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- Tasks: Lead strategic procurement for paperboard and enhance supplier performance across Europe.
- Company: Join Sabert Corporation, a global leader in sustainable food packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and opportunities for international travel.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a commitment to sustainability and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in sustainable innovation while working with top suppliers.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in strategic procurement and negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Sabert Corporation is a global leader in food presentation, service and packaging products. Its customers include food service professionals, food manufacturers, fast food chains and large retail chains. Through partnerships with its customers, Sabert Corporation Europe develops its products and production processes in a culture of sustainable development. Nivelles is the European production and distribution centre for Sabert Corporation products. We also have sites in the United Kingdom (Flitwick) and Poland (Łódź), which specialise in cardboard and processed paper. More than 330 people work at Sabert Europe, whether in researching solutions tailored to its customers, production, developing its sales networks, logistics or administration. Over the years, Sabert has strengthened and diversified its portfolio to offer multi-material food packaging solutions incorporating plastic, cardboard and pulp (moulded fibre). This approach enables the company to respond quickly and effectively to market developments, while meeting growing expectations in terms of sustainability and performance in food packaging. Joining Sabert means becoming part of a fast-growing international company committed to sustainable innovation.
Sabert is seeking a Purchasing Manager, Paperboard for its site located in Flitwick. Business trips to Sabert Belgium and suppliers are to be expected from time to time.
ROLE PURPOSE
To lead strategic procurement for paperboard across the European Business Area, protecting margin, supporting Sabert’s innovative USP, improving supplier performance, and ensuring supply continuity. Over time, the role will broaden beyond paperboard, developing capability across other substrates (pulp, plastics, and related materials) to support long term procurement continuity and succession planning. This is a strategic procurement role, not an operational buying role.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Paperboard Strategic Sourcing Leadership
- Own sourcing strategy for paperboard raw material and traded goods, aligned to business needs and growth plans
- Lead supplier selection, agreements, and any minor or major renegotiations
- Manage index linked pricing mechanisms and resets, ensuring transparency and control
- Build resilience through dual sourcing where required
- Commercial Discipline and Margin Protection
- Build and maintain clean pricing logic for raw material cost movements
- Support tender and RFQ pricing governance, ensuring margin integrity
- Work closely with Commercial to anticipate cost movements and protect pricing positions
- Supplier Relationship Management and Performance
- Own paperboard supplier relationships and governance cadence
- Lead structured quarterly business reviews
- Drive measurable improvement in quality, service, claims reduction, and responsiveness
- Manage escalation of supply risk and quality issues
- Procurement Governance, Reporting and Sustainability
- Maintain governance over supplier contracts, commercial risk exposure and renewal strategy
- Develop procurement performance dashboards and KPIs to drive vendor performance, cost transparency and risk management
- Improve process discipline for approvals, rebates, and documented agreements
- Build structured procurement processes and documentation to ensure continuity, transparency and organisational resilience
- Embed sustainability criteria into supplier selection and sourcing decisions
- Support delivery of company sustainability commitments through responsible sourcing of paperboard
- Work with suppliers to improve environmental performance, compliance and material innovation
- NPD and Specification Commercial Oversight (Paperboard Related)
- Partner with NPD and Operations to ensure new paperboard developments meet target cost and performance
- Challenge specification creep, ensure cost sign off discipline
- Support tooling and supplier decisions from a commercial and sourcing perspective
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
- Strong experience in strategic procurement or sourcing in paperboard and paperboard packaging
- Proven negotiation capability with suppliers
- Commercially minded, comfortable with margin and cost modelling
- CIPS qualification, Level 4+, or equivalent, and regime of recent continuous professional development
- Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent experience
Purchasing Manager, Paperboard in Flitwick employer: Sabert Corporation Europe
Contact Detail:
Sabert Corporation Europe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing Manager, Paperboard in Flitwick
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend relevant events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Purchasing Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Sabert Corporation and its sustainability initiatives. We want to see your passion for food packaging and how you can contribute to our innovative approach. Show us you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Purchasing Manager, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to manage supplier relationships effectively. We suggest role-playing scenarios with friends or colleagues to sharpen those skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Manager, Paperboard in Flitwick
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Purchasing Manager role. Highlight your strategic procurement experience, especially in paperboard and packaging. We want to see how your skills align with our needs at Sabert!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about sustainable innovation in food packaging and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it engaging and relevant to the role.
Showcase Your Negotiation Skills: Since negotiation is key for this role, be sure to include examples of successful negotiations you've led in the past. We love seeing how you've protected margins and built strong supplier relationships!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sabert Corporation Europe
✨Know Your Paperboard Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of paperboard and its applications in packaging. Understand the latest trends in sustainability and how they relate to procurement. This will show that you're not just familiar with the material, but also passionate about its future.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since this role involves significant supplier negotiations, prepare by reviewing your past experiences where you've successfully negotiated terms. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your capability and confidence in handling supplier relationships.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Think about how you would approach developing a sourcing strategy for paperboard. Be prepared to share your ideas on dual sourcing and managing pricing mechanisms. This will highlight your strategic mindset and ability to protect margins while ensuring supply continuity.
✨Emphasise Sustainability Commitment
Given Sabert's focus on sustainable innovation, be ready to discuss how you can integrate sustainability into procurement processes. Share examples of how you've previously worked with suppliers to improve environmental performance, as this aligns perfectly with the company's values.