Wood Buyer

Sappi; Skowhegan, Northern (ME, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sappi North America in Somerset, Maine, is seeking a Wood Buyer to support our regional Wood Procurement team across Southern Maine and New Hampshire. The role ensures a reliable, cost-effective supply of wood fiber while maintaining supplier relationships and helping meet mill fiber needs.

This field-focused position requires travel throughout the territory, strong negotiation and communication skills, and the ability to work independently within a regional team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field is required.
• Minimum of three years of relevant experience in forestry, wood procurement or the forest products industry.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Strong communication, negotiation, relationship-building, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a regional team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to safely walk through forested areas, woodyards, and active logging operations.
• Maine and/or New Hampshire Scaler and Weight Master licenses preferred, or ability to obtain within 3–6 months.

Responsibilities

• Procure roundwood pulpwood and wood chips.
• Identify and develop new wood supply opportunities in Southern Maine and New Hampshire.
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, contractors, and industry partners.
• Manage weekly wood deliveries and monitor supplier performance.
• Evaluate wood fiber opportunities and negotiate pricing and supply terms.
• Track procurement activity, performance metrics, and wood quality.
• Conduct roundwood and chip sampling, specification audits, and quality reporting.
• Support procurement strategy, contract management, accounting reconciliation, and operational reporting.
• Assist with Chain of Custody requirements and forest certification audits.
• Collaborate with regional Wood Procurement and mill teams to support overall wood supply needs.
• Represent Sappi through appropriate industry associations, workshops, and community activities.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Independent work

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in forestry or related field

Tools

Driver's license

Job description

Sappi North America
Sappi Somerset, is one of the largest, most advanced and high performing mills in North America with one of the lowest mill emissions. Our packaging papers are suited across a range of market segments including health and beauty, confectionery, premium beverages and food packaging. We manufacture labels for cans and jars and our graphic papers are used in direct mail, magazines and catalogs. Nearly $1 billion in the last decade has been invested to expand into sustainable and renewable SBS board grades for folding carton and foodservice, including the rebuilds of PM1 in 2018 and PM2, to be completed in 2025. The Somerset mill focuses on safety, sustainability, quality, and innovation.

Sappi is seeking a Wood Buyer to support our regional Wood Procurement team across Southern Maine and New Hampshire. This role is responsible for helping ensure a reliable, cost-effective, and high-quality supply of wood fiber while developing and maintaining strong supplier relationships.

The Wood Buyer will identify new supply opportunities, manage wood deliveries, monitor quality and supplier performance, support procurement strategies, and work closely with the regional team to meet mill fiber needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Procure roundwood pulpwood and wood chips.
• Identify and develop new wood supply opportunities throughout Southern Maine and New Hampshire.
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, contractors, and industry partners.
• Manage weekly wood deliveries and monitor supplier performance.
• Evaluate wood fiber opportunities and negotiate pricing and supply terms.
• Track procurement activity, performance metrics, and wood quality.
• Conduct roundwood and chip sampling, specification audits, and quality reporting.
• Support procurement strategy, contract management, accounting reconciliation, and operational reporting.
• Assist with Chain of Custody requirements and forest certification audits.
• Collaborate with regional Wood Procurement and mill teams to support overall wood supply needs.
• Represent Sappi through appropriate industry associations, workshops, and community activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field required.
• Minimum of three years of relevant experience in forestry, wood procurement or the forest products industry .
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Strong communication, negotiation, relationship-building, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a regional team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to safely walk through forested areas, woodyards, and active logging operations.
• Maine and/or New Hampshire Scaler and Weight Master licenses preferred, or ability to obtain within 3-6 months.

This is a field-focused position with regular travel throughout the assigned territory, including support of the Ossipee Woodyard.

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.