Pulp Sales Coordinator- Lead

Sappi; Cloquet, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sappi North America in Cloquet seeks a supply chain specialist to coordinate between pulp procurement, production, global sales and logistics, ensuring timely fulfillment of customer orders.

The role focuses on scheduling production and shipments, forecasting inventory, and driving process improvements across SAP, ERP and MES systems while maintaining strong relationships with internal teams and customers.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of SAP, Microsoft Office, Outlook, SharePoint, Elixir, Manufacturing Execution, ERP systems.
• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years' experience required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, teamwork and time management; autonomous and detail-oriented.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and publish the pulp production schedule to maximize machine utilization while meeting delivery and quality requirements.
• Validate customer and order information against production capabilities and resolve discrepancies.
• Serve as primary contact for customers, global sales, and logistics with timely order status updates.
• Maintain weekly sales forecasts and a three-month outlook; support forecasting and data analysis for planning.
• Produce month-end inventory and financial close reports and reconcile variances between physical and system inventories.
• Lead weekly Sales & Operations Planning calls and consolidate cross-functional updates.
• Maintain key systems and data (Elixir, SAP, MES, ERP interfaces, customer master data) to ensure continuity.
• Perform controls per SIN framework and participate in audits (Forestry Certification, ISO).
• Stay current on industry knowledge and participate in improvement initiatives.
• This role does not include formal on-call responsibilities but may require after-hours guidance occasionally.

Skills

SAP

Microsoft Office

Outlook

SharePoint

Elixir

Manufacturing Execution

ERP

Learning Agility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Logistics, Business Studies or equivalent

Job description

Sappi North America
Sappi Cloquet, established in 1898, produces high-quality graphic papers used in premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising for the fashion, automotive and travel industries, as well as speciality papers. Cloquet manufactures Verve, a dissolving pulp used for the textile and home goods markets. Energy saving and clean water initiatives at Cloquet have won environmental recognition, aligning with the mill's commitment to sustainability.

This role is responsible for coordinating activities between pulp procurement and production teams, global sales, and logistics to ensure the efficient and timely fulfilment of customer orders. The position involves scheduling production and shipments to optimize both operational efficiency and logistical performance while meeting customer specifications. A key focus of the role is maintaining inventory levels in alignment with planning targets through effective forecasting and coordination as well as making recommendations for process and policy improvements.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and publish 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.
• Serve as a primary contact for customers, global sales teams, and logistics, providing timely updates on order status, production schedules, shipping plans, railcar activity, and documentation.
• Maintain 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.
• Produce month‑end inventory and financial close reports, update sales forecasts with actuals, and investigate and reconcile variances between physical and system inventories.
• Lead 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.
• Perform assigned controls within the Sappi Internal Control (SIN) framework according to defined procedures and frequency.
• Ensure compliance with all certification programs, including correct Forestry Certification claims on orders; participate in internal and external audits (ICS, Forestry Certification, ISO) and serve on SNA’s Certification Compliance Team.
• Stay current on Sappi and industry knowledge; participate in training and improvement initiatives that enhance personal, team, and organizational capability.
• 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:

• Advanced knowledge of 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. 2 years' experience required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal and time management skills, strong team player, positive disposition, autonomous, and self‑aware.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and conflicting priorities, self‑sufficient and self‑directed with a high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Capable of building strong relationships across organization boundaries.
• Ability to understand and interpret financial performance metrics of the department.
• Familiar with logistics contracts and tariffs, international logistics operations, trade compliance, warehousing and inventory management.
• Proven problem‑solving capability, including working cross‑functionally to diagnose challenges, remove obstacles, and drive continuous improvement.
• Travel, as needed for job.

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.

ABOUT SAPPI

Sappi isa leading global provider of everyday materials made from woodfibre-based renewable resources. As a diversified, innovative and trusted leader focused on sustainable processes and products, we are building a more circular economy by making what we should, not just what we can.