Procurement Leader

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking a Procurement Leader for our First Quality Homecare Products, LLC company working remotely. 

The Procurement Leader for First Quality’s Home Care Products business plays a critical role in ensuring the efficiency and profitability of the organization by overseeing the procurement of raw materials and other key spend categories necessary for its operation and continued business growth.  This leadership position combines strategic planning, negotiation skills, supplier relationship management, data analysis, and other key skills to contribute to our business growth and strategic objectives. This role develops and executes on a strategy for sourcing, applying best‑in‑class practices that strengthen supplier partnerships, elevates innovation, and improves agility.  Working cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Product Development, Operations, Finance, Legal, and other departments, the role will ensure competitive advantage and long-term value creation.

The role is also a key people leader responsible for developing and mentoring sourcing professionals that support our Home Care Products business. Success in this role requires a unique blend of deep technical expertise and authentic, values-driven leadership.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute integrated sourcing strategies across all spending categories to drive innovation, business continuity, agility, cost improvement, and sustainability.

• Establish and govern a rigorous supplier relationship management program, defining clear Key Performance Indicators and performance scorecards to ensure our strategic partners deliver continuous improvement and are held accountable for exceptional results, while evaluating and on-boarding new suppliers

• Build and maintain strong, ethical relationships with suppliers for ongoing collaboration and partnerships.

• Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing to ensure the best value for the organization.

• Resolve supplier disputes and manage ongoing performance assessments.

• Work closely with materials planning on forecast and any unforeseen demand.

• Build a world-class procurement organization with deep market expertise and strong industry presence.

• Partner cross functionally to enable systemic improvements in materials sourcing, speed-to-market, and new product launches.

• Ensure effective and efficient contract negotiations processes, as well as approval workflows and contract compliance

• Champion the adoption and mastery of key procurement tools and digital platforms, ensuring the  team is data-driven, digitally fluent, and empowered to make smarter, faster decisions in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

• Act as a strategic advisor, providing expert counsel on market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and innovative commercial models to help shape more effective business strategies.

• Provide clear, consistent, and accurate reporting on procurement performance, savings pipeline, risk mitigation, and market intelligence, offering the visibility needed for strategic decision-making.  

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain management, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.  MBA, Master’s degree and/or professional certifications preferred.

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive procurement/strategic sourcing experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.

• A proven track record of personally leading complex, multi-million dollar negotiations with sophisticated global suppliers. Articulate and execute strategies that go beyond price, incorporating value-based discussions, creative problem-solving, and strategic relationship management to achieve beneficial outcomes.

• Strong financial literacy with the ability to build robust business cases, analyze complex supplier pricing and agency compensation models, and confidently negotiate intricate commercial contracts and statements of work.

• Industry experience in consumer goods, chemicals, or packaging preferred

• Experience leading and developing a high performing team.

• Ability to influence cross-functional partners and drive organizational alignment.

• Experience leading transformation, change management, and capability building within procurement

• Ability to secure favorable terms and pricing through persuasive negotiation techniques.

• Strong data analysis skills to evaluate suppliers, contracts, and procurement processes.

• Clear verbal and written communication for effective internal and external collaboration.

• Quick, informed decision-making ability in a fast-paced environment.

• Capable of inspiring others and leading purchasing objectives across cross functional teams.

• Precision in managing contracts, legal discussions, record keeping.

• Excellent multitasking and organizational skills to manage competing priorities.

• Creative and pragmatic approach to resolving procurement issues and bottlenecks.

• Experience with procurement software, ERPs, and Microsoft Office Suite

• Commitment to integrity and ethical conduct in all purchasing activities.

Travel required to FQ sites as well as to vendor meetings and industry conferences and events

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities

• Paid time off (three-week minimum)

• Medical, dental and vision starting day one

• 401(k) with employer match

• Paid parental leave

• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)

• Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)

• Tuition assistance

• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

• ...and more!