Ops Planner - Pulp Sales

Sappi; Cloquet (MN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sappi is seeking a skilled Logistics & Supply Chain Coordinator to align pulp procurement, production, global sales and logistics for on-time customer fulfillment. The role emphasizes updating production/shipping schedules, maintaining inventory targets, and effective cross-team communication to support planning and performance.

The incumbent will update schedules, forecast needs, and generate reports to inform planning and decision-making while ensuring compliance with certifications and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong proficiency with SAP, ERP systems and MS Office.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; detail-oriented and organized.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate pulp production schedules to maximize machine utilization and meet delivery and quality requirements.
• Validate customer orders against production capabilities and resolve discrepancies.
• Provide timely updates on order status, production plans and logistics to customers and teams.
• Support weekly and 3-month forecasts; prepare business reports for planning and decision-making.
• Assist month-end inventory and financial close reporting; reconcile physical vs system inventories.
• Contribute to Sales & Operations Planning prep with cross-functional updates.

Skills

SAP

MS Office

Outlook

SharePoint

Elixir

MES

ERP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Job description

This role supports coordination between pulp procurement, production, global sales, and logistics to help ensure efficient and timely fulfillment of customer orders. The position assists with updating production and shipment schedules to support operational and logistical performance while meeting customer requirements. A key focus of the role is helping maintain inventory levels in line with planning targets through accurate data updates, forecasting support, and effective communication across teams.

Main Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and updating the pulp production schedule to ensure full machine utilization while meeting customer delivery and quality requirements; adjust schedules in response to disruptions and communicate impacts to sales and operations; elevate urgent issues and collaborate with IT/BPE to resolve system problems.
• Ensure accuracy of customer and order information, validating specifications, quantities, and requested dates against production capabilities and resolving discrepancies as needed.
• Provide timely updates to customers, global sales teams, and logistics, providing timely updates on order status, production schedules, shipping plans, railcar activity, and documentation; serve as a secondary point of contact for routine inquiries and help ensure alignment between production, sales, and logistics.
• Support maintenance of weekly sales forecasts and three-month outlook, incorporating schedule changes; prepare and distribute required business reports; support global affiliates and Finance with forecasting insights and data to inform planning and decision-making.
• Assist with month-end inventory and financial close reporting, including gathering data and reconciling discrepancies between physical and system inventories.
• Support preparation of materials for the weekly Sales & Operations Planning call, consolidating cross-functional updates into a cohesive presentation.
• Maintain key business systems (Elixir, Proficy, SAP, MICS, EPIC BObj), interfaces, and customer master data to ensure production and shipping continuity; submit DCRs and support system testing.
• Ensure compliance with all certification programs, including correct Forestry Certification claims on orders; participate in internal and external audits (ICS, Forestry Certification, ISO).
• Maintain awareness of Sappi policies, systems industry practices; participate in training to build skills and provide efficient back up support.
• This role does not include formal on call responsibilities. However, there may be occasions when the position is contacted after hours to provide guidance or support, which may require returning to the mill if the issue cannot be resolved remotely.

Minimum Education And Skills Requirements

• Proficient in using SAP, Microsoft Office, Outlook, SharePoint, Elixir, Manufacturing Execution, Enterprise Resource Planning, and other systems necessary for the role; adept at learning; embraces change.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Logistics, Business Studies or equivalent job related or professional experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, effective interpersonal and time management skills, dependable team player with a positive disposition and professional attitude.
• Ability to manage assigned tasks and shifting priorities, follow and interpret guidelines, with a high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across teams and support cross-functional coordination.
• Basic understanding of logistics contracts and tariffs, international logistics process, trade compliance, warehousing and inventory management.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and solve routine problems, collaborate with others to resolve them, and support continuous improvement activities.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Salary is determined by a number of factors including the value of the job to the organization, market forces, internal equity and skills brought to the job.

Sappi provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Sappi complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.