Sr. Category Manager

Description & Requirements

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

As a Senior Category Manager for the CAPEX & OEM Lifecycle team, the individual will oversee annual categories which total $300 – 400 million across North America. The individual will be instrumental in optimizing procurement strategies and ensuring the seamless supply of parts, services and continuous improvement. Your primary objectives include managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and driving cost efficiencies while maintaining high standards of quality and reliability for the company’s operations. Additionally, the individual will have primary responsibility for streamlining the team’s processes, including sourcing, as well as the overall buying process for this team, specifically related to the procurement of our OEM parts & services. This will require an ability to identify, prioritize and document processes needing improvement. The individual will then work inside the group and with other teams, stakeholders, consultants and external resources to align, organize, motivate and lead ad-hoc cross-functional teams to achieve the goals of the prioritized projects, typically focused on total cost reduction and operational efficiency.

A typical day involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand the needs of stakeholders, analyzing market trends, implementing strategic sourcing initiatives, providing guidance to mill procurement managers, identifying systems and technologies to support process improvement, and collaborating with other teams to improve processes and drive operational efficiency. The individual will play a crucial role in aligning procurement activities with the broader organizational goals of safety, cost take out, availability, quality, performance, and sustainability.

This role requires strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, negotiations, a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to then foster and influence this and other teams to develop a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, operational efficiency.

How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock

• Create and manage the strategic procurement and sourcing process for assigned categories in CAPEX an Lifecycle Parts, Equipment and Services, including demand and market analysis, sourcing, negotiations, supplier award, implementation and performance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to define business requirements and understand operational needs.
• Gather, cleanse, and analyze data from multiple systems to generate insights and recommendations that drive decision-making.
• Understand market trends, supplier base, and supplier economics for categories.
• Develop and execute category strategies and strategic plans leveraging market and spend data, information about suppliers, competitors, industry trends, and the company’s needs.
• Clearly articulate the value of the category strategy and how it aligns to the organization’s objectives.
• Perform assessments of suppliers and vendors to identify risks and implications.
• Lead the strategic sourcing process, including supplier sourcing, negotiations, selection, and implementation of processes for assigned categories.
• Negotiate final agreements that are consistent with achieved negotiated results. Ensure agreements contain provisions that meet Company’s objectives and standards.
• Drive total cost savings and continuous improvement initiatives while maintaining product quality and reliability.
• Measure and track results and outcomes using data from multiple systems.
• Monitor field compliance to strategy and ensure TCO reductions are realized.
• Forecast budgetary impact and track actual savings.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure savings are incorporated into annual operating plans.
• Implement inventory management practices to optimize stock levels, reduce inventories and reduce lead times.
• Continuously improve procurement processes and drive productivity gains.
• Meet with suppliers to conduct regular business reviews and stay updated on business and upcoming changes that may affect Smurfit Westrock and suppliers in assigned categories.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to handle supply chain disruptions and ensure business continuity.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, industry regulations, and ethical standards in all procurement activities.
• Working with operations to identify and address unmet needs that align with procurement and business unit goals to deliver long term value
• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of category management strategies and initiatives.
• Recommending and implementing improvements to maximize operating productivity, quality and efficiency while minimizing the total cost of ownership
• Spearhead initiatives aimed at improving procurement processes, leveraging data analytics and supplier performance metrics to drive results, especially within the Facilities Services categories.
• Identify and review processes needing improvement, then work inside the group and with other teams and stakeholders to align with and lead those teams to achieve the goal of each project.
• Provide guidance and tactics for improving the efficiency of assigned categories.
  
  

What You Need To Succeed

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement, or supply chain management roles.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with project objectives.
• Exceptional negotiation and contract management skills.
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and influence stakeholders and other teams to work toward a common goal.
• Willingness to travel as needed (domestic and international)
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
  
  

Preferred Competencies

• Certifications in procurement, sourcing or supply chain management (e.g. CPSM, CSCP)
• Paper Mill operational knowledge
• Customer Focused – Demonstrates a high level of service excellence, does what is necessary to ensure customer satisfaction; reinforces excellence as a fundamental priority. Understands and works to meet customer requirements. Listens to and responds to customers’ needs. Build relationships with and gains trust of customer by always meeting commitments.
• Communication – Clearly presents information through oral and written communication, reads and interprets complex information; talks with employees, customers, and suppliers; demonstrates strong listening skills.
• Planning/Prioritizing/Goal Setting – Manages multiple projects, prioritizes project urgency in a meaningful and practical way. Use goals to guide actions and create action plans. Organizes and schedules people and tasks. Communicates vision in a way that inspires and motivates others.
• Influence/Persuasion – Exhibits a ‘can-do’ approach and inspires employees to excel, uses competition to encourage others. Develops performance standards and confronts negative attitudes. Fosters a team spirit, uses tact when expressing ideas or opinions, presents new ideas to authority figures, adapts presentation to suit a particular audience, responds to objections successfully.
• Decision Making/Problem-Solving – Acts in solving problems while exhibiting judgment and a realistic understanding of issues, able to use reason even when dealing with emotional or sensitive subjects. Reviews facts and weighs options, focuses on process rather than isolated events.
  
  

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.