Job Description
The Site Buyer – Capital & Maintenance is responsible for the procurement of MRO supplies, maintenance services, and capital equipment to support mill operations. This role ensures continuity of supply, cost effectiveness, and alignment with project and maintenance schedules. The ideal candidate combines tactical buying capabilities with strategic thinking and leadership potential, making them a strong internal candidate for future progression into site-level purchasing leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement Execution
• Source, negotiate, and issue purchase orders for capital equipment, maintenance services, spare parts, and MRO materials in alignment with plant needs.
• Manage procurement activities related to planned shutdowns, emergency repairs, and capex projects.
• Ensure compliance with company procurement policies and delegated authority levels.
Supplier Management
• Build and maintain relationships with local, regional, and strategic vendors.
• Drive supplier performance by tracking on-time delivery, service quality, and cost competitiveness.
• Collaborate with EHS, Engineering, and Maintenance to vet suppliers for safety, quality, and reliability.
Contracting & Compliance
• Support the drafting, review, and execution of contracts and service agreements in coordination with legal and corporate sourcing.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, legal, and ethical sourcing practices.
Cost & Spend Optimization
• Identify cost savings opportunities and alternative sourcing strategies.
• Analyze spend data to reduce tail spend and consolidate suppliers where feasible.
• Assist in budget planning for MRO and capital expenditures.
Collaboration & Planning
• Partner with the maintenance, engineering, and operations teams to proactively plan procurement needs.
• Ensure parts and services are in place to support project timelines and plant reliability targets.
• Support inventory optimization efforts in collaboration with storeroom personnel.
Leadership Development
• Learn and participate in key processes required of a future Purchasing Manager, including supplier audits, team supervision, and strategic sourcing planning.
• Serve as deputy to Purchasing Manager during absences and contribute to cross-functional leadership initiatives.
Requirements
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor\'s degree in Supply Chain, Purchasing, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5-7 years of experience in procurement, preferably in a manufacturing, heavy industry, or capital project environment
• 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
Preferred:
• Experience supporting capital projects >$500K
• Exposure to procurement for a pulp and paper or continuous manufacturing facility
• Familiarity with reliability-centered maintenance programs
Key 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.
What we offer
Growth Pathway
This role is designed as a succession path into the Purchasing Manager role within the site procurement function. Candidates will receive mentorship, exposure to broader supplier strategy, and increasing responsibility in vendor oversight, budgeting, and team leadership.
Category Definition What Success Looks Like
Procurement Execution Efficiently executes RFQs, purchase orders, and vendor onboarding processes 95% of POs issued on time with complete documentation; <2% rate of purchase order revisions or rework
Capital & MRO Support Ensures material and service availability for maintenance and capex activities No delays to scheduled projects due to procurement-related issues; >98% OTIF (on-time, in-full) rate for critical parts
Cost Management Achieves cost savings through negotiation, competitive bidding, and sourcing alternatives Achieves ≥5% cost savings annually on addressable spend; implements at least one alternative supplier or spec change per quarter
Supplier Relationship Management Develops and maintains vendor relationships to support site needs and mitigate risk Maintains active performance reviews for top 10 suppliers; resolves disputes without escalation in ≥90% of cases
Contracting & Compliance Ensures vendor compliance with safety, legal, and procedural requirements 100% contract compliance for services; no audit findings or policy violations attributable to purchasing activity
Cross-Functional Collaboration Works effectively with maintenance, engineering, operations, and finance teams Stakeholder satisfaction; anticipates needs and provides proactive support during outages or shutdowns
Leadership Development Demonstrates readiness for higher responsibility by leading initiatives and improving systems Leads at least 2 procurement improvement projects annually; serves as interim backup for Purchasing Manager as needed
System Proficiency & Data Integrity Maintains accurate records in ERP system and tracks purchasing performance 100% accurate documentation, pricing, lead time, and vendor info; generates monthly spend reports with minimal oversight
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.
Salary
The salary range for this position is between $ 125.000-$150.000
Contact person
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