Corrugated Business Associate – Rotational Sales Development

Job Description

Corrugated Business Associate (Sales) | Packaging Corporation of America

The Tone:
This is a full-time position at Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), located in Northampton, MA. PCA, a Fortune 500 company, operates corrugated packaging and white paper businesses, employing approximately 15,000 team members across more than 100 locations in the United States. The Corrugated Business Associate role is part of the Generational Investment for Tomorrow (GIFT) Program, a comprehensive rotational training experience designed to develop recent college graduates into well-rounded employees and future leaders within the company’s corrugated packaging sales operations.

The TL;DR
• Role: Corrugated Business Associate
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person Northampton, MA
• Pay: $70000–$80000 yearly
• Team: Part of the GIFT Program, reporting to an assigned GIFT Mentor and departmental supervisors.
• Mission: To gain a well-rounded understanding of the corrugated packaging industry and develop sales skills through a rotational training program, leading to a Sales Representative role.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Mentorship: Work closely with an assigned GIFT Mentor to ensure program progress and reinforce role objectives.
• Rotations: Participate in rotations through the Design, Production, Customer Service, and Sales departments of a corrugated plant.
• Project Work: Complete assignments and projects within each department under the guidance of the department supervisor.
• Process Improvement: Identify operational issues and areas for improvement, then present findings and potential solutions to supervisors and mentors.
• Training & Collaboration: Attend GIFT program training conferences, network with peers, and collaborate with other Corrugated Business Associates on projects.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree required upon starting the position, obtained between December 2026 and May 2027. This is an entry-level role.
• Experience: Ability to start the position between May 2027 and July 2027. Must be able to travel as necessary with valid documents. A minimum of one internship or co-op, especially in a relevant environment, is preferred.
• Skills: Ability to quickly learn and apply new knowledge, strong written and verbal communication, leadership experience or strong leadership drive, strong interpersonal skills for networking and relationship building, quick decision-making and problem-solving, and a strong understanding of teamwork and open communication.
• Bonus: A Bachelor’s degree preferably in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, or a related field.