Senior Buyer at ND Paper

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

16 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

18 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Purchasing, Negotiation, Cost Management, Service Management, Inventory Control, Supply Continuity, Risk Mitigation, Supplier Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Mentorship, Compliance, ERP Systems, Microsoft Excel, Capital Purchasing, MRO Procurement, Vendor Management

Industry

Paper and Forest Product Manufacturing

Description

Job Title: Senior Buyer Department: Procurement Reports to: Director of Procurement Location: Wisconsin, Rapids (onsite 5 days) Position Summary The Purchasing Senior Buyer is responsible for owning purchasing outcomes for assigned materials critical to mill operations. This role manages complex buying and negotiation decisions, balancing cost, service, inventory, and supply continuity, while operating within approved category strategies and governance frameworks. The Senior Buyer is a trusted commercial and operational partner to the mill and serves as a mentor to junior buyers and purchasing assistants. 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. Key Responsibilities & Expected Results: * Demonstrate safety as a core value and establish a safe work environment by actively leading the safe execution of work. * 1. Purchasing & Outcome Ownership * Own purchasing performance for assigned materials, suppliers, or spend categories * Make independent buying decisions involving complex trade-offs between cost, service, and risk * Manage materials critical to mill uptime and production continuity * Anticipate supply risks and implement mitigation actions * 2. Supplier Management & Negotiation * Lead negotiations within approved pricing bands, volume commitments, and commercial frameworks * Manage supplier performance, including service recovery and corrective actions * Negotiate allocation, flexibility, and recovery plans during constrained supply conditions * Recommend supplier changes or strategy adjustments to Category Managers and leadership * 3. Mill & Cross-Functional Leadership * Act as a trusted advisor to mill leadership, planning, and maintenance teams * Balance mill requirements with enterprise procurement objectives * Provide execution feedback to Category Managers to inform strategy refinement * Lead issue resolution during high-impact disruptions * 4. Governance, Compliance & Mentorship * Ensure purchasing decisions are defensible, documented, and compliant * Coach and mentor Junior Buyers and Purchasing Assistants * Support training on negotiation boundaries, policies, and best practices * Participate in audits and continuous improvement initiatives * 5. Decision Authority * Broader negotiation and exception authority within DOA limits * Authority to approve defined deviations and escalate strategic exceptions * No authority to independently change category strategy or supplier ecosystem Key Performance Indicators * Mill service continuity and material availability * Cost vs service optimization * Inventory stability and reduction of volatility * Supplier performance improvement * Reduction of recurring expedites and disruptions * Compliance and audit performance Qualifications and Skills Education and Experience * Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Purchasing, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience) * 5 years of experience in procurement, preferably in a manufacturing, heavy industry, or capital project environment Technical Skills * Strong knowledge of capital purchasing, MRO procurement, and service contracting * Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.) and Microsoft Excel * Excellent negotiation, communication, and vendor management skills * Experience supporting capital projects * Exposure to procurement for a pulp and paper or continuous manufacturing facility- preferred * Familiarity with reliability-centered maintenance programs Core Competencies * Procurement Execution Excellence – Strong purchasing discipline, process adherence, and follow-through * Project Agility – Able to meet tight deadlines in high-pressure maintenance or shutdown scenarios. * Analytical Rigor – Uses data to drive decisions and supplier performance. * Leadership Readiness – Demonstrates initiative, ownership, and the ability to lead cross-functional efforts. * Stakeholder Collaboration – Communicates effectively across engineering, maintenance, operations, and corporate. Success Profile * Consistently meets or exceeds KPI’s * Uses data to guide decisions * Negotiations on buys within pre-approved guardrails * Order timing within parameters * Quantity decisions (min/max) * Approved supplier selection * Operational issue resolution * Expedite decisions within guardrails * Maintain supplier relationships locally Working Conditions Onsite at a paper mill 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 [https://usndpaper-my.sharepoint.com/personal/allison_rittenhouse-rodgers_us_ndpaper_com/Documents/Documents/Benefit%20guides/2026%20Benefits%20at%20a%20Glance%20ND%20Sheets.pdf] . 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 [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.

Responsibilities

The Senior Buyer is responsible for owning purchasing outcomes for materials critical to mill operations, managing complex buying and negotiation decisions to balance cost, service, inventory, and supply continuity. This role also involves acting as a trusted commercial and operational partner to the mill and mentoring junior staff.