Stephen F. Austin State University

We have an opportunity for a Procurement Forester to join our Eastern Virginia team to assist in aggressively managing fiber purchase requirements supporting the overall region objectives to maintain the lowest cost, highest quality fiber sourcing in support of the mills’ forecasted needs while maintaining the highest compliance with safety and environmental requirements. This Procurement Forester role will focus on working directly with landowners or wood suppliers (depending on the aptitude and experience of the applicant) to secure wood fiber to be delivered primarily to the Hopewell and West Point system to defined targets. The position will be relied on to guide associates, support team initiatives, and provide strong customer service to our mill customers.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, promote, enhance, and model Smurfit Westrock’s safety and environmentally conscious culture.
• Assist the Open Market Area Manager in executing the annual strategic purchase plan to provide the highest value fiber to the digester across the annual cycle by purchasing the targeted annual levels of fiber.
• Assist in the development and ground level execution of the tactical plans supporting the annual strategy built on mill requirements, solid analysis, and robust understanding of market data including proactively capturing pertinent market data, evaluate relevance to region strategy, identify cost savings opportunities, and provide feedback and options to the Area Manager for decision making.
• Work with other members of the regional team in the execution of the fiber supply plan with precision and a high sense of urgency, remaining flexible to adjust strategy and tactics given changes in market conditions and/or mill operations to sustain the highest value fiber to the digester across the annual cycle.
• Effectively evaluate wood deliveries to comply with specifications by facility, including execution of quality audits.
• Effectively purchase fiber that meets and exceeds Smurfit Westrock’s sustainability and certification standards, including compliance with multiple certification standards.
• Communicate effectively with all stakeholders including peers, the fiber procurement team, management, landowners, and suppliers in verbal and written form related to relevant operations, strategies, and status of execution.
• Assist the Area Manager in the development and reporting of timely and accurate financial information including budgets, forecasts, and projected spending.
• Mentor Associate Forester level staff in regional and procurement operations.
• Represent Smurfit Westrock in the community by participation in associations, workshops, and civic and government affairs.

Requirements

Must have 3+ years of Forestry experience related to working with landowners or wood supplier to purchase timber and managing relationships with multiple external logging operations to maintain targeted delivered fiber volumes.
Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or related field (or 5 years of equivalent Forestry experience in the defined fields above). Must live or be willing to relocate to the Richmond or West Point, VA, area.