Procurement Project Lead

International Paper • Memphis, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

International Paper is looking for a Procurement Project Lead to support the execution and continuous improvement of our Global Procurement operations. Reporting to the Procurement Project Manager and providing cross-functional support to the Procurement Operational Improvement Manager, this role is integral to how we plan, launch, and sustain initiatives that make our procurement organization more effective.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who can manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, navigate ambiguity with confidence, and serve as a connector between procurement, IT, finance, and supplier teams. From driving material harmonization and vendor reduction initiatives to rolling out new systems and maintaining our SharePoint environment, this role touches every corner of the procurement function.

Requirements

• B.S. Degree in Supply Chain or related field
• 3-5 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, project coordination, or a related operations role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Proficiency with Microsoft SharePoint — including site administration, document library management, and permissions.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 tools including Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience supporting system implementations, rollouts, or process improvement initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear project documentation and stakeholder updates.
• Comfortable working across functions and levels of the organization with a collaborative, service-oriented mindset.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with procurement or ERP platforms such as SAP, Coupa, Ariba, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with Procurement IQ or other procurement training and certification platforms.
• Exposure to vendor consolidation, spend rationalization, or material standardization projects.
• Basic project management certification (PMP, CAPM, or similar) or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in manufacturing, packaging, or industrial procurement environments.
• Ability to create training materials and facilitate end-user training sessions.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning, coordination, and on-time delivery of procurement projects, including material harmonization, vendor reduction, contract consolidation, and process redesign initiatives.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, status trackers, and milestone reports that keep stakeholders informed and accountable.
• Facilitate project meetings, capture action items, and follow up to ensure commitments are met across cross-functional teams.
• Identify project risks and escalate issues proactively to the Procurement Project Manager with recommended mitigation approaches.
• Document project outcomes, lessons learned, and process changes for future reference and organizational knowledge retention.
• Assist the Procurement Operational Improvement Manager in the planning and execution of new system implementations and process upgrades across the procurement organization.
• Coordinate user acceptance testing (UAT), data migration activities, and go-live readiness for new procurement tools and platforms.
• Support change management efforts by communicating system updates, preparing materials, and gathering feedback from end users.
• Help to identify and document process inefficiencies and contribute to the development of improved standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Track operational improvement KPIs and assist in compiling progress reports for leadership review.
• Coordinate and support delivery of Procurement IQ training programs and other procurement capability-building initiatives across the team.
• Maintain training calendars, enrollment tracking, and completion records to ensure procurement staff meet required learning milestones.
• Develop training support materials such as user guides, quick reference cards, FAQs, and process walkthroughs for newly deployed systems and best practices.
• Partner with subject matter experts to keep training content current as tools, policies, and processes evolve.
• Serve as a point of contact for team members seeking guidance on systems, processes, or procurement best practices.
• Own the day-to-day maintenance of the Procurement SharePoint environment, including site structure, permissions, document libraries, and page content.
• Ensure procurement resources — policies, templates, training materials, project trackers, and supplier information — are organized, current, and easily accessible.
• Develop and enforce content governance standards to maintain consistency and quality across all SharePoint sites.
• Collaborate with IT and business stakeholders to implement SharePoint enhancements that improve team productivity and information sharing.
• Respond to SharePoint-related requests and troubleshoot access or content issues for procurement team members.
• Support vendor reduction and rationalization projects by coordinating supplier data collection, outreach, and transition communications.
• Assist in preparing materials for supplier reviews, business reviews, and internal leadership updates related to active procurement projects.
• Build effective working relationships with internal customers in Finance, Operations, Legal, and IT to advance project goals.

Benefits

• 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
• Leadership training, promotional opportunities
• 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees