Global Sourcing Specialist: Paper Materials & Suppliers

IPG; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Extensive benefits

Career development opportunities

Ongoing training

Job summary

IPG in Minneapolis seeks a Sourcing Specialist to support Global Sourcing, focusing on paper-based materials and related raw materials. You will collaborate with R&D, Plant Operations, Quality, and Procurement to plan material trials, engage suppliers, and drive cost, quality, and availability improvements.

This role requires strong negotiation, Excel analytics, and international travel up to 20%. The position reports to the Sr.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a related field.
• Experience in raw material sourcing, with a preference for paper-based materials.
• Working knowledge of paper materials including varieties and release liner materials; translate technical needs with R&D and Plant Operations.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Purchasing or Supply Chain in manufacturing.
• Experience finding, qualifying, assessing, and auditing suppliers, including international.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and reporting/dashboard tools.
• Travel is required up to 20%, some international travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Support category strategies and sourcing initiatives for assigned raw materials, including paper-based materials.
• Maintain knowledge of paper markets; liaise with R&D, Plant Operations, Quality and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate trial material orders; track timelines, requirements, and trial spend.
• Lead/support RFI/RFQ/RFP processes for liners and other materials; consolidate supplier inputs and pricing data.
• Assess and integrate new or existing suppliers for future needs and innovation.
• Build and maintain supplier KPI metrics; monitor performance against targets.
• Assist in resolution of supply/quality issues; coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams.
• Develop sourcing roadmaps and monitor timetables for material availability.
• Review supplier capacities and supply risks; recommend tooling and dual sourcing where needed.
• Perform demand/supply and market analysis for pricing trends and availability.
• Manage sourcing and trial data quality; deliver dashboards to inform decisions.

Skills

Raw material sourcing

Paper & liner knowledge

Supplier qualification & auditing

Negotiation skills

Excel & analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

IPG in Minneapolis seeks a Sourcing Specialist to support Global Sourcing, focusing on paper-based materials and related raw materials. You will collaborate with R&D, Plant Operations, Quality, and Procurement to plan material trials, engage suppliers, and drive cost, quality, and availability improvements.

This role requires strong negotiation, Excel analytics, and international travel up to 20%. The position reports to the Sr.