Wood Procurement Manager

Company Overview:

Royal Oak Enterprises, LLC is a leading manufacturer and marketer of branded and private label charcoal, manufactured fire logs, fire building products, matches and toothpicks.  In addition, the Company also manufactures railroad cross ties, which strengthens our relationship with our suppliers in the charcoal business.  We offer a full suite of grilling products including charcoal briquettes, all-natural lump charcoal, fire starters along with the Pine Mountain fire building brand, the Diamond brand, and the Specialty Wood Products brand. 

Position Summary:  

The Wood Procurement Manager is responsible for sourcing and purchasing waste wood (Slabs, Blocks, Rounds, etc.) from sawmills, negotiating prices, and arranging delivery to Kiln sites. This position reports to the Director, Planning & Procurement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the procurement of all kiln wood for all kiln sites with a focus on quality, cost, and inventory.
• Maintain budgeted inventory levels across kiln sites, ensuring adequate supply for each kiln site production needs.
• Develop annual costing budget, planning cost per ton by site along with inventory and purchase plan.
• Manage a diverse portfolio of several hundred sawmills, each with different markets and competitive structures, ensuring we are purchasing from the best quality suppliers at the best price.
• Negotiate the best purchase price with suppliers based on market trends, availability, and wood quality.
• Manage 1-2 Direct Reports as business needs evolve.  
• Determine/direct the freight rates charged for hauling materials.  Negotiate hauling costs and terms.
• Submit Purchase Orders for kiln raw materials and manage all relevant system requirements for PO management.
• Visit sawmills on a frequent basis to maintain relationships, keep up with market status, competitive activity, etc.
• Conduct thorough market/competitive analyses on a frequent, consistent basis to properly price raw materials.
• Identify potential new suppliers with competitive pricing and qualify for purchasing.
• Inspect quality of slabs, evaluating species, dimensions, and suitability for intended applications.
• Provide weekly and monthly reporting on purchases, inventory, and annual outlook.
• Draft and manage purchase agreements with suppliers, ensuring favorable pricing, terms, and compliance with quality standards; lead renewal process for expiring contracts.
• Maintain Forest Forever agreements, Code of Conduct policies, and any other required Supplier compliance.
• Participate in Associations and attend conferences that represent the spectrum of the wood industry/supply chain.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Missouri/Arkansas based with the ability to work remotely in the area as well as travel to sites.
• Bachelor's degree or relevant experience.
• 10 years purchasing experience.
• Ability to travel to Sawmills, Kiln Sites, Roswell, GA office; Day Travel 25%-50% - Overnight travel 10%-20%.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to lead and manage 1-2 direct reports.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills; ability to analyze data, generate reports, and present results to leadership.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, strong Excel skills required.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, prioritize workload, and work independently.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving; ability to influence others.
• Willingness to learn and understand the wood market and supply chain from the forest to lump charcoal.

Role Specific Benefits:

• Company vehicle
• Home Office Supplies reimbursement 

Royal Oak Enterprises, LLC is an equal opportunity employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an all-inclusive environment.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.  However, we are not able to sponsor visas.