Category Manager

Job Title: Category Manager

Department: Procurement

Reports to: Director of Procurement

Location: Sturtevant, WI

Position Summary:

The MRO & Indirect Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing end-to-end enterprise category strategies for Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) and indirect spend across ND Paper's U.S. manufacturing locations. The role optimizes total cost of ownership (TCO), ensures supply continuity, reduces supplier and operational risk, and improves commercial leverage through strategic sourcing, supplier portfolio management, contract governance, and spend transparency.

This role partners closely with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Finance, mill leadership, Purchasing Managers, and Buyers to translate business demand into multi-year sourcing strategies and clear commercial guardrails. The Category Manager is expected to operate strategically - building enterprise leverage and enabling site execution rather than serving as a transactional buyer.

Compensation:

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At ND Paper, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. 

About Us

ND Paper is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pulp, paper, and packaging products in the United States, generating over half a billion dollars in annual sales. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited – the largest containerboard producer in the world – ND Paper is part of a global network committed to excellence and innovation. With two integrated pulp and paper mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin, a packaging plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and two sheeting facilities in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia, the ND Paper family produces nearly one million tons of products annually. Our 1,100 dedicated employees are the heart of our operations, and we are committed to fostering positive work environments where individuals can advance and thrive. At ND Paper, we are investing in our future, and that starts with our staff. 

Category Scope:

• Enterprise MRO and industrial supply spend, including bearings and power transmission, mechanical components, valves and instrumentation, electrical supplies, industrial consumables, and related storeroom categories.

• Indirect operating categories such as safety/PPE, facilities supplies and services, and other recurring operating spend assigned to the portfolio.

• Strategic distributors, manufacturers, OEMs, specialty suppliers, and other critical suppliers supporting mill operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Category Strategy & Planning

• Develop and own 1-3 year enterprise MRO and indirect category strategies aligned with business objectives, maintenance plans, outage requirements, and operational demand.

• Analyze spend by category, supplier, and site to identify fragmentation, sourcing opportunities, price leakage, and consolidation potential.

• Define supplier segmentation, preferred supplier lists, manufacturer-direct strategies, and dual/alternate sourcing approaches.

• Translate demand forecasts and maintenance requirements into capacity, sourcing, and risk-mitigation plans.

• Develop strategies for unmanaged and tail spend while preserving mill-level execution speed.

2. Strategic Sourcing & Contracting

• Lead enterprise and multi-site RFx events (RFI/RFP/RFQ), competitive sourcing, and structured negotiations.

• Design and negotiate master supply agreements, enterprise pricing, rebates, freight terms, pricing mechanisms, indexation, and escalation clauses.

• Challenge single-source and OEM requirements where commercially and technically appropriate and develop qualified alternatives.

• Use should-cost analysis, market intelligence, manufacturer-direct relationships, competitive bids, and distribution strategies to reduce TCO.

• Standardize commercial terms while allowing appropriate site-specific operational flexibility and ensure legal, financial, and operational alignment before execution.

3. Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Own supplier relationship management (SRM) for strategic and critical MRO and indirect suppliers.

• Establish supplier performance scorecards covering on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost, service, and continuous improvement.

• Lead quarterly and annual business reviews (QBRs/ABRs) with major suppliers and drive corrective actions where performance is below expectations.

• Drive supplier consolidation, value engineering, innovation, product substitution, and manufacturer engagement to improve cost and reliability.

• Serve as the commercial escalation point for significant supplier performance, pricing, or contract disputes.

4. Cost, Inventory, Risk & Value Management

• Deliver validated savings and TCO reduction through price, logistics, inventory, specification, standardization, substitution, and process improvements.

• Partner with Maintenance and storeroom teams on inventory optimization, critical-spare strategy, standardization, and obsolete/slow-moving inventory opportunities.

• Monitor market conditions, commodity indices, manufacturer increases, capacity trends, and supply risks.

• Develop contingency plans and alternate sources for critical categories and suppliers to reduce operational disruption.

• Balance short-term savings requirements with long-term supply resilience, reliability, and mill operating needs.

5. Governance & Execution Enablement

• Define buying guardrails, preferred-supplier strategies, sourcing playbooks, and commercial frameworks for Purchasing Managers and Buyers.

• Drive contract coverage and preferred-supplier compliance and prevent price leakage outside negotiated agreements.

• Maintain visibility to enterprise spend, savings pipeline, contract status, supplier concentration, sourcing opportunities, and category risks by mill.

• Coach and support Buyers and Purchasing Managers in executing category strategies while keeping transactional purchasing at the appropriate site level.

• Translate site feedback and operational lessons into continuous refinement of enterprise category strategies.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Align sourcing strategies with Maintenance plans, Engineering specifications, Operations requirements, outage schedules, and storeroom needs.

• Partner with Finance on budgeting, savings validation, working-capital opportunities, and spend transparency.

• Engage mill leadership early on major sourcing decisions, supplier changes, standardization opportunities, and supply-risk mitigation.

• Act as the commercial voice of Procurement in cross-functional forums and promote earlier Procurement involvement in business planning.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Annual validated savings and total cost of ownership (TCO) improvement.

• MRO and indirect spend under contract / strategic management.

• Preferred-supplier and contract compliance; reduction of price leakage.

• Competitive sourcing penetration and qualified alternate-source development.

• Supplier consolidation and reduction of unmanaged/tail spend.

• Inventory and working-capital improvements attributable to category strategy.

• Supplier performance: on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness, and service.

• Value of qualified sourcing pipeline and speed of opportunity conversion.

• Supply continuity and reduction of operational supplier risk.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field; equivalent relevant industrial procurement experience may be considered.

• 7+ years of progressive procurement, sourcing, category management, or related commercial experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations, strategic sourcing events, and multi-site supplier relationships.

• Strong analytical skills including spend analysis, cost modeling, market analysis, and should-cost evaluation.

• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive change without direct authority.

• Experience in manufacturing, industrial, paper, chemical, or other capital-intensive operating environments strongly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant MRO, industrial distribution, storeroom, or indirect category sourcing experience.

• Experience negotiating with major industrial distributors, manufacturers, OEMs, and specialty suppliers.

• CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent supply chain/procurement certification.

• Experience with SAP or other ERP platforms and eSourcing / spend analytics tools.

• Exposure to commodity-driven markets, indexed pricing, inventory optimization, and manufacturer-direct sourcing.

• International or multi-region sourcing experience.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and category ownership.

• Commercial acumen and negotiation leadership.

• Industrial/MRO market knowledge and supplier insight.

• Stakeholder management and cross-functional influence.

• Risk management and sound decision-making.

• Data-driven problem solving and financial acumen.

• Executive-level communication.

• Bias for action, accountability, and measurable results.

Role Success Profile - First 12 Months

• Enterprise MRO and indirect category strategy is clearly defined, prioritized, and actively implemented.

• Top suppliers and major spend categories have documented sourcing strategies and ownership.

• Major contracts and preferred-supplier structures are established or have a defined sourcing plan and timeline.

• Unmanaged and tail spend is visible, with a prioritized plan to improve strategic coverage and compliance.

• A quantified, validated savings pipeline is established and converting into measurable EBITDA/TCO impact.

• Price leakage is being identified and controlled through enterprise agreements, analytics, and buying guardrails.

• Supplier performance and operational risks are visible, with corrective actions and alternate-source strategies where needed.

• Mill stakeholders see Procurement proactively improving cost, availability, reliability, and execution - not simply responding to purchase requests.

Attributes for Success

• Hard work – tackle each task with determination, passion and creativity; the willingness to put in whatever effort is required to successfully complete the job at hand.
• Pursuit of Excellence – strive to consistently exceed expectations in our day-to-day work and outperform our competitors in the marketplace, regarding work and company achievements as a collaborative goal with the desire to go above and beyond.
• Integrity - treat the company and teammates with upmost respect, operating on strong moral codes to drive company values and culture. 
• Sense of Urgency – drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business. 
• Entrepreneurial Spirit – act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
• Adaptability – be fluid with ND Paper’s continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly. 
• Servant Leadership – set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.

ND Paper Benefits 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as voluntary benefits such as accident insurance, hospital indemnity, and critical illness for you and your family. 
• Financial protection benefits, including life insurance, disability insurance, and business travel accident insurance. 
• Tax advantaged accounts such as Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA). 
• Paid holidays, personal days, and vacation days to support work-life balance. 
• A 401K retirement plan with a company match and annual fixed contribution 
• Wellness programs with incentives and an on-site clinic available at our Rumford and Biron location. 

Enjoy competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and paid time off. Discover more about our benefits and how we support our team by visiting 2026 Benefits. Come be a part of our team and grow with us!

Apply

Please submit your resume, and salary requirements to https://us.ndpaper.com/careers

No unsolicited resumes - ND Paper does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Any unsolicited resume you submit to us will immediately become the property of ND Paper. If you would like to become a recruiter for ND Paper, please contact us and we will agree in writing to terms and the specific job roles for which you are authorized to recruit.