Corporate Procurement Specialist

Novolex
Lake Forest, IL

Company Overview

Why Choose Us?

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

Our Sustainability Commitment

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Job Description

Job Description:

The Corporate Procurement Specialist oversees the creation and administration of purchase orders, exercising sound judgment to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures. This role requires proactive decision-making to resolve discrepancies, maintain accurate procurement records, and coordinate effectively with vendors to meet organizational needs. By evaluating purchasing requirements, prioritizing tasks, and identifying process improvements, the Procurement Specialist plays a key role in enhancing operational efficiency. The position also involves contributing insights into continuous improvement initiatives and providing autonomous support across a range of procurement-related projects, ensuring timely and effective outcomes.

Essential Functions and Key Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for evaluating and selecting suppliers and supporting category management and strategic sourcing initiatives. (approving)
  • Evaluate, approve, and select suppliers based on cost, quality, performance, and risk considerations. Actively support and contribute to category management and strategic sourcing initiatives, making recommendations that impact supplier strategy and spend optimization.
  • Independently issue, approve, and manage purchase orders in accordance with established policies and procedures, exercising judgment to address non-standard requests, exception handling, and priority conflicts.
  • Oversee open purchase orders and lead the resolution of procurement-related discrepancies, including pricing, delivery, invoicing, and contract compliance issues, determining appropriate corrective actions.
  • Prepare, review, and maintain accurate procurement records, reports, and supporting documentation to ensure transparency, audit readiness, and data integrity.
  • Review, approve, and enforce vendor insurance and compliance requirements. Identify compliance gaps, determine corrective measures, and escalate risks when necessary to protect organizational interests.
  • Coordinate and approve new vendor setup requests and material vendor change requests, ensuring alignment with procurement standards, compliance requirements, and operational needs.
  • Lead and direct procurement-related continuous improvement initiatives, including identifying inefficiencies, designing process enhancements, and implementing solutions that improve cycle time, controls, or cost effectiveness.
  • Build and sustain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, acting as a trusted advisor on procurement practices, policies, and strategic considerations.
  • Independently identify root causes of procurement risks and issues, evaluate alternative solutions, make recommendations or decisions within scope of authority, and track resolution through completion.
  • Provide procurement support across administrative and operational functions, contributing insights, guidance, and solutions that enable the organization to meet business objectives effectively and efficiently.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • 2-4 years of experience in procurement, accounts payable, or customer service.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with a high level of attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Independent decision and problem-solving skills in day-to-day situations
  • Situational awareness and initiative to quickly identify logical solutions and take appropriate action
  • Critical thinking and reliability – good judgement to ensure correct efficient and effective outcomes
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office; SAP and Coupa experience preferred.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $57,000- $75,000 + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual payis determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation, and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.

Company Benefits

What You'll Get From Us

Benefits

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

Community Engagement

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

Training and Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact myHRservices@novolex.com.

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen

Job Description: The Corporate Procurement Specialist oversees the creation and administration of purchase orders, exercising sound judgment to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures. This role requires proactive decision-making to resolve discrepancies, maintain accurate procurement records, and coordinate effectively with vendors to meet organizational needs. By evaluating purchasing requirements, prioritizing tasks, and identifying process improvements, the Procurement Specialist plays a key role in enhancing operational efficiency. The position also involves contributing insights into continuous improvement initiatives and providing autonomous support across a range of procurement-related projects, ensuring timely and effective outcomes. Essential Functions and Key Responsibilities: - Responsible for evaluating and selecting suppliers and supporting category management and strategic sourcing initiatives. (approving) - Evaluate, approve, and select suppliers based on cost, quality, performance, and risk considerations. Actively support and contribute to category management and strategic sourcing initiatives, making recommendations that impact supplier strategy and spend optimization. - Independently issue, approve, and manage purchase orders in accordance with established policies and procedures, exercising judgment to address non-standard requests, exception handling, and priority conflicts. - Oversee open purchase orders and lead the resolution of procurement-related discrepancies, including pricing, delivery, invoicing, and contract compliance issues, determining appropriate corrective actions. - Prepare, review, and maintain accurate procurement records, reports, and supporting documentation to ensure transparency, audit readiness, and data integrity. - Review, approve, and enforce vendor insurance and compliance requirements. Identify compliance gaps, determine corrective measures, and escalate risks when necessary to protect organizational interests. - Coordinate and approve new vendor setup requests and material vendor change requests, ensuring alignment with procurement standards, compliance requirements, and operational needs. - Lead and direct procurement-related continuous improvement initiatives, including identifying inefficiencies, designing process enhancements, and implementing solutions that improve cycle time, controls, or cost effectiveness. - Build and sustain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, acting as a trusted advisor on procurement practices, policies, and strategic considerations. - Independently identify root causes of procurement risks and issues, evaluate alternative solutions, make recommendations or decisions within scope of authority, and track resolution through completion. - Provide procurement support across administrative and operational functions, contributing insights, guidance, and solutions that enable the organization to meet business objectives effectively and efficiently. Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree required - 2-4 years of experience in procurement, accounts payable, or customer service. - Strong written and verbal communication skills with a high level of attention to detail. - Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. - Independent decision and problem-solving skills in day-to-day situations - Situational awareness and initiative to quickly identify logical solutions and take appropriate action - Critical thinking and reliability – good judgement to ensure correct efficient and effective outcomes - Proficiency in Microsoft Office; SAP and Coupa experience preferred. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $57,000- $75,000 + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual payis determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation, and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.
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