Vacancy

Are you able to continuously improve and further professionalize the procurement process and ensure a smooth purchasing system? Do you want to be responsible for setting up a solid procurement strategy, creating and maintaining value adding partnerships, securing deals with contracts, secure timely deliveries with the best commercial conditions and improving the supplier performance for a dedicated set of commodities? Are you a problem solver and able to address purchasing challenges before it escalates to a greater one? If so, then we would be pleased to get to know more about you!

Ranpak as your new employer

Ranpak is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of paper packaging materials and systems. Known to deliver responsible packaging solutions to businesses and customers whilst conforming to environmentally conscious efforts to keep a safe and healthy planet.

Established in 1972, the company’s aim was to create ecologically sound alternatives driven towards cleaner and responsible boxing systems that support a fully sustainable supply chain. The company’s success is credited to a team of packaging sustainability specialists that build strong and mutually beneficial relationships with their suppliers and distributors. Constantly aiming to innovate and improve, Ranpak continues to seek opportunities to expand both in their product range as well as geographical presence.

Today, Ranpak is one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper packaging materials and systems. With more than 500 employees worldwide, its operations spread through the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific and is now a global brand as an innovative leader in the packaging industry. Ranpak’s mission and slogan is clear -- to “Deliver a Better World”.

Finding the right packaging solutions is a collaborative process to develop protective in-the-box solutions that are carefully tailored to specific products for a particular industry. In recent years, Ranpak has increasingly developed from a traditional packaging company to an innovative total solution provider.

During the peak of the Corona pandemic, the rapidly expanding online market has triggered the demand on an increase in sustainability which addressed Ranpak’s core values: to responsibly deliver packaging products to its customers. This consequently meant an expansion of the organization. Ranpak continued to seek to work with superior and qualified professionals in the industry and furthermore required more business and operating space to house the growth in the organization. Now with several branches in Heerlen and Kerkrade, the operations will soon be moving to a new location for production and logistics, office spaces and showroom. This move will be completed in February 2023. Ranpak’s global headquarter is in Ohio (USA).

Working at Ranpak means being part of a closely-knit team that is based on trust, accountability, investing in longevity and loyalty within the company. Ranpak is a social and warm organization that gives great importance to innovation. At Ranpak there is a no-nonsense, open and honest culture and a healthy working atmosphere. You will join a fastgrowing organization that continues to thrive in their core competencies. You can make an important contribution to further expand and professionalize purchasing processes within Ranpak.

Due to the rapid growth that Ranpak is currently experiencing, the company is looking for a Strategic Buyer to support and develop the Procurement team.

Your role as Strategic Buyer

As a Strategic Buyer you are responsible for the correct execution of the purchasing process. You are the point of contact for the (internal) customer and the suppliers. You ensure sufficient availability of products and raw materials at the right time, the right place and the right quality against the most favorable commercial conditions.

In addition you contribute to the continuous improvement of the purchasing processes and maintaining the purchasing level. You make analyses and you stay informed about the performance of the suppliers and you ensure optimal customer-supplier relationships.

With supervision of the Procurement Manager the Strategic Buyer is responsible for setting up a solid procurement strategy, creating and maintaining value adding partnerships, securing deals with contracts, secure timely deliveries with the best commercial conditions and improving the supplier performance for a dedicated set of commodities.

Via early involvement in the New Product Introduction (NPI) process, you make sure that the maximum value from the supply base can be generated in favor of Ranpak. You are expected to take the lead in thorough supplier selection processes for new product introductions or introduction of new suppliers. This includes contracting and utilizing these contracts. You engage in active communication and negotiations with both (potential) national and international suppliers to maximize the added value from the supply base.

Furthermore, you have to create an open and constructive cooperation with the internal stakeholders to determine a clear demand. Together with the Operational Buyer you are responsible for the supplier performance within the dedicated commodities. Where needed, supplier escalation needs to be facilitated by you as Strategic Buyer.

You report directly to the Procurement Manager.

our profile

You have a clear vision aimed at further growth and development and you find it a challenge to work within the area of tension of delivery pressure, the production process and improvement processes. You are able to support the Procurement Manager in order to take the purchasing discipline to a higher level and put the Procurement Department on the map.

In addition, you are not easily discouraged. You have organizational sensitivity and a good dose of persuasiveness. You also have characteristics that are self-evident for a good purchasing professional: skilled in negotiating, focused on results, analytical, able to set priorities, connecting and problem-solving ability and able to divide attention over many different areas.

You have good communication skills, you have a sense of political relations and you communicate clearly and to the point. You know how to recognize different interests and act accordingly. You can convince and switch quickly (depending on the setting and interlocutors), have a good listening ear and adaptability.

Furthermore you recognize yourself in the following:

• A completed technical or commercial bachelor’s degree (HBO/WO);
• NEVI 1 and NEVI 2;
• At least 3 to 5 years of relevant procurement experience;
• A proven track record in tactical and strategic procurement in a technical environment;
• Experience with project management;
• Experience with P2P cycles;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, additionally Dutch is preferred.

What can Ranpak offer you?

Ranpak offers an exciting and versatile position that is crucial for the further growth and professionalization of the organization. An interesting and challenging working environment in which you can make an important contribution to the transformation from a traditional packaging company to an innovative total solution provider. Ranpak has an interesting international customer base and is involved in the supply chain of virtually every industry.

At Ranpak you can expect a pleasant and stimulating working environment where input and initiatives are given attention and value for personal development. Your efforts and value are recognized at Ranpak

Ranpak also offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits.