Global Category Manager, Recycled Resins

Novolex; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off (vacation, sick days)

Job summary

Novolex is seeking a Global Category Manager, Recycled Resins to lead sourcing and category management for circular materials across Flexible and Rigid Packaging. The role focuses on developing global strategies to optimize costs, ensure supply, and advance sustainability.

You will collaborate with Sustainability, Innovation, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Finance to secure competitive solutions and support recycled-content commitments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Finance, or related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or related roles.
• Demonstrated success leading supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Strong analytical, financial modeling, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Lead global recycled resin category strategy and execution.
• Develop sourcing strategies for PCR, PIR, mechanical and chemical recycling.
• Oversee RFIs, RFPs, negotiations, and contract management.
• Monitor market dynamics and build cost models for decisions.
• Establish supplier performance metrics and drive improvements.
• Partner with Sustainability, R&D, Commercial, and Operations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial modeling

Problem solving

Communication

Stakeholder management

Independent work

Category strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Company Overview

Why Choose Us?

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

Our Sustainability Commitment

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated, strategic, and results-driven Global Category Manager, Recycled Resins to lead sourcing and category management activities for circular materials and recycled resins used across our Flexible and Rigid Packaging businesses.

This role is responsible for developing and executing global category strategies that drive value creation through cost optimization, supply assurance, sustainability advancement, innovation, and risk mitigation. The successful candidate will work closely with cross-functional teams including Sustainability, Innovation, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Finance to secure competitive supply solutions while supporting the company's recycled-content commitments and sustainability goals.

The Global Category Manager will serve as a subject matter expert on recycled resin markets, supplier capabilities, emerging technologies, regulatory developments, and sustainability trends influencing the packaging industry.

Ideal candidates will be based in Lake Forest, IL, Charlotte, NC, or Covington, KY.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Sourcing Leadership

• Manage the recycled resin category on a global basis with full accountability for category performance.
• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with company objectives for cost, supply continuity, innovation, sustainability, and risk management.
• Develop sourcing strategies for post-consumer recycled (PCR), post-industrial recycled (PIR), mechanically recycled, and advanced recycled resin solutions.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives including RFIs, RFPs, negotiations, supplier selections, and contract management.
• Identify cost savings opportunities and supply chain efficiencies across the category.
• Maintain comprehensive category plans, project documentation, contracts, and sourcing records.
• Support make-versus-buy analyses and strategic business decisions.

Market Intelligence & Cost Management

• Monitor recycled resin market dynamics including feedstock availability, bale pricing, recycling economics, capacity expansions, competitive activity, and emerging technologies.
• Build cost models and market forecasts to support sourcing decisions and pricing negotiations.
• Conduct spending analyses to evaluate supplier allocation, category trends, cost drivers, and value creation opportunities.
• Develop market benchmarks and best practices to drive best-in-class procurement performance across business units.
• Communicate market trends, opportunities, risks, and recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Develop, evaluate, and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Lead supplier negotiations and secure commercial agreements that support business objectives.
• Establish supplier performance metrics and scorecards covering cost, quality, delivery, service, sustainability, and innovation.
• Drive supplier development initiatives focused on improving quality, capacity, traceability, sustainability metrics, and operational reliability.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities and support qualification of new suppliers, technologies, and recycled materials.
• Own supplier performance and corrective action processes when required.

Sustainability & Innovation

• Partner with Sustainability, R&D, Product Development, Commercial, and Operations teams to achieve recycled-content objectives and sustainability targets.
• Support innovation initiatives with suppliers that improve product performance, material circularity, and environmental outcomes.
• Identify and commercialize new recycled resin technologies and supply solutions.
• Support qualification and implementation of new materials to support customer and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of evolving sustainability regulations, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, food-contact requirements, and recycled-content legislation.

Risk Management & Supply Assurance

• Proactively identify and mitigate supply risks through supplier diversification, business continuity planning, inventory strategies, and alternate material qualifications.
• Monitor geopolitical, regulatory, operational, and market risks that could impact supply continuity.
• Develop contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted supply to manufacturing operations.
• Support crisis management and rapid response efforts during market disruptions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead cross-functional sourcing and innovation projects without direct reporting authority.
• Build strong partnerships across Procurement, Sustainability, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and R&D.
• Influence stakeholders through data-driven insights and strategic recommendations.
• Communicate project progress, achievements, risks, and key decisions to leadership teams.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Finance, or related discipline.
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, supply chain, or related commercial roles.
• Demonstrated success leading supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Strong analytical, financial modeling, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing category strategies and delivering measurable value.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Preferred

• Experience sourcing recycled resins, virgin resins, packaging materials, or related petrochemical products.
• Knowledge of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), PET, polystyrene (PS), and other packaging materials.
• Experience within recycling, packaging, polymers, chemicals, consumer products, or manufacturing industries.
• Understanding of PCR, PIR, mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, mass balance systems, and circular economy principles.
• Familiarity with sustainability certifications and compliance programs such as ISCC+, APR, FDA food-contact requirements, or similar standards.

Travel

• Ability to travel approximately 20-30%, including supplier visits, manufacturing locations, conferences, and industry events.

Measures of Success

• Achievement of annual savings and value creation objectives.
• Successful execution of recycled-content and sustainability goals.
• Improved supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, and service.
• Effective mitigation of supply risks and business continuity concerns.
• Commercialization of new recycled material solutions.
• Development of a resilient, competitive, and sustainable supplier network.
• Positive contribution to company sustainability commitments and customer objectives.

Compensation:

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $135,000 - 155,000 + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation, and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.

Company Benefits

What You'll Get From Us

Benefits

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

Community Engagement

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

Training and Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact [e-mail].

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen