PURCHASING CO-OP - SUMMER & FALL 2026 (VALDOSTA)

About the role

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is seeking a Purchasing Co-op for our Valdosta, GA Paper Mill. This position is ideal for students interested in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing as a career.

Requirements

• Must be a student in good standing with the University, currently enrolled in Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Business, or an equivalent applicable program.
• Must have completed the Freshman year or be completing it when the co-op begins.
• Minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0.
• Must pass a drug screen and be eligible to work in the U.S. full-time.
• Ability to work long hours and all shifts, including 12-hour shifts during annual outages (typically two times per year for seven consecutive days) and unscheduled shutdowns.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and Project.

Responsibilities

• Process purchase requisitions and create purchase orders.
• Ensure accuracy of the vendor management system.
• Ensure accuracy and compliance with accepted purchasing policies and principles.
• Record purchase order confirmations, validate insurance requirements, and ensure accuracy of store stock requirements.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Broad understanding of purchasing principles, theories, concepts, and practices.
• Pulp & Paper industry experience preferred.

Skills

• Ability to work well under pressure and within time constraints, multitask, and build sound relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Excellent communication, analytical, organizational, and computer skills.
• Capable of independently making sound decisions through creative problem-solving, ambiguity, and change.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple requests simultaneously.
• Ability to read and understand technical correspondence, memos, instructions, and reports.
• Ability to apply skills to continuous process improvement while maintaining maximum levels of safety.
• Strong leadership, planning, and follow-up skills.
• Excellent people and process management skills.

Pay

• Seniors: $30.00/hr
• Juniors: $29.00/hr
• Sophomores: $27.00/hr
• Freshmen: $25.00/hr
• $1000.00 monthly housing stipend.
• Overtime pay at 1.5x for hours worked over 40 in a week.
• Reimbursement of relocation expenses to and from the co-op assignment.

Benefits

• Retirement Savings Plan (401k) with employer-provided matching contributions (pre-tax and Roth options).li>
• Medical insurance if eligible.
• Paid holidays.
• Automatic enrollment in the 401k plan upon hire.