Category Manager - Services & Capital at ND Paper in Canada (full-time)

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.

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.