Corrugated & Paperboard Category Director

Instant Impact; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Instant Impact seeks an experienced Corrugated & Paperboard Category Director to lead category strategy, supplier management, and commercial performance across the Americas for our client. You will oversee major spend categories such as retail displays, print, POSM, promotional products, and related packaging materials, with a focus on cost efficiencies, supplier performance, and long-term value.

Qualifications include 8+ years in strategic sourcing or category management, with a track record of

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, packaging or supply chain.
• Experience within corrugated packaging, paperboard, paper products, packaging manufacturing, retail displays, or related industries.
• Experience managing complex spend categories, preferably within marketing materials, packaging, print, retail displays, POSM, or promotional products.
• Proven success developing category strategies, negotiating complex supplier agreements, and delivering measurable savings and profitability improvements.
• Strong understanding of supplier panel management, commercial pricing structures, procurement governance, and supplier performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to influence executive stakeholders, lead cross-functional initiatives, and present financial and commercial recommendations.
• Experience developing procurement teams and driving adoption of category management best practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for corrugated packaging and paperboard materials across the U.S. supplier network.
• Analyze market trends, pricing, supplier capacity, and industry dynamics to identify sourcing opportunities, manage costs, and support budgeting and forecasting.
• Lead sourcing initiatives, including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, and negotiations of pricing, contracts, rebates, and service-level agreements.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through supplier optimization, value engineering, specification standardization, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Build and manage relationships with corrugated manufacturers, paper mills, converters, and packaging suppliers, ensuring alignment with quality, cost, service, and innovation objectives.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and regular business reviews, addressing quality, service, compliance, and operational challenges.
• Mitigate supply chain risks by monitoring capacity, lead times, and market conditions while developing contingency plans and alternative sourcing solutions.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and Production teams to ensure material availability, business continuity, and successful client launches.
• Drive supplier innovation and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance packaging performance, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
• Support sustainable sourcing initiatives, including recycled materials, certified fiber programs, and environmentally responsible packaging solutions.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Client Services, Design, and Procurement teams to align sourcing strategies with client needs and business objectives.
• Provide category expertise, market intelligence, and supplier capability insights to support strategic decision-making, business development, and ongoing client programs.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Supplier management

Stakeholder influence

Negotiation

Procurement leadership

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Corrugated & Paperboard Category Director to lead category strategy, supplier management, and commercial performance across the Americas for our client. This highly strategic role will oversee major spend categories such as retail displays, print and point-of-sale materials (POSM), promotional products, and related marketing materials, with a focus on delivering cost efficiencies, profitability, supplier performance, and long-term business value.

The ideal candidate is a commercially driven procurement leader with extensive experience managing complex supplier networks, developing category strategies, and influencing senior stakeholders. Individuals with backgrounds in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement leadership, or supply chain strategy within marketing materials, packaging, print, or promotional products are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for corrugated packaging and paperboard materials across the U.S. supplier network.
• Analyze market trends, pricing, supplier capacity, and industry dynamics to identify sourcing opportunities, manage costs, and support budgeting and forecasting.
• Lead sourcing initiatives, including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, and negotiations of pricing, contracts, rebates, and service-level agreements.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through supplier optimization, value engineering, specification standardization, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Build and manage relationships with corrugated manufacturers, paper mills, converters, and packaging suppliers, ensuring alignment with quality, cost, service, and innovation objectives.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and regular business reviews, addressing quality, service, compliance, and operational challenges.
• Mitigate supply chain risks by monitoring capacity, lead times, and market conditions while developing contingency plans and alternative sourcing solutions.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and Production teams to ensure material availability, business continuity, and successful client launches.
• Drive supplier innovation and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance packaging performance, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
• Support sustainable sourcing initiatives, including recycled materials, certified fiber programs, and environmentally responsible packaging solutions.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Client Services, Design, and Procurement teams to align sourcing strategies with client needs and business objectives.
• Provide category expertise, market intelligence, and supplier capability insights to support strategic decision-making, business development, and ongoing client programs.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, packaging or supply chain.
• Experience within corrugated packaging, paperboard, paper products, packaging manufacturing, retail displays, or related industries
• Experience managing complex spend categories, preferably within marketing materials, packaging, print, retail displays, POSM, or promotional products.
• Proven success developing category strategies, negotiating complex supplier agreements, and delivering measurable savings and profitability improvements.
• Strong understanding of supplier panel management, commercial pricing structures, procurement governance, and supplier performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to influence executive stakeholders, lead cross-functional initiatives, and present financial and commercial recommendations.
• Experience developing procurement teams and driving adoption of category management best practices.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to lead high-impact sourcing strategies, influence major commercial decisions, and shape supplier partnerships across a complex regional portfolio. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving financial performance, operational excellence, and long-term category transformation.