Procurement Manager

Where you will work

The Augusta mill sits along the Savannah River, on the state border between Georgia and South Carolina and manufactures light, medium, and heavy weight coated paperboard. It is a well-invested SBS paperboard manufacturing facility with approximately 600 thousand tons of capacity.  This facility boasts over 700 employees and has been in operation for almost 65 years.  Located on 3,000 acres, the Augusta site operates two paper machines that produce 1,940 tons per day.  The Augusta Mill is Clearwater Paper’s largest paperboard facility and critical to the success of our strategy and future.

Augusta, Georgia is a vibrant community along the Georgia/South Carolina border about 150 miles east of Atlanta and 70 miles west of Columbia.  Augusta offers a variety of experiences – something for everyone!  The area offers historical attractions, recreational activities, music, family festivals, and other unforgettable experiences for fun with a hometown feel.  Downtown Augusta is home to many of Augusta’s most popular attractions, locally owned restaurants, and nightlife. From March through November, the Augusta Market brings local and regional tastemakers and artisans of all kinds to the 8th Street entrance to the Riverwalk.  The Masters Tournament has placed Augusta on a world stage, confirming its well-earned reputation for tradition, hospitality, and heritage.  Students from around the country call Augusta home thanks to Augusta University, Georgia Military College, Paine College, University of South Carolina Aiken and many technical and educational institutes around Augusta’s River Region.  Augusta’s warm year-round climate provides several opportunities for outdoor activities and leisure.

What you will do

The Augusta Mill Procurement Manager leads the site purchasing and storeroom teams accountable for local procurement strategies, negotiations, PO processing, inventory management, and chemical planning. This role manages and supports an aggregate spend of $225M across categories of Chemical, MRO, Capital and Contract Services. Additionally, the Procurement Manager is responsible for leading the department in compliance with all policies & procedures. The Procurement Manager is a member of the mill leadership team and cross-functionally stakeholders toward shared, mission critical objectives.

Leadership

• Accountable for safety performance and related improvements consistent with a culture of EH&S excellence
• Cultivate strong collaboration with EH&S, Engineering, Finance, Maintenance, Operations, Process Control, and Reliability
• Lead purchasing department to support the Mill goals to include targets for Cost per Ton, CapEx ROI, Machine OEE, and Working Capital
• Effectively represent cross functional concerns and objectives in Sourcing Events
• Champion supplier implementations for new contract awards
• Work with cross functional teams to ensure purchasing and stores procedures seamlessly interface with other departments, soliciting feedback for continuous improvements
• Coach direct reports to develop and grow skills supporting both technical and interpersonal effectiveness
• Conduct performance evaluations with direct reports, providing specific and constructive feedback for their continued development

Sourcing

• Comply with all relevant Policies & Procedures
• Actively engage in leading RFP’s, issuing PO’s, resolving invoice (EXL) issues, and accounting closing procedures where Procurement has direct involvement
• Ensure team performs pre-bid qualifications on all new contractors and vendors prior to inviting them into the RFP process, including ISNetworld, Financial, Legal, Risk Management
• Champion improvements in competitive bidding and contract utilization with cross-functional stakeholders through RFP’s, Procurement negotiations, & new contracts
• Sponsor Inventory Optimization reviews and leverage key MRO Suppliers for inventory reductions
• Direct activities associated with Repair/Returns, Received Not Vouchered (RNV) reviews, timely resolution of Invoice Exceptions, and Payment Quality Issues
• Negotiate with suppliers the best possible value for necessary services, materials or equipment as required achieving the most desired TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)
• Develop local and regional strategies to align with corporate initiatives towards category management, leveraging team to implement when needed
• Facilitate continuous process improvements and innovations to increase the effectiveness of the Procurement organization in alignment with the Company’s mission critical objectives

Reporting

• Accountable for safety reporting within the mill Procurement team, including the Storeroom
• Responsible for ensuring the savings report is updated timely and is accurate with all appropriate supporting information
• Responsible for reporting on any category management initiatives to include execution progress and value creation at the mill as defined in the contract KPIs
• Accountable for updates around the progress of sourcing any capital project to include potential headwinds, negotiation wins, schedule concerns, and overrun risks
• Accountable for ensuring mill’s relevant dashboard information is up to date as required

Success Measurements

• Annually, the Procurement Manager will work with the leadership to establish relevant savings goals for categories including P&L savings, cost avoidance, negotiated savings, working capital, and additional value
• Establishing yearly and quarterly goals towards deleveraging the overall inventory to align with the overall goals as directed
• Responsible for routine updates on monthly results and variances towards targets including needs, roadblocks, and opportunities associated with these initiatives

Key Competencies & Attributes 

• Drives execution and leads by example, engaging directly at both the strategic and operational levels
• Combines speed and discernment, demonstrating a bias for action and sound judgment under pressure
• Actively delegates appropriate decision-making authority or task responsibility to appropriate individuals based on their abilities, availability, motivation, and development needs to facilitate team development
• Identifies barriers which impact overall service and turnaround with key stakeholders; communicates concerns and takes responsibility to develop correcting recommendations with others
• Creates relevant options for addressing problems and opportunities to achieve desired outcomes
• Systematically evaluates business opportunities, targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive business results and executes toward this end

What you will need

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Supply Chain & Logistics, Operations Management or related field or the equivalent combination of training and experience required, master’s degree is a plus
• 3 years of leadership experience preferred
• 5 years procurement experience required
• 3 years’ experience working in a manufacturing environment preferred
• Strong computer skills required including experience using Excel spreadsheets
• Experience using JD Edwards software preferred
• Experience in contract management systems is preferred
• Ability to work on non-routine purchases that require analysis to arrive at best decision
• Must have strong professional communication, planning and organizational skills
• General knowledge of plant operations is required
• Understanding of procurement procedures and legal contracts
• Good analytical, organizing, prioritizing and project management skills required
• Work experience in LEAN environment preferred
• Occasional exposure to manufacturing machines and areas, shipping, and warehousing areas
• Must wear required Personal Protective Equipment in the manufacturing environment
• Some mental, visual, and physical fatigue from computer terminal use
• Extended periods of sitting
• Occasional travel required

Total Rewards Details

We prioritize an exceptional workplace experience, offering a comprehensive total reward package.  This position is eligible for our Incentive Plan. Compensation ranges are estimates based on market data.  Actual offers account for internal equity and candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and geographic location. Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days. Our paid time off will include vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. For more on our compensation philosophy, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Team at Talent.Acquisition@clearwaterpaper.com.

Clearwater Paper will not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position.  Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

#ClearwaterPaper #Augusta

This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks or at the point a successful candidate is selected.