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.
The Commodity & Chemical Category Manager is responsible for developing and
executing sourcing strategies for chemical and commodity inputs critical to ND
Paper's mill operations. This role drives supplier performance, negotiates cost
efficiencies, ensures supply continuity, and supports the company’s cost,
quality, and sustainability objectives. The ideal candidate brings strong
commercial acumen, deep industry knowledge in pulp and paper chemical markets,
and cross-functional leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Sourcing & Category Management
- Develop and lead end-to-end sourcing strategies for key commodity and
chemical categories (e.g., caustic soda, starches, polymers, colorants,
process chemicals).
- Perform total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses and market intelligence
reviews to inform procurement decisions.
- Identify and qualify suppliers aligned with ND Paper’s mill production needs
and environmental compliance standards.
Supplier Relationship & Performance Management
- Manage strategic supplier relationships, including performance reviews,
corrective actions, and innovation partnerships.
- Negotiate long-term agreements and mitigate supply risk through
multi-sourcing or buffer strategies.
- Collaborate with Quality, Technical, and EHS teams to ensure supplier
compliance with ND Paper specifications and safety protocols.
Operational Support
- Partner with mill-based operations, production planning, and logistics to
ensure seamless inbound supply of chemicals and raw materials.
- Monitor usage trends, coordinate with inventory teams, and proactively
address supply-demand imbalances.
- Work closely with finance and accounting to ensure accurate price tracking
and budget forecasting.
Continuous Improvement & Cost Savings
- Drive year-over-year savings targets through competitive bidding, value
engineering, or alternate formulations.
- Lead or support cross-functional initiatives to improve procurement
operations, sustainability, or product performance.
- Stay ahead of market trends in pulp & paper and chemical supply chains,
including regulatory impacts (e.g., REACH, TSCA, EPA rules).
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management,
preferably in chemicals, pulp & paper, or heavy manufacturing.
- Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
- Proficient in ERP/MRP systems (SAP preferred) and Excel-based modeling.
- Must be willing to travel up to 25%
- Proficiency in Mandarin
Preferred:
- Experience managing categories exceeding $20M in annual spend.
- Technical understanding of industrial chemicals and how they impact paper
manufacturing.
- Knowledge of sustainability regulations and supplier risk frameworks.
Key Competencies:
- Influence Without Authority – Drives change and alignment across mills and
corporate without formal control.
- Negotiation & Persuasion – Confidently navigates pricing, service terms, and
supplier accountability.
- Analytical Thinking – Assesses options with rigor; makes decisions backed by
data.
- Curiosity & Industry Insight – Stays informed on chemical trends, market
shifts, and innovation.
- Resilience – Maintains performance under pressure, especially during supply
chain disruptions.
- Ethics & Integrity – Prioritizes compliance, sustainability, and responsible
sourcing practices.
Success Indicators
Category
Definition
What Success Looks Like
Strategic Sourcing Expertise
Deep knowledge of sourcing practices, market analysis, and negotiation tactics
Develops and executes category strategies that yield >5% YoY cost savings and
mitigate inflationary pressures
Chemical Category Knowledge
Technical and commercial understanding of industrial chemicals used in pulp &
paper manufacturing
Selects suppliers based on cost, quality, environmental impact, and innovation
potential
Supplier Relationship Management
Ability to build strong supplier partnerships while holding them accountable to
performance
90%+ of chemical suppliers meet or exceed quality, delivery, and compliance
targets
Cross-functional Collaboration
Works fluidly with operations, technical, EHS, and logistics teams
Is trusted by mill leaders; supports smooth execution of trials, changeovers,
and formulations
Risk & Compliance Management
Proactively identifies and mitigates supplier and regulatory risk
No unplanned mill outages due to chemical supply failures; 100% regulatory
compliance
Commercial Acumen
Understands cost drivers, global markets, and can manage contracts effectively
Negotiates contracts with favorable payment terms, price indexing, and market
protection clauses
Operational Agility
Responsive to urgent needs without sacrificing long-term planning
Balances short-term firefighting with long-term strategy; keeps operations
stable in volatile markets
Data-Driven Mindset
Uses TCO analysis, should-cost modeling, and dashboards to drive decisions
Produces monthly category reports, tracks KPIs, and supports budgeting with
accurate forecasts
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.
Apply
Please submit your resume, and salary requirements to
https://us.ndpaper.com/careers [https://us.ndpaper.com/careers]
No unsolicited resumes - ND Paper does not accept unsolicited resumes from
search firms or employment agencies. Any unsolicited resume you submit to us
will immediately become the property of ND Paper. If you would like to become a
recruiter for ND Paper, please contact us and we will agree in writing to terms
and the specific job roles for which you are authorized to recruit.
