Category Manager - Plastic

Westrock Coffee

$80K — $110K *
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years in Category Management, Procurement, or Supply Chain Management, ideally in food/beverage packages.
  • Bachelor's in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, or Business; advanced degrees preferred.
  • Certifications like CPSM, CPM, MCIPS, CPIM, PMP, or ISM are advantageous.
  • Experience with various plastic packaging types including films and rigid plastics.
  • Proficient in managing supplier relationships and category strategies, including risk and forecasting.
  • Strong knowledge of ERP systems like NetSuite, alongside advanced computer skills.
  • Ability to navigate high-change environments with a solid understanding of financial impacts.

Responsibilities

  • Develop sourcing plans for Plastics Packaging that align with food and beverage manufacturing needs.
  • Assess and source reliable international and domestic plastics packaging partners.
  • Create supplier evaluation systems to ensure quality, cost efficiency, and sustainability performance.
  • Implement sourcing processes that foster Best Value supplier relationships and continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate with suppliers to innovate packaging solutions that are waste-reducing and cost-effective.
  • Work with Product Development and Packaging Engineering on new materials and innovative packaging projects.
  • Oversee contract execution, ensuring compliance with commercial, legal, and technical standards.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment that values innovative input.
  • Opportunities for professional development and growth.
  • Flexibility to manage multiple projects and priorities.
  • Involvement in sustainable and impactful packaging initiatives.
  • Recognition and celebration of team and individual accomplishments.
Full Job Description
Dynamic, self-motivated and results oriented leader with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. Adaptable and transformational manager with an ability to develop opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Job Duties:
  • Develop sourcing Category Management plans for Plastics Packaging (films, PP cups, lids, bottles, sleeves, shrink wrap) supporting food and beverage manufacturing. Analyze and calculate total cost of procurement and use category strategies to drive multi-year sourcing plans that maintain flat to down costs in inflationary and volatile resin markets.
  • Source and assess trustworthy and capable plastics packaging partners across domestic and international markets.
  • Develop and maintain supplier evaluation systems to ensure quality, price, delivery, sustainability, and service performance; conduct regular compliance and business reviews.
  • Create and deploy structured sourcing processes that drive Best Value supplier relationships and continuous improvement across the Global Sourcing organization.
  • Partner with packaging suppliers to reduce waste, improve recyclability, increase recycled content, and introduce higher quality or lower total cost packaging solutions.
  • Collaborate with Product Development and Packaging Engineering on innovation, new materials, and next-generation single-serve, RTD, and flexible packaging solutions.
  • Execute contracts, RFIs, RFPs, proposals, and supplier agreements ensuring commercial, legal, and technical compliance.
  • Interface with Global Sourcing Quality Assurance to ensure specifications, food-contact compliance, and sustainability standards are consistently met.
  • Support commercialization of New Product Development (NPD) projects in partnership with Sales and Operations teams.
  • Serve as liaison between Procurement and Manufacturing to ensure clear communication, forecast alignment, and supply continuity.

Attributes
  • Demonstrates superior interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills across all organizational levels.
  • Identifies opportunities to drive change, improvement, and innovation.
  • Provides honest, constructive, and timely feedback.
  • Celebrates success and recognizes contributions of others.

Accountability
  • Motivated, self-directed, and detail oriented.
  • Takes full responsibility for own actions and category outcomes.
  • Follows up personally and monitors progress to ensure commitments are met.
  • Holds self and suppliers accountable for performance and results.
  • Demonstrates strong decision-making skills and financial KPI management.
  • Exhibits strong attention to detail.

Communication
  • Ability to contribute to and execute a strategic vision for a Global Procurement organization.
  • Ability to effectively delegate and work with cross-functional teams.
  • Effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize workload.
  • Ensures information and ideas flow in all appropriate directions.
  • Shares information openly while respecting confidentiality.
  • Conveys information clearly and ensures understanding.

Teamwork
  • Experience working as both a member and leader of teams.
  • Works collaboratively toward shared goals.
  • Supports team objectives and successes.
  • Addresses conflict professionally and directly.
  • Collaborates effectively across functions.


Qualifications:
  • 8+ years of experience in Category Management, Procurement, or Supply Chain Management, preferably within food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods.
  • Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, or Business; advanced degree a plus.
  • Preferred professional certifications: CPSM, CPM, MCIPS, CPIM, PMP, APICS, ISM.
  • Experience with plastics packaging including films, rigid plastics, lids, cups, bottles, and sleeves.
  • Experience managing diverse supplier bases, contracts, risk, forecasting, and category strategies.
  • Strong computer skills including Word, Excel, Outlook, and NetSuite or similar ERP systems.
  • Ability to perform in a fast-paced, high-change manufacturing environment.
  • Strong financial acumen with understanding of P&L impact and cost drivers.

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