Procurement Project Lead

Job Description

PROCUREMENT PROJECT LEAD

Department Global Procurement

Primary Reports To Procurement Project Manager

Also Supports Procurement Operational Improvement Manager

Job Level Mid-Level Individual Contributor

Employment Type Full-Time

Pay Level: $101,000 - $118,600 (PL 12)

Physical Location:

Memphis Corporate Towers

6400 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, TN 38197

Or

Loveland, OH Office

6283 Tri-Ridge Blvd

Loveland, OH 45140

Position Overview

International Paper is looking for a Procurement Project Lead to support the execution and continuous improvement of our Global Procurement operations. Reporting to the Procurement Project Manager and providing cross-functional support to the Procurement Operational Improvement Manager, this role is integral to how we plan, launch, and sustain initiatives that make our procurement organization more effective.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who can manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, navigate ambiguity with confidence, and serve as a connector between procurement, IT, finance, and supplier teams. From driving material harmonization and vendor reduction initiatives to rolling out new systems and maintaining our SharePoint environment, this role touches every corner of the procurement function.

Key Responsibilities

Project Execution & Management

• Support the planning, coordination, and on-time delivery of procurement projects, including material harmonization, vendor reduction, contract consolidation, and process redesign initiatives.

• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, status trackers, and milestone reports that keep stakeholders informed and accountable.

• Facilitate project meetings, capture action items, and follow up to ensure commitments are met across cross-functional teams.

• Identify project risks and escalate issues proactively to the Procurement Project Manager with recommended mitigation approaches.

• Document project outcomes, lessons learned, and process changes for future reference and organizational knowledge retention.

System Rollout & Operational Improvement Support

• Assist the Procurement Operational Improvement Manager in the planning and execution of new system implementations and process upgrades across the procurement organization.

• Coordinate user acceptance testing (UAT), data migration activities, and go-live readiness for new procurement tools and platforms.

• Support change management efforts by communicating system updates, preparing materials, and gathering feedback from end users.

• Help to identify and document process inefficiencies and contribute to the development of improved standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Track operational improvement KPIs and assist in compiling progress reports for leadership review.

Training & Capability Development

• Coordinate and support delivery of Procurement IQ training programs and other procurement capability-building initiatives across the team.

• Maintain training calendars, enrollment tracking, and completion records to ensure procurement staff meet required learning milestones.

• Develop training support materials such as user guides, quick reference cards, FAQs, and process walkthroughs for newly deployed systems and best practices.

• Partner with subject matter experts to keep training content current as tools, policies, and processes evolve.

• Serve as a point of contact for team members seeking guidance on systems, processes, or procurement best practices.

SharePoint Management & Content Governance

• Own the day-to-day maintenance of the Procurement SharePoint environment, including site structure, permissions, document libraries, and page content.

• Ensure procurement resources - policies, templates, training materials, project trackers, and supplier information - are organized, current, and easily accessible.

• Develop and enforce content governance standards to maintain consistency and quality across all SharePoint sites.

• Collaborate with IT and business stakeholders to implement SharePoint enhancements that improve team productivity and information sharing.

• Respond to SharePoint-related requests and troubleshoot access or content issues for procurement team members.

Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination

• Support vendor reduction and rationalization projects by coordinating supplier data collection, outreach, and transition communications.

• Assist in preparing materials for supplier reviews, business reviews, and internal leadership updates related to active procurement projects.

• Build effective working relationships with internal customers in Finance, Operations, Legal, and IT to advance project goals.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in Supply Chain or related field

• 3-5 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, project coordination, or a related operations role.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail and follow-through.

• Proficiency with Microsoft SharePoint - including site administration, document library management, and permissions.

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 tools including Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• Experience supporting system implementations, rollouts, or process improvement initiatives.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear project documentation and stakeholder updates.

• Comfortable working across functions and levels of the organization with a collaborative, service-oriented mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with procurement or ERP platforms such as SAP, Coupa, Ariba, or similar tools.

• Familiarity with Procurement IQ or other procurement training and certification platforms.

• Exposure to vendor consolidation, spend rationalization, or material standardization projects.

• Basic project management certification (PMP, CAPM, or similar) or equivalent practical experience.

• Experience in manufacturing, packaging, or industrial procurement environments.

• Ability to create training materials and facilitate end-user training sessions.

_._ Competencies:

• Action Oriented

• Tech Savvy

• Communicates Effectively

• Nimble Learning

• Instills Trust

About Us

The Benefits You Will Enjoy:

International Paper offers a benefits package that includes health, welfare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short-term and Long-term Disability, 401(k), Company-funded retirement contributions, Paid Time Off, Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement), Student Loan Repayment Assistance, and Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision and pets

The Career You Will Build:

Leadership training, promotional opportunities

The Impact You Will Make:

We continue to build a better future for people, the planet, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 125 years. Join our team and you'll see why our team members say they're Proud to be IP.

The Culture You Will Experience:

International Paper promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. We have team members all around the world with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. These are our strengths. We are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are respected, valued, engaged and have an opportunity to do their best work every day. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly inclusive and diverse culture.

The Company You Will Join:

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. International Paper complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected] or (877) 973-3919.

Job Identification 2001952

Job Schedule Full time