Senior Purchasing Specialist - Packaging

TL;DR

Senior Purchasing Specialist - Packaging: Take ownership of packaging supplier strategy across key categories (corrugate, gift box, molded pulp, labels, flexible materials, foams) ensuring cost, quality, capacity, and sustainability performance. Focus on building and governing AVLs, leading RFQs and negotiations, developing should-cost models, and scouting compliant material opportunities including recycled content and plastic-reduction solutions.

Suzhou, China. Regular travel across East and South China (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu) and periodic travel across Southeast Asia to support supplier qualification, audits, and development.

Company

Global product design and technology company with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions powered by Shark and Ninja brands, headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts with over 4,100 associates.

What you will do

• Take ownership of packaging supplier strategy across key categories, ensuring cost, quality, capacity, and sustainability performance.
• Build, maintain, and govern packaging AVLs by identifying, qualifying, onboarding, and developing suppliers aligned to product, regional, and compliance requirements.
• Partner with Packaging Engineering, Quality, Sustainability, and Regulatory teams to scout, assess, and commercialize compliant material opportunities.
• Develop should-cost and total-cost models including material conversion, tooling, freight, duties, EPR schemes, and regulatory costs.
• Lead RFQs, supplier negotiations, and cost-down initiatives for optimal cost, performance, compliance, and speed to market.
• Monitor supplier capabilities, market trends, and regulations; recommend new sources, technologies, and risk mitigation plans.

Requirements

• 6–8+ years of experience in packaging sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or packaging engineering within home appliances, consumer goods, or related industry, ideally in multinational environments.
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials, converting processes, tooling, and cost drivers across paper, plastic, molded fiber, labels, inserts, and protective packaging.
• Hands-on experience building and managing AVLs, supplier qualification, development, and commercial negotiations.
• Familiarity with packaging sustainability requirements and regional regulations including EPR, packaging taxes, recyclability, recycled content, and restricted-substance compliance.
• Strong analytical skills to build should-cost and total-cost models and translate regulatory impacts into sourcing recommendations.
• Proficient in English and Mandarin (verbal and written) to independently manage communication with Chinese and international suppliers.
• Self-motivated with strong stakeholder management, communication, project management, execution, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, data analysis, and project management tools; ERP/PLM experience is a plus.

Nice to have

• Bachelor’s degree (or above) in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline.
• MBA, CPSM, packaging-related certification, or sustainability/compliance training.

Culture & Benefits

• Outrageously Extraordinary mindset driving innovation, boundary-pushing, and high-impact results.
• Competitive health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, employee stock purchase options, wellness programs, and hirify.global product discounts.
• High-impact Learning Programs for personal and professional growth.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion focus supporting authentic selves, career acceleration, and innovation.