Sr. Specialist, Procurement

Smurfit Westrock Company; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training and development

Competitive salary

Global packaging company with focus on

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock Company in Northern Kentucky is seeking a seasoned Purchasing/Sourcing professional to lead category management, supplier selection and cost-reduction initiatives across packaging materials. You will partner with sales, manufacturing and suppliers to secure quality, price and on-time delivery.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, strategic sourcing, and process improvements while maintaining safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Five years of experience in Purchasing or Sourcing in a distribution or manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant subject is a plus.
• Knowledge of Industrial Packaging products (e.g., flexible packaging, films) preferred.
• Track record of unit cost reduction in a distribution environment.
• Experience leading cross-functional project teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.
• Some travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with sales to provide optimal solutions at competitive pricing.
• Serve as product knowledge expert, working with suppliers and training resources.
• Handle domestic sourcing, supply chain, and sales support in an industrial packaging environment.
• Drive cost savings, innovations, and process improvements in Supply Chain and Manufacturing.
• Communicate cross-functionally at all levels and manage supplier relationships domestically and internationally.
• Transform sourcing strategy toward integrated, strategic partnerships and agile supply chain.
• Ensure timely execution of product launches with Sales and Procurement, and respond to emergencies or shortages.
• Identify and develop new suppliers and implement new technologies to improve products and drive cost savings.
• Lead development of processes and discounts for total cost savings; perform cost and scenario analyses.
• Work with category management to implement efficient sourcing and packaging programs.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Project management

Entrepreneurial mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Project

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

The Opportunity

This position entails the effective sourcing of product categories and/or commodities used in the manufacturing or sales of SWPS products. Commodities may include raw materials, finished components, and indirect. Partner with suppliers that will provide the quality, price and timely delivery required to meet SWPS requirements.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Work closely with the sales organization at all levels to provide best solutions for customers at competitive pricing with optimum levels.
• Be the product knowledge expert by working with suppliers, sales, and other industry training resources.
• Domestic sourcing, supply chain and sales support, in an Industrial Packaging distribution environment. Strong project management and negotiating skills are required. International sourcing experience is a plus.
• Drive cost savings, delivering product innovations and improvements, reducing speed to market, and delivering process improvements in Supply Chain and Manufacturing.
• Communicating cross-functionally at all levels of the organization. Additionally, you will work to maintain and improve our strategic supplier relationships both domestically and internationally.
• Work with management to transform the current sourcing strategy focusing on integrated and strategic supplier partnerships, speed to market and a flexible and agile supply chain. A focus will be placed on ensuring that we are buying at the right quantity and price from the right vendor.
• Maintain a vast knowledge of the best suppliers in a market region or nationally to support the SWPS customer base.
• Work closely with Sales and Procurement to ensure flawless and timely execution of product, national and seasonal launches. You will also be required to respond to
• emergencies or special situations which may require resolution, e.g. If there is a shortage of product or an issue with a product or distribution channel.
• Identify and develop new suppliers who have offerings that SWPS may be able to bring new products to market. Additionally, you will work with existing suppliers to implement new technology to improve existing products (cost, quality, etc.) or develop new products.
• You will lead the development of defining and creating the processes and procedures required to procure new products and new discounts for total cost savings.
• Examine quantity/right prices, develop and implement cost savings initiatives while ensuring imperceptible difference to the consumer and maintaining quality and safety standards.
• Drive supplier partners to propose and, with our approval, implement cost savings ideas.
• Provide critical information when negotiating all supply contracts with new and existing suppliers.
• Work with category management to generate and implement efficient sourcing and packaging programs.
• Analyze and calculate costs of procurement and suggest methods to decrease expenditure.
• Perform cost and scenario analysis.

What you need to succeed:

• Five years (5) experience in Purchasing or Sourcing within a Distribution or Manufacturing environment with a track record of achieving results.
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant subject, a plus.
• Knowledge of Industrial Packaging products, such as flexible packaging, films and other packaging materials, highly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of unit cost reduction in a distribution environment
• Success developing, leading and/or participating in cross functional project teams
• Entrepreneurial and creative with the ability to successfully interact within a multicultural business environment and at all levels of the organization, including senior leadership
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) MS Project; and other applications as required.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Some travel may be required

What we offer:

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

#Victory

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.