Global Category Manager, Recycled Resins

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food beverage and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice restaurant delivery and carryout food processing grocery and retail and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin paper molded fiber aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories 250 brands and over 39000 SKUs.

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated strategic and results-driven Global Category Manager Recycled Resins to lead sourcing and category management activities for circular materials and recycled resins used across our Flexible and Rigid Packaging businesses.

This role is responsible for developing and executing global category strategies that drive value creation through cost optimization supply assurance sustainability advancement innovation and risk mitigation. The successful candidate will work closely with cross-functional teams including Sustainability Innovation Operations Supply Chain Commercial and Finance to secure competitive supply solutions while supporting the companys recycled-content commitments and sustainability goals.

The Global Category Manager will serve as a subject matter expert on recycled resin markets supplier capabilities emerging technologies regulatory developments and sustainability trends influencing the packaging industry.

Ideal candidates will be based in Lake Forest IL Charlotte NC or Covington KY.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Sourcing Leadership

• Manage the recycled resin category on a global basis with full accountability for category performance.
• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with company objectives for cost supply continuity innovation sustainability and risk management.
• Develop sourcing strategies for post-consumer recycled (PCR) post-industrial recycled (PIR) mechanically recycled and advanced recycled resin solutions.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives including RFIs RFPs negotiations supplier selections and contract management.
• Identify cost savings opportunities and supply chain efficiencies across the category.
• Maintain comprehensive category plans project documentation contracts and sourcing records.
• Support make-versus-buy analyses and strategic business decisions.

Market Intelligence & Cost Management

• Monitor recycled resin market dynamics including feedstock availability bale pricing recycling economics capacity expansions competitive activity and emerging technologies.
• Build cost models and market forecasts to support sourcing decisions and pricing negotiations.
• Conduct spending analyses to evaluate supplier allocation category trends cost drivers and value creation opportunities.
• Develop market benchmarks and best practices to drive best-in-class procurement performance across business units.
• Communicate market trends opportunities risks and recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Develop evaluate and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Lead supplier negotiations and secure commercial agreements that support business objectives.
• Establish supplier performance metrics and scorecards covering cost quality delivery service sustainability and innovation.
• Drive supplier development initiatives focused on improving quality capacity traceability sustainability metrics and operational reliability.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities and support qualification of new suppliers technologies and recycled materials.
• Own supplier performance and corrective action processes when required.

Sustainability & Innovation

• Partner with Sustainability R&D Product Development Commercial and Operations teams to achieve recycled-content objectives and sustainability targets.
• Support innovation initiatives with suppliers that improve product performance material circularity and environmental outcomes.
• Identify and commercialize new recycled resin technologies and supply solutions.
• Support qualification and implementation of new materials to support customer and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of evolving sustainability regulations Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs food-contact requirements and recycled-content legislation.

Risk Management & Supply Assurance

• Proactively identify and mitigate supply risks through supplier diversification business continuity planning inventory strategies and alternate material qualifications.
• Monitor geopolitical regulatory operational and market risks that could impact supply continuity.
• Develop contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted supply to manufacturing operations.
• Support crisis management and rapid response efforts during market disruptions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead cross-functional sourcing and innovation projects without direct reporting authority.
• Build strong partnerships across Procurement Sustainability Operations Supply Chain Sales Marketing Finance and R&D.
• Influence stakeholders through data-driven insights and strategic recommendations.
• Communicate project progress achievements risks and key decisions to leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Business Supply Chain Engineering Chemistry Finance or related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in strategic sourcing category management procurement supply chain or related commercial roles.
• Demonstrated success leading supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Strong analytical financial modeling and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing category strategies and delivering measurable value.
• Excellent communication presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Preferred

• Experience sourcing recycled resins virgin resins packaging materials or related petrochemical products.
• Knowledge of polyethylene (PE) polypropylene (PP) PET polystyrene (PS) and other packaging materials.
• Experience within recycling packaging polymers chemicals consumer products or manufacturing industries.
• Understanding of PCR PIR mechanical recycling chemical recycling mass balance systems and circular economy principles.
• Familiarity with sustainability certifications and compliance programs such as ISCC APR FDA food-contact requirements or similar standards.

Travel

• Ability to travel approximately 20-30% including supplier visits manufacturing locations conferences and industry events.

Measures of Success

• Achievement of annual savings and value creation objectives.
• Successful execution of recycled-content and sustainability goals.
• Improved supplier performance across cost quality delivery and service.
• Effective mitigation of supply risks and business continuity concerns.
• Commercialization of new recycled material solutions.
• Development of a resilient competitive and sustainable supplier network.
• Positive contribution to company sustainability commitments and customer objectives.

Compensation:

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $135000 - 155000 bonus benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range individual pay is determined by job-related skills experience and relevant education or training. At Novolex it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match comprehensive medical dental and vision insurance flexible spending and health savings accounts paid vacation and sick days paid parental leave paid holidays and wellness program.

#LI-TM1

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

At Novolex giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union) and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices including but not limited to selection hiring promotion transfer and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age race color national origin sex pregnancy sexual orientation gender identity religion handicap or disability genetics citizenship status service member or veteran status or any other category protected by federal state or local law. Any individual who because of his or her disability needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Companys application process should contact .

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen