First Quality was founded in 1989 and has grown to be a global privately held company with over 4,000 employees. Its corporate offices are in Great Neck, New York, with manufacturing facilities and offices in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia, and Canada. First Quality is a diversified family of companies manufacturing consumer products ranging from Absorbent Hygiene (adult incontinence, feminine care, and baby care), Tissue (bath and towel), and Industrial (print and packaging materials), serving institutional and retail markets throughout the world. First Quality focuses on private label and branded product lines.
We are seeking a skilled Capital Procurement Category Manager to join our dynamic procurement team at our First Quality Tissue SE, LLC facility in Anderson, SC. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing the procurement of capital goods and services, ensuring cost-effectiveness, quality, and timely delivery. This role requires strong negotiation skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate across departments to achieve business objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement strategic sourcing strategies for capital expenditures across the organization.
- Identify and onboard suppliers capable of meeting quality, cost, and delivery requirements for capital projects.
- Preparation and issuance of requests for proposal, evaluation of total cost options, and presentation of sourcing recommendations for capital purchases
- Negotiate cost, warranty, freight terms, contracts, and agreements with suppliers, ensuring favorable terms and conditions.
- Awarding and executing contracts.
- Expedites orders that are critical to the operation of the Plants and those orders that are behind schedule.
- Monitor market trends and conditions to anticipate changes in pricing, availability, and supply dynamics.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders such as engineering, operations, and finance to align procurement strategies with business goals.
- Manage supplier relationships and performance, conducting regular reviews and implementing improvement plans, as necessary.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives in procurement processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures throughout the procurement process.
- Prepare and present reports and updates to management on procurement activities, cost savings, and supplier performance.
- Assists Accounting in resolving purchase/billing discrepancies.
- Trains, monitors, mentors, and assists team members in performance of their duties.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Minimum 5 years procurement experience. Capital procurement experience in manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of procurement best practices, contract management, and supplier relationship management.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Certification in Procurement or Supply Chain Management (e.g., APICS, CPSM).
- Experience with project management methodologies.
Personal Attributes:
- Strategic thinker with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
- Strong leadership and influencing skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and changing environment.
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.