Senior Buyer – Direct Materials

Job Title: Senior Buyer – Direct Materials

About Us

ND Paper, a leading paper product manufacturer in the US with approx. $1 billion annual sales, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, the largest containerboard producer in China and Asia, with $10 billion annual sales.
We are an environmentally friendly company that manufactures various types of high- quality pulp, paper and paper-based packaging materials. Our mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron Wisconsin are integrated paper & pulp facilities, and our mill in Fairmont,
West Virginia is one of only three in the world that produces air-dried, recycled pulp. Our fourth mill in Old Town, ME produces softwood kraft pulp. We are proud of our 1400 dedicated employees, who together produce more than 1.2 million short tons of pulp & paper annually.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Demonstrate safety as a core value by actively leading the safe execution of procurement-related tasks and promoting a safe work environment.
2. Support Operations in sourcing chemicals and other direct materials to ensure efficient business continuity.
3. Support the end-to-end procure-to-pay process, including purchase order creation, price negotiation, and supplier inquiries.
4. Coordinate and execute all stages of the bidding process, such as RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs.
5. Develop and implement short-, mid-, and long-term sourcing strategies aligned with corporate and operational objectives.
6. Own and manage supplier relationships, including commercial negotiations and contract performance oversight.
7. Drive cost reduction and total cost of ownership improvements through strategic sourcing and innovative approaches.
8. Utilize data analytics, market intelligence, and cost modeling to support procurement decisions and mitigate supply risks.
9. Align sourcing initiatives with operational and technical team needs, including site-level procurement collaboration.
10. Continuously improve supplier performance, product quality, and sustainability while fostering innovation.
11. Identify and qualify alternative suppliers and materials to ensure supply chain resilience.

Process, Compliance, and Reporting:

1. Develop, maintain, and support procurement processes and procedures in collaboration with Operations and Accounts Payable.
2. Ensure adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements, including spend analysis and supplier performance monitoring.
3. Track and report on procurement performance metrics; reconcile purchase orders and invoices to ensure pricing and quantity accuracy.
4. Communicate proactively with internal stakeholders and suppliers regarding purchasing agreements, orders, pricing, and service-level expectations.

Required Experience:

1. 5 + years of business experience in strategic procurement or category management.
2. Proven experience managing chemical or raw materials categories, preferably in manufacturing or industrial sectors.
3. Demonstrated success in supplier negotiations, cost modeling, and implementing long-term agreements.
4. Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
5. Excellent stakeholder management skills – able to influence across all levels of an organization.
6. Proficiency with SAP or similar ERP systems.
7. Bachelors degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business Administration; advanced degree a plus.

Required skills:

1. A strategic thinker with a sharp eye for value and risk.
2. A hands-on leader with the drive and initiative to lead change and deliver results.
3. A strong communicator who can effectively bridge corporate strategy with mill- level execution.
4. Entrepreneurial and agile – comfortable navigating ambiguity and prioritizing in a fast-paced environment.
5. Passionate about building strong relationships and driving sustainable procurement excellence.

Attributes for Success

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Integrity - treat the company and teammates with upmost respect, operating on strong moral codes to drive company values and culture.
4. Sense of Urgency – drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business.
5. Entrepreneurial Spirit – act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
6. Adaptability – be fluid with ND Paper’s continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly.
7. Servant Leadership – set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.