Category Leader

What if you were given the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference? At International Paper, you control your destiny. We offer challenging assignments and total rewards in countries around the world. When we say infinite possibilities, we mean it. Apply now and join a community that improves people’s lives, the planet and our company’s performance by transforming renewable resources into products people depend on every day.

Position Title:

Category Leader, Professional Services Procurement 

Pay Rate:

$95,000 - $130,000

Multiple factors, including Individual experience, skills and abilities will determine where an employee is ultimately placed in the pay range.

Category/Shift:

Salaried Full-Time

Physical Location:

Memphis, Tennessee with workplace flexibility

The Job You Will Perform:

International Paper (“IP”) is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Category Leader to manage assigned Information Technology (IT) categories in support of the organization’s short and long-term objectives and initiatives. You will use your IT subject matter expertise to increase cost effectiveness, reduce risks, and improve service levels. Annual spend under management is approximately $50MM. This position may also manage categories aligned to other IP functional disciplines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Sourcing & Category Leadership - Own and lead multiple IT categories. Develop and execute sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, and service levels.
• Supplier Management & Market Intelligence - Build strong supplier relationships and maintain deep knowledge of category intelligence, market dynamics, and emerging trends. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to manage supplier performance and identify risks and opportunities.
• Contract Negotiation - Lead and/or assist in both conventional and complex contract negotiations and establish contracts that deliver best-in-class value. Leverage your exceptional contract language development, negotiation skills, and contract management abilities. Work with Legal and other internal stakeholders to optimize critical terms and conditions while ensuring compliance with corporate policies.
• Cost Optimization & Value Creation - Drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) improvements through supplier engagement, process enhancements, and strategic sourcing initiatives.

The Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge You Will Bring:

• Education - Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in IT procurement
• IT Knowledge/Experience – A minimum 5 years of strategic sourcing and category management experience; specifically, within IT categories.
• Procurement & Commercial Expertise - Proven success in negotiating complex, high-value contracts and delivering measurable cost savings. Deep understanding of procurement processes, supplier management, and commercial practices.
• Strategic & Analytical Skills - Strong analytical capabilities to interpret market trends, build cost models, and forecast budget impacts. Able to translate data into actionable sourcing strategies.
• Risk Management & Business Continuity - Experience in identifying, assessing, and mitigating supplier financial and security risks to IP and its operational systems.
• Leadership & Collaboration - Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams through a disciplined strategic process to drive collaboration, influence change, and ensure successful results.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement - Exceptional communication and influential skills to achieve specific outcomes through the cultivation of strategic relationship and rapport-building talents.
• Project Management - Effectively manage multiple projects with competing priorities.
• Technical Proficiency - Proficient in Microsoft Office and digital procurement tools (e.g., e-sourcing platforms, contract lifecycle management, analytics dashboards).

Key Competencies:

• Manages Ambiguity
• Drives Results
• Resourcefulness
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Business Insight

The Benefits You Will Enjoy:

International Paper offers a benefits package that includes health, welfare and retirement plans including Medical, Dental, Life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short-term and Long-term Disability, 401(k), Company-funded retirement contributions, Paid Time Off, Education & Development (including Tuition Reimbursement), Student Loan Repayment Assistance, and Voluntary Benefits including insurance for home, auto, vision and pets. 

The Career You Will Build:

Sales and Leadership training, promotional opportunities within a global company

The Impact You Will Make:

We continue to build a better future for people, the planet, and our company! IP has been a good steward of sustainable practices across communities around the world for more than 125 years. Join our team and you’ll see why our team members say they’re Proud to be IP.

The Culture You Will Experience:

International Paper promotes employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces. We have team members all around the world with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. These are our strengths. We are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are respected, valued, engaged and have an opportunity to do their best work every day. We invite you to bring your uniqueness, creativity, talents, experiences, and safety mindset to be a part of our increasingly inclusive and diverse culture.

The Company You Will Join:

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com

International Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.  International Paper complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact reasonable.accommodations@ipaper.com or (877) 973-3919.
Memphis  TN  38197