Strategic Sourcing Category Manager

Job Details: Level: Experienced, Job Location: BOX Home Office

• Elgin, IL, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: 4 Year Degree, Salary Range: $80000.00 - $120000.00Salary/year, Job Shift: Day, Job Category: Supply Chain, Job Summary: We are seeking a highly driven and strategic professional procurement to lead sourcing initiatives and category management across domestic packaging categories. This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports, designed for an experienced sourcing professional who can independently own supplier relationships, category strategies, negotiations, cost-saving initiatives, and procurement process improvements. The Strategic Sourcing & Category Specialist will serve as a key subject-matter expert within the procurement team, partnering closely with suppliers and internal departments to improve cost, quality, service, reliability, and overall supply chain performance. The role combines the analytical and supplier-development strengths of a Sourcing Specialist with broader ownership of strategic sourcing and category management. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment and brings strong packaging industry knowledge, supplier relationships, negotiation skills, and analytical capabilities. Working for BOX Partners provides a fast-paced, high-growth environment ideal for professionals who can operate independently, take ownership of strategic initiatives, and are motivated by opportunities for continued career advancement. The salary is commensurate with experience; the range of this position is $80k - $100K. This position is bonus eligible and dependent upon company goal achievement Duties & Responsibilities Develop and execute sourcing and category management strategies for domestic packaging categories Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, RFPs, and contracting activities Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships while holding suppliers accountable to company expectations for cost, quality, service, and reliability Identify new suppliers and sourcing opportunities within the packaging industry Drive annual cost savings initiatives and achieve agreed-upon savings goals established with the VP of Procurement Analyze spend data, market indices, industry trends, and category intelligence to support purchasing decisions and procurement strategies Identify and implement process improvements to enhance procurement efficiency and operational effectiveness Oversee item setup accuracy including costs, supplier assignments, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and maintenance of over 40,000 item configurations Support supplier performance management and ongoing supplier development initiatives Partner with operations, inventory management, transportation, and other internal departments to support business objectives Assist in developing procurement standards, reporting, and KPI tracking Qualifications: Required Skills & Abilities Established network and strong relationships within the domestic packaging and corrugated supplier community Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills Excellent verbal and written communication skills Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel Strong understanding of sourcing, procurement, inventory management, distribution, transportation, and supply chain processes Ability to analyze market data and make data-driven business decisions Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously Leadership and mentoring capabilities with a collaborative management style Education & Experience Work History Requirements 3-5 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, category management, or buying roles Packaging industry experience strongly preferred Experience leading projects, initiatives, or team members preferred Experience with strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and procurement analytics required Education Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field preferred Equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience will be considered Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Other duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. BOX Partners is an E-Verify employer. We will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's form I-9 to confirm work authorization. BOX Partners does not use E-Verify to pre-screen applicants.