Packaging Procurement Manager – Europe Corrugates

Earlier this year, Unilever announced an agreement to combine its Foods business with McCormick & Company, creating a scaled global flavour powerhouse. The proposed combination would bring together iconic Foods brands, including Hellmann’s and Knorr, with McCormick’s portfolio to create a global leader across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by strong retail and foodservice platforms. McCormick brings more than 135 years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with completion estimated for mid-2027.

Job Title Packaging Procurement Manager – Europe Corrugates

Function Procurement

Reports to Packaging Director – Europe & Global Flexibles Lead

Scope Europe

Country Location and Worksite Details Poland Katowickie Centrum Biznesu

JOB PURPOSE

This role exists to lead the Europe Corrugates procurement portfolio, managing approximately €100+ million in annual spend and translating business, factory, customer, innovation and sustainability priorities into a clear sourcing strategy and execution pipeline. The role defines category choices across paper and board grades, converter footprints, printing technologies, box specifications and supplier networks, informed by market intelligence, cost models and operational requirements. Working with Packaging, R&D, Planning, Supply Chain, Customer Operations, Quality, Finance, Sustainability and factories, the role enables commercial value, paper-market and pricing control, converter capability, responsible fibre progress and trusted procurement leadership across Europe.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, develop and empower the Europe Corrugates Procurement team of two FTEs, including this Manager role, with one Assistant Manager reporting directly, responsible for approximately €100+ million managed spend.

• Lead the Europe Corrugates procurement portfolio, translating business, factory, customer, innovation and sustainability priorities into sourcing strategy and execution pipeline.

• Define category choices across paper and board grades, converter footprints, printing technologies, box specifications and supplier networks using market intelligence, cost models and operational requirements.

• Lead complex sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier-selection activities and ensure timely implementation of pricing and commercial conditions across European factories and markets.

• Own supplier relationship, performance and risk management across cost, board and print quality, delivery, service, capacity, resilience, sustainability and compliance.

• Build value through competitive sourcing, board-grade optimisation, lightweighting, specification harmonisation, supplier alternatives, complexity reduction, logistics efficiency and cash initiatives.

• Lead responsible-fibre and circularity progress while developing converter capability, scanning new suppliers and providing direction to the Europe Corrugates Assistant Manager.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Packaging, Business or a related discipline, with 5+ years of relevant experience in Procurement, Packaging, Supply Chain or Supplier Operations within FMCG or manufacturing.

• Strong techno-commercial knowledge of corrugated packaging, paper and board value chains, liner and fluting grades, converting, printing, specifications and cost drivers.

• Strong sourcing, negotiation, contracting, supplier-development and performance-management capability across multi-country portfolios.

• Strong financial and analytical acumen across pricing, forecasts, cost models, business cases, savings, cash and portfolio reporting.

• Demonstrated success leading regional corrugated-packaging procurement strategies and programmes across multiple markets, with experience operating at comparable spend and organisational scale.

• Strong stakeholder-management, communication and influencing skills, with fluent written and spoken English.

• Enterprise leadership mindset, with the ability to set clear priorities, lead through ambiguity and corrugated-packaging market change, balance strategic thinking with execution, build trusted senior stakeholder relationships and develop the Assistant Manager while contributing to broader procurement capability development.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Relevant postgraduate or packaging qualification.

• Exposure to responsible fibre sourcing, recycled content, circular economy, material efficiency or corrugated-packaging technologies.

• Experience leading cross-functional projects, specification transformations, supplier transitions or virtual teams in a matrix organisation.

We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee. 

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.