Sourcing Buyer

Ahlstrom; Kaukauna (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Ahlstrom is seeking a procurement professional to secure a cost-effective supply base for our Kaukauna manufacturing site. You’ll manage supplier relationships, lead sourcing activities, and ensure contract compliance while aligning local needs with regional category strategies.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration with Finance and site stakeholders, driving cost reduction, and supporting CAPEX sourcing.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement experience.
• Negotiation skills, including commercial terms and contracts.
• Experience supporting source-to-pay or procurement services activities.
• Experience with SAP, JDE, or similar procurement systems preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for supplier meetings, site visits, and team meetings.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Manage supplier relationships, contract compliance, pricing accuracy, and supplier performance for site-specific raw materials, packaging, and indirect categories.
• Lead sourcing activities, supplier selection, RFx support, onboarding, and negotiations for assigned categories.
• Partner with Finance and site stakeholders to resolve supplier or purchase order discrepancies and support payment term alignment.
• Identify and drive cost reduction, cost avoidance, and total cost of ownership opportunities.
• Support procurement processes, audits, supplier evaluations, contract documentation, and performance metrics.
• Act as a key procurement partner to site leadership, helping align local needs with regional category strategies.
• Support site-related projects, including CAPEX sourcing, quotations, and supplier coordination.

Skills

Procurement experience

Negotiation skills

Source-to-pay

Travel willingness

Driver's license

Tools

SAP

JDE

Job description

In this role, you’ll help secure a stable, cost-effective supply base for our manufacturing site while supporting supplier relationship management, sourcing activities, contract compliance, pricing accuracy, and procurement process improvements. You’ll collaborate with site leaders, internal stakeholders, suppliers, and regional category teams to align sourcing decisions with business needs and Ahlstrom’s strategic objectives.

What you’ll do

• Manage supplier relationships, contract compliance, pricing accuracy, and supplier performance for site-specific raw materials, packaging, and indirect categories.
• Lead sourcing activities, supplier selection, RFx support, onboarding, and negotiations for assigned categories.
• Partner with Finance and site stakeholders to resolve supplier or purchase order discrepancies and support payment term alignment.
• Identify and drive cost reduction, cost avoidance, and total cost of ownership opportunities.
• Support procurement processes, audits, supplier evaluations, contract documentation, and performance metrics.
• Act as a key procurement partner to site leadership, helping align local needs with regional category strategies.
• Support site-related projects, including CAPEX sourcing, quotations, and supplier coordination.

What we’re looking for

• 5+ years of procurement experience.
• Proven negotiation skills, including commercial terms and contracts.
• Experience supporting source-to-pay or procurement services activities.
• Experience with SAP, JDE, or similar procurement systems preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for supplier meetings, site visits, and team meetings.
• Valid driver’s license.

View the full job description here, https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=5652&company=Ahlstrom

Why Ahlstrom?

At Ahlstrom, our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We invest in our people, support professional growth, and work together as one team to create sustainable specialty materials that make a positive impact.

If you’re ready to bring your procurement expertise to a collaborative, purpose-driven organization, we’d love to connect with you.

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Ahlstrom does not discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.