and diplomatic in order to get things done on time. This position requires multi-tasking and an individual who enjoys working with a sense of urgency and is capable of creative problem-solving to overcome challenges and hurdles in the supply chain.
• Detailed in doing required paperwork and computer inputs with a high degree of accuracy. Able to read and write in English.
• Ability to participate as a team member with consensus decision-making.
• Experience with business operating systems and knowledge of Windows Computing programs a must with some degree of proficiency (prefer Excel, Word, Outlook).
• 3-5 years of purchasing and/or materials management experience in a manufacturing environment, with most of that specifically in the Flexible Packaging industry, highly preferable.
• Knowledge of administrative processes in a plastic manufacturing facility a plus.