What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sourcing Specialist position at Huhtamaki Group?
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Huhtamaki is a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, enabling wellbeing and convenience. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-the-shelf food and beverages, ensuring hygiene and safety, and help prevent food waste.
We are committed to protecting food, people and the planet and are on the lookout for passionate and consummate professionals to join our growing team to help us deliver on our ambitious 2030 Strategy. We look for colleagues who Care, Dare and Deliver.
Job Summary
Huhtamaki is seeking a Sourcing Specialist to strengthen our procurement capabilities in traded and finished products. Responsibilities include successfully negotiate major agreements to carry out the strategies developed for the commodity for which responsible. Draft agreements to reflect successful negotiations, complete legal review with corporate counsel, and drive organizational alignment with Huhtamaki and external suppliers in the traded goods space. This role will focus on sourcing finished goods across fiber-based, paperboard, flexible, and plastic packaging categories. The specialist will develop supplier relationships, manage risk, ensure compliance, optimize logistics, and drive cost savings for Huhtamaki’s global supply chain. Measure and report cost savings for the commodity for which responsible. Deploy category strategy with major strategic events involving trade regulation and international risks in mind.
Essential Functions
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Supplier & Product Qualification:
- Develop qualification plans to ensure supplier compliance with PFAS testing, California Prop 65, BPI compostability, FDA food-grade certification, and environmental sustainability standards (FSA).
- Conduct detailed material declarations for regulatory and environmental compliance.
- Ensure first article inspections and ongoing sampling controls and evidence captured to ensure quality control of product standards.
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Supplier Risk Management:
- Source from low-cost regions (China, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Venezuela, etc.) while managing risks related to forced labor restrictions, intellectual property infringement, tariff impacts and regulatory compliance.
- Establish supplier performance metrics and ensure ongoing compliance.
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Contracting & Implementation:
- Draft agreements reflecting successful negotiations.
- Complete legal review in coordination with corporate counsel.
- Implement contract terms across Huhtamaki manufacturing plants, ensuring successful execution.
- Identify potential issues and provide internal coaching as needed.
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Logistics & Cost Optimization:
- Coordinate with logistics teams to develop warehousing and transport strategies to improve supply chain efficiency around target regions/markets.
- Measure and report cost savings for assigned products.
- Stay ahead of strategic market changes and global sourcing risks.
Other tasks:
- Negotiate price on assigned commodities and services.
- Conduct market research and report trends and supply base opportunities.
- Develop team activities with plant buyers to aggregate buying power on systems/services.
- Act as liaison between supply base and company in conflict resolution.
- Establish material budget and track cost savings performance.
Job Qualifications
Required
- BS or BA in Business, supply chain, or materials related field. BS Engineering degree is a plus.
- 3-5 Years purchasing/sourcing experience
- Multi-plant purchasing/sourcing experience
- Ability to travel up to 25% for supplier visits, audits, or trade shows.
Preferred
- Experience with international sourcing, particularly in low-cost regions (LCRs) is a plus.
- Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance, product testing, supplier audits, and contract management.
- Experience with supplier negotiations, cost savings initiatives, and logistics coordination.
- Masters Business Administration (MBA) is a plus.
- 5 Years or more is a plus multi-plant purchasing experience
Environment
Work within an office type setting most of each day with controlled climate conditions.
Join us to shape the future together!
