At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic procurement for paperboard, ensuring supply continuity and improving supplier performance.
- Company: Join Sabert Corporation, a global leader in sustainable food packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and opportunities to travel across Europe.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a commitment to sustainability and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in sustainable innovation within a fast-growing international company.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic procurement, strong negotiation skills, and relevant qualifications.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ 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.
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.
- Structured, disciplined, reliable, strong documentation habits.
- 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 Leicester employer: Sabert Corporation Europe
Sabert Corporation is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Nivelles that fosters innovation and sustainability. Employees benefit from a culture of collaboration and growth, with opportunities for professional development and strategic involvement in procurement processes. Joining Sabert means being part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to delivering high-quality, sustainable packaging solutions while enjoying the advantages of working in a fast-growing international company.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing Manager, Paperboard in Leicester
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Sabert Corporation Europe.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Manager, Paperboard in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Sabert Corporation Europe:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Sabert Corporation Europe. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Sabert Corporation Europe.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sabert Corporation Europe
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Sabert Corporation Europe!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Sabert Corporation Europe. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Sabert Corporation Europe's culture.
