Senior Category Manager - Packaging

Primary Location :

Bolingbrook, Illinois, United States of America

At Solina, our community of close to 5,000 people share a passion for food and live our entrepreneurial culture.

We design customised savoury solutions for our clients operating in the food industry, food service, butchery and nutrition markets. With sustainability at the heart of our business model, we aim to produce food that is good in every sense of the word: delicious, nourishing, affordable, sustainable and convenient.

Solina is a fast-growing business, with around 50 production sites and R&D laboratories present in more than 19 countries mainly in Europe and North America.

By constantly rethinking culinary solutions, we make food matter for people and the planet .

If you're ready for a new adventure in a dynamic, expanding, passionate, international company, join us !

We make food Matter!

Solina USA is a proud Solina Group company, specializing in the creation of customized seasonings and sauces. With four strategically located production facilities across the United States, we deliver high-quality, innovative flavor solutions efficiently and reliably. We serve Quick Service Restaurants, fast casual and casual dining chains, and food manufacturers, providing exceptional flavor solutions tailored to their unique needs. Solina USA has earned a strong national reputation for delivering outstanding customer experience, offering high quality products at cost-competitive price points. We build dynamic partnerships that allow our creativity to shine through our customers' culinary vision - making "Food Matter."

Summary of the position

To support the growth and operational performance of our business, we are seeking an experienced and strategic Category Manager - Packaging to lead the global sourcing strategy and supplier management activities for packaging categories.

This role is responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction and enabling business growth by securing a competitive, responsible, and resilient supply of packaging materials. The Category Manager will drive the strategic sourcing of global packaging solutions while balancing regional operational needs, customer requirements, and supply chain constraints.

The ideal candidate will possess deep packaging procurement expertise, strong supplier relationship management capabilities, and experience collaborating cross-functionally within a global organization. This role will play a key part in supporting operational excellence, sustainability initiatives, and long-term supply continuity.

Essential functions

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying the position.

• Develop and align the global category strategy for packaging, driving standardization, preferred supplier utilization, and cost optimization while balancing local business requirements.
  
• Lead execution of the packaging category strategy globally in collaboration with regional packaging buyers and cross-functional teams including Operations, R&D, Sales, Quality, and Supply Chain.
  
• Manage strategic supplier relationships globally, including negotiations, supplier performance management, risk mitigation, and resolution of major supply or quality issues.
  
• Identify and implement sourcing opportunities that improve service, quality, sustainability, and overall supply chain resilience.
  
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on packaging innovation, operational efficiency, and total cost optimization.
  
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure compliance with company quality standards, regulatory requirements, and risk management frameworks.
  
• Drive sustainability initiatives related to packaging, including recyclability improvements, new packaging formats, and environmentally responsible sourcing practices.
  
• Analyze market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry developments to support strategic decision-making and long-term category planning.
  
• Maintain effective communication with stakeholders across regions to ensure alignment on category priorities and sourcing activities.
  
• Prepare and present category updates, supplier performance reviews, and sourcing recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders.
  
• Perform any additional duties as reasonably assigned by management.
  

Required skills, education and experience

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful job performance will be considered. Typical qualifications would be:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Packaging Engineering, or a related field.
  
• Minimum of 10 years of procurement or sourcing experience in packaging categories, including plastics and corrugated materials, preferably within the food industry.
  
• Demonstrated experience managing global supplier relationships and sourcing strategies across multiple regions.
  
• Strong negotiation, supplier management, and strategic sourcing capabilities.
  
• Experience working cross-functionally in a matrixed, global business environment.
  

Preferred qualitfications

• Strong understanding of packaging materials, manufacturing processes, and food industry packaging requirements.
• Knowledge of sustainability initiatives and emerging packaging trends within the food industry.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with executional excellence in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with ERP systems, procurement tools, and Microsoft Office applications preferred.

Behavioral requirements

• Challenges the status quo and proposes new, practical ways to improve performance, cost, or customer value.
  
• Takes full ownership of deliverables and holds self and others accountable for results, not just activity.
  
• Demonstrates curiosity by asking questions, seeking insights, and challenging assumptions.
  
• Builds trusted relationships by collaborating across teams and valuing diverse perspectives.
  

Supervisory responsibility

No

Travel requirements

20-25%

1-2 International Trips

Special requirements

Employment is contingent upon successfully passing an employee reference check, criminal background check, and drug screening.

EEO statement

Solina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status or a person's relationship or association with a protected veteran, including spouses and other family members, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Equal Employment Opportunity Posters. If you have a disability and believe you need reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please call toll-free View phone number on click.appcast.io.

We are open to talents of all backgrounds. Our recruitment process is based on competences, and we openly welcome all candidates of all types according to our DEI Commitment