Packaging Category Manager

Job Summary

The Packaging Category Manager oversees the strategic development and execution of the packaging product category to drive growth, enhance margins, and manage supplier relationships. This role is key in guiding product portfolio decisions, pricing strategies, and inventory management to maximize category profitability. Collaboration with Sales, Purchasing, Supply Chain Analytics, and external suppliers ensures alignment on goals and market competitiveness. This position does not handle everyday purchase order activities but focuses on strategic commercial leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and sustain the packaging category strategy aligned with organizational growth targets, margin objectives, supplier partnerships, inventory policies, and customer requirements.
• Recognize expansion opportunities such as product diversification, private labeling, preferred supplier initiatives, product substitution, cross-selling, and emerging customer demands.
• Coordinate with the Director of Category Management to define annual objectives, strategic priorities, and actionable plans.
• Continuously monitor market trends, industry competition, customer needs, supplier developments, and overall category conditions.
• Drive corrective measures to improve underperforming products, suppliers, customer engagements, or margin trends.
• Maintain alternate sourcing lists and substitute product catalogs to mitigate supply risks and meet customer expectations.
• Analyze financial and commercial metrics including sales figures, gross margin improvements, rebate incomes, SKU productivity, supplier performance, inventory turnover, and overall category profitability.
• Implement margin controls, pricing policies, supplier cost changes, and profitability benchmarks for the category.
• Collaborate with Finance and Sales leaders on customer-specific inventory management, profitability analysis, deal economics, and corrective strategies.
• Support customer-focused stocking processes addressing volume commitments, margin objectives, supplier backing, inventory risk, and contingency plans.
• Assist sales in sourcing new products, prioritizing core commodities and exploring alternatives when necessary.
• Lead negotiations with suppliers on rebates, cost adjustments, private label programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Work together with purchasing to resolve supplier issues including service levels, lead times, fill rates, backorders, cost fluctuations, and supply disruptions.
• Identify and qualify new suppliers to minimize risks, boost competitiveness, and support category growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned, with flexibility to adapt to evolving organizational needs.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Statistics, or related domains preferred; relevant experience may substitute.
• 1 to 3 years' experience in supply chain analytics, planning, logistics, or data analysis.
• Strong analytical aptitude to handle large datasets and detect meaningful trends or discrepancies.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel with familiarity with database systems.
• Experience or familiarity with ERP software, planning tools, and business intelligence platforms is advantageous.
• Fundamental knowledge of supply chain principles, statistical analysis, and inventory control.
• Meticulous and well-organized with capable problem-solving skills.
• Communicates effectively and collaborates well within team settings.
• Prior experience in wholesale distribution or paper/packaging industries is a plus.
• English language proficiency essential for communication and business operations.
• Capable of working independently as well as in team environments.
• Must pass a drug screening and criminal background check to qualify.

Work Conditions

• Role involves frequent walking and standing for extended durations.
• Requires verbal communication in person and by phone.
• Physical activities include reaching, bending, twisting, and lifting objects up to 25 pounds.
• Visual demands include close and distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Uses written and oral communication regularly and interacts with multiple organizational levels.
• Primarily office-based work environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer is committed to equal opportunity employment and does not discriminate based on age, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disabilities, protected veteran status, or any legally protected status.