Packaging Purchasing Manager

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

Strategic sourcing of packaging materials for the local plant ensuring compliance with marketing and production specifications, providing realistic estimated costs and timings to meet projected plans.

Responsibilities

• Meets with internal stakeholders regarding future launches (RFC)
• Sources new materials ensuring that they are compliant to the needs of the company by submitting samples and specifications to both Production and Marketing
• Maintains and updates supplier contract agreements in SAP ensuring that the correct prices are used when packaging is ordered by the Materials Planner.
• Works with vendors and internal team members to get timely sign off on packaging specifications, artwork die lines, and colour match approvals.
• Works with vendors to create and manages packaging component specifications, drawing and pallet patterns, and testing.
• Negotiates pricing, Inventory Program, and terms of payment.
• Maintains and monitors all open contracts, expiration dates and balances in SAP.
• Resolves disputes with supplies pertaining to pricing, quality, delivery or any other disputes.
• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with key vendors of packaging materials fostering new vendor relationships and opportunities.
• Understands cost drivers and supply markets, tradeoffs and/or risks, quality, cost and schedules requirements; as required, assisting in short and long-term projections, as well as new launches.
• Seeks opportunities to develop and implement cost savings,
• Resolves any pricing issues between vendors and A/P; additional supply inquiries and follow-ups, as needed
• Acts as a liaison between vendors and other functional areas of the company such as R&D, Regulatory, Creative, Sales and Production with regards to any new projects, packaging, specifications/design/creative-artwork
• Collaborates with Master Scheduler/Material buyer/Chemical Purchasing Manager with new sku launches, supplier quality concerns, on line delivery issues, etc.
• Monthly reporting of Purchasing Spend by Sku/Vendor to Henkle Global Business Solution
• Manages yearly spend by vendor and category
• Other duties and projects as assigned by Head of Operations and Supply Chain, Warehouse and Supply Chain Manager, Plant Manager and Maintenance Manager

Experience / Requirements

• Certified Purchasing Certificate
• Diploma/ Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Procurement or Chemistry
• 10 years or more of Packaging Purchasing Management
• Understanding USMCA (NAFTA) requirements and applications
• Understanding of Import / Export
• Exceptional Understanding Printing Artwork process
• Good Understanding of Blow Molding/Injection Molding
• Fair Understanding of Logistics
• Strong understanding of the Purchasing module of SAP
• Knowledge of Inventory Management process
• Basic Microsoft Office.
• Management – supervising staff.
• Decision Making.
• Budgeting.

Work Environment / Other Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting.
• On site - office environment.
• Visiting off site vendors – Driver’s license and ability to travel outside of Canada if necessary.

Travel

• May require up to 20% of travel to US facilities

Safety Responsibilities

Comply with all safety company policies as well as provincial and local regulations, with the support and guidance of Corporate SHE authorities

Estimated annual base salary range for this position is $95, 000 - $120,000 CAD