Associate Category Manager

Aston Carter is supporting a well-known CPG company in Downtown Chicago. They are looking for an entry-level supply chain candidate on a 12-month contract with potential to go permanent. Description The Associate Category Manager will support the Category Manager/Director on the Packaging Procurement team. This role partners with internal Procurement pillars, collaborates with the external supplier community, as well as internal cross-functional teams to ensure products are brought to market in a timely manner. Key Job Responsibilities Work with suppliers and other internal departments including Project Managers, Production Planning, Operations, Quality Assurance, R&D, Packaging Engineering, Material Management, Master Data and Finance. Work with the departments noted above on the commercialization of new and/or updated products; responsible for understanding project and timeline, completing documentation and communicating to internal and external stakeholders. Assist in Dragonfly artwork approvals, PLM spec retrievals. Generation of requests for quotation to suppliers. Support productivity improvement initiatives that generate cost savings and value creation. Support the RFP/RFQ process, contract negotiations and administration of supplier contracts. Research and provide data for spend and market analysis. Understands, and is able to articulate stakeholder requirements to internal and external teams. Develops implementation plan and works with operations and QA to ensure timely onboarding of new suppliers and/or products. Team with cross-functional partners to resolve CAR issues if need and obtain credits due. Monitor and report on business trends as it relates to assigned suppliers, including production changes and commodity component price changes. Maintains Vendor Scorecard inputs. Plans and participates in business reviews with internal and external stakeholders to review and improve supplier performance. Works on assigned tasks for corporate integrations. Ensures adherence to all Company policies and procedures. Understands and demonstrates the Company’s core values. Other tasks as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, or equivalent 1-3 years of procurement/supply chain experience - would take a procurement intern with CPG and SAP experience Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc). SAP/S4 experience CPG/Food Industry Plus Haves Seeks a team player who is not rigid, can "roll up their sleeves," and is willing to do a variety of tasks, including some that may not be ideal or glamorous. Wants someone with strong soft skills and finesse to communicate with vendors and internal teams, including handling challenging interactions. Emphasizes the importance of not hiring someone who is overly critical of existing processes or resistant to doing required tasks, based on past negative experiences with temps. Prioritizes finding the right fit over rushing to fill the position, due to previous hiring challenges. Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Chicago, IL. Pay And Benefits The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $38.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jul 31, 2026. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools. #J-18808-Ljbffr