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

PCA

Posted 5 days ago

Internship

Valdosta, Georgia

In Person

Smart Summary

Responsibilities

Process purchase requisitions and create purchase orders while ensuring accuracy in the vendor management system. Maintain compliance with purchasing policies and validate insurance and stock requirements.

Qualifications

You are a student in good standing, majoring in Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Business, or a similar program, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You have completed your freshman year and are interested in a career in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing.

Must Have Skills for ATS

Supply Chain Management

Accounting

Business

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Project

Job Description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company.  Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds.  Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence.  We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers.  Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People • Customers • Trust

We are seeking resumes for a Purchasing Co-op in our Valdosta, GA. Paper Mill.

Position Requirements:

Must be a student in good standing with the University, currently enrolled majoring in Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Business or equivalent applicable program. The student will either have completed the Freshman year or the Freshman year when co-op begins and express interest in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing as a career. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required; you must pass a drug screen and be eligible to work in the US full-time. PCA’s paper mills operate on a continuous basis – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Candidates for this position must be able to occasionally work long hours and all shifts. During annual outages – typically two (2) times per year for a duration of seven (7) consecutive days – and during unscheduled shutdowns, all employees are scheduled to work 12-hour shifts. 

Principal Accountabilities: 

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.

May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned


Basic Qualifications:

Currently enrolled in a business or supply chain management program 

Broad understanding of purchasing principles, theories, concepts, and practices

Must be a student in good standing with the University

The student will have either completed the freshman year or will have completed the freshman year when co-op begins

Experience using Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Project

Successful completion of drug screen required and authorization to work in the U.S.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0


Preferred Qualifications:

Pulp & Paper industry experience preferred


The successful candidate must possess the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Ability to be able to work well under pressure and within time constraints, multi-task, and build sound relationships with both internal and external customers

Ability to exhibit 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. 

Demonstrate leadership skills and abilities. 

Strong planning and follow up skills. 

Excellent people and process management skills. 

PAY & BENEFITS:
Salary Range: $30.00 hr. Seniors, $29.00 hr. Juniors, $27.00 hr. Sophomores & $25.00 hr. Freshman

$1000.00 Monthly Housing Stipend

1.5 pay over 40 hours in a week

Reimbursement of Relocation to and from co-op assignment

Retirement Savings Plan

Compensation and Benefits

$30.00 hr. Seniors, $29.00 hr. Juniors, $27.00 hr. Sophomores, $25.00 hr. Freshmen

Medical Insurance if eligible

Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401k plan. The plan offers both pre-tax and Roth contribution options along with employer-provided matching contributions.

Paid Holidays

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified Applicants must apply at careers.packagingcorp.com to be considered.

PCA

PCA is the third-largest producer of containerboard in the United States and a leading producer of uncoated freesheet in North America. PCA’s net sales for 2025 were $9 billion. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Lake Forest, Illinois. We have approximately 16,800 employees with operations throughout the United States including ten mills and 91 corrugated product plants & related facilities. PCA’s Paper segment operates under the trade name Boise Paper, a Division of Packaging Corporation of America. We manufacture and sell white papers, including both commodity and specialty papers. PCA combines great products with a creative and knowledgeable total-service team to provide ideas and solutions for any packaging need: "When you choose Packaging Corporation of America, you work with people who do the right things for each other and for our customers. We believe in utilizing the power of strong collaborative relationships, bound by the trust we have earned, to deliver innovative packaging solutions and an outstanding service experience."​

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