Purchasing Category Manager

Pratt Industries is seeking a strategic Corporate Purchasing Professional to oversee our Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) and Safety categories. This role is designed for a proactive leader who doesn't just manage existing accounts but actively initiates new projects to drive efficiency and cost reduction across our North American footprint. Focusing heavily on Maintenance Services, Power Transmission (PT), industrial belting, and comprehensive Safety/PPE programs. Bridging the gap between corporate procurement, plant-level maintenance, and EHS teams to ensure 100% contract compliance and operational excellence.

Your mission is to eliminate fragmented spending by ensuring all manufacturing plants are aligned with our corporate supply chain strategy. You will bridge the gap between corporate procurement, plant-level maintenance, and EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) teams to drive cost savings, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Key ResponsibilitiesNational Agreement Management:

Develop, negotiate, and implement master service agreements for MRO, Power Transmission, and Safety/PPE supplies.

Safety & Compliance Sourcing:

Standardize all Safety and PPE items (gloves, hearing protection, fall protection, etc.) across the organization to ensure high-quality standards and volume-based pricing.

Standardization & Conversion:

Lead the initiative to convert plant-specific OEM parts to preferred brand equivalents to leverage volume discounts.

Supplier Consolidation:

Audit plant-level purchasing habits to ensure 100% compliance with national contracts; transition plants away from "rogue" local suppliers.

System Integration:

Utilize SAP and CMMS Systems to track spend analytics, manage vendor catalogs, and monitor inventory levels across multiple sites.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

Partner with Plant Managers, Maintenance Leads, and Safety Managers to troubleshoot supply chain bottlenecks and introduce new, cost-effective technologies.

National Agreement & Contract Management:

Develop and negotiate master service agreements for MRO, Power Transmission (PT), and Safety/PPE. Perform rigorous contract reviews to ensure favorable terms, liability protection, and service level KPIs.

Project Initiation & Cost Savings:

Proactively identify and launch new procurement projects. Track and report on "Year-over-Year" cost savings and process improvements to senior leadership.

Qualifications & SkillsExperience:

5+ years in industrial procurement, specifically within a manufacturing or packaging environment.

Technical Expertise:

Deep understanding of MRO categories (bearings, motors, conveyors) and Industrial Safety standards.

Systems Proficiency:

Hands-on experience with SAP (ERP) and CMMS Systems for inventory and work order management is required.

Negotiation:

Proven track record of negotiating multi-million dollar national contracts and managing vendor performance (KPIs/SLAs).

Analytical Mindset:

Ability to pull data from multiple systems to identify "leakage" where plants are not following national pricing or safety protocols.

Market Intelligence:

Able to obtain deep market knowledge of industrial commodities. Track pricing trends, lead-time fluctuations, and global supply chain shifts to mitigate risk and time buys effectively.

Pratt Industries is America's 4th largest paper and packaging company with more than 10,000 highly skilled green collar employees dedicated to the environment and sustainability. Pratt Industries is one of the largest corrugated packaging companies in America, with sophisticated manufacturing facilities in more than twenty states. The company operates several of the most modern, cost effective paper mills in the country, as well as a series of sheet and box plants strategically placed throughout the United States offering a wide range of creative packaging solutions. Pratt Industries is committed to recycling and the environment by harvesting the urban forest.

Pratt Industries offers competitive compensation plans with incentive opportunities, full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k) with company match, paid vacation, paid holidays, and childbearing and parental leave.