Associate Manager Category - Direct/Ingredients

Tyson Foods; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Tyson Foods is seeking an Associate Manager, Strategic Sourcing to oversee a portfolio of direct material categories and support senior team members on complex initiatives. You will perform spend analysis, market research, supplier evaluation, and bid analysis while ensuring cost, quality, and supply continuity.

You will build foundational sourcing skills and partner with cross‑functional teams across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years’ experience in Procurement, Marketing or Supplier Management or related field.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with eProcurement tools.
• Experience in supplier performance, risk management tools desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage a defined portfolio of direct material categories with sourcing execution and PO support.
• Support Senior Category Managers on strategic sourcing initiatives and market research.
• Conduct spend analysis to identify cost savings and supply risks.
• Develop and execute category strategies, including supplier evaluation and bid analysis.
• Support negotiations and contract administration to align with cost, quality, and continuity.
• Maintain supplier relationships and monitor performance against metrics.
• Onboard new suppliers when needed and engage cross‑functional teams early in NPD.
• Track category spend, savings and performance for leadership reviews.
• Identify supply disruptions and resolve quality or pricing issues with stakeholders.
• Maintain contracts, pricing agreements and preferred supplier lists; contribute to process improvements.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Spend analysis

Market intelligence

RFP/RFQ support

Contract administration

Cross-functional partnering

Negotiation support

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Source-to-Pay tools

Spreadsheet/database analysis

Job description

Job Details: Job Purpose / Summary

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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

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

AI Policy

All professional team members are expected to demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, including safeguarding sensitive information, adhering to company policies, and validating AI-generated outputs. Individual Contributors should demonstrate the ability to integrate AI into daily work, improve efficiency through AI‑enabled solutions, evaluate outputs critically, and apply professional judgment when using AI. People Leaders should demonstrate the ability to drive responsible AI adoption, enable effective use of approved solutions, identify opportunities to improve team performance through AI, and ensure accountability for the quality and accuracy of AI-supported outcomes.

Relocation Assistance

Eligible: Yes

Work Shift

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

Background Check

Certain roles at Tyson require background checks. If you are offered a position that requires a background check you will be provided additional documentation to complete once an offer has been extended.

Physical Requirements

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

Equal Opportunity

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.

Benefits

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

Recruitment Policy

Tyson Foods and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for open positions within the United States. Any resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee or applicant tracking system at Tyson Foods or its subsidiaries, without a valid written request and search agreement approved by HR, will be considered the property of Tyson Foods. No fees will be paid if the candidate is hired due to an unsolicited referral.

Company Culture

Join us on the journey. At Tyson, we feed the world like family.

Our Talent Strategy is to Attract, Grow, Reward and Retain the best talent, and we believe that our Culture is the connecting thread that drives that strategy!

We strive to be a talent magnet to establish a reputation for being a talent rich organization where team members can grow their career while growing the business.

We are a high performing organization where team members are rewarded (Pay, Benefits and Recognition) for their contributions, and given the opportunity to support and/or volunteer with programs that help Tyson make a lasting social impact in the communities where we live and work.

Closing

Tyson Foods, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.