Associate Manager Category - Direct​/Ingredients

Associate Manager, Strategic Sourcing

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Management Level: P3

The Associate Manager, Strategic Sourcing is responsible for managing a portfolio of direct material categories while providing hands-on support to senior team members on larger, more complex sourcing initiatives. This position applies core category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier management practices, including spend and market analysis, sourcing event support, contract administration, and day-to-day supplier relationship management, to help ensure a reliable and cost-competitive direct material supply.

The Associate Manager will build foundational sourcing skills while contributing directly to category strategy and supplier performance. This role also works extensively with cross-functional partners across the organization.

• Manage a defined portfolio of direct material categories, including day-to-day sourcing execution, purchase order support, and category performance tracking.
• Support Senior Category Managers and the Director on larger or more complex strategic sourcing initiatives, including data gathering, market research, and analysis.
• Conduct spend analysis and market intelligence research to identify cost savings opportunities, supply risks, and category trends.
• Assist in developing and executing category sourcing strategies, including supplier evaluation, RFP/RFQ preparation, and bid analysis.
• Support supplier negotiations and contract administration, ensuring terms align with cost, quality, and supply continuity objectives.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with preferred suppliers while monitoring performance against cost, quality, delivery, and service metrics.
• Evaluate and onboard new suppliers when preferred suppliers cannot meet business needs, in accordance with the team's Preferred Supplier Policy.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support new product development and ensure Procurement is engaged early in the concept phase.
• Track and report category spend, savings, and supplier performance metrics to support leadership reporting and business reviews.
• Identify and help resolve supply disruptions, quality issues, and pricing discrepancies in partnership with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate category and supplier documentation, including contracts, pricing agreements, and the preferred supplier list.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the sourcing process by contributing ideas to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risk.

Requirements:

Education:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience:

2 + years' experience in Procurement, Marketing or Supplier Management or a related field

Computer

Skills:

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Familiarity with eProcurement Source-to-Pay tools desirable, Experience in spreadsheet, database and statistical analysis desirable, Experience in Supplier Performance & Risk Management tools desirable, Proven ability to learn new applications

Communication

Skills:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required

Special

Skills:

Knowledge of supplier quality and risk management policies and regulatory compliance. Ability to network and cultivate a productive working relationship with customers and third-party vendors. Demonstrated conflict resolution skills. Ability to identify, assess and mitigate risk. Understanding of procurement governance, processes and policies. Strong analytical and interpretive skills to recognize, comprehend and assess data, complex issues and industry information. Experience in collecting, manipulating, interpreting and cleansing data.

Excellent customer service, problem solving and decision-making skills. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and assignments simultaneously.

Supervisory:
Demonstrated ability to influence without positional authority

Travel:
Up to [4] domestic trips per year

Work Shift:

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

For Professional Management levels, internal applicants should either upload a resume to their application OR complete their application fully showing current and past work experience in the sections provided.

The successful candidate(s) must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Tyson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.

We provide our team members and their families with paid time off; 401(k) plans; affordable health, life, dental, vision and…