Associate Manager Category - Direct/Packaging

Tyson Foods; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401(k) plans

Health, life, dental, vision benefits

Job summary

Tyson Foods seeks an Associate Manager Category to source services for Tyson plants, driving value and cost savings through supplier management and data-driven decisions.

The role involves cross-functional collaboration, leading RFPs/RFx, and building communication on program initiatives across Tyson facilities, with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 4+ years in procurement/sourcing, with supplier management exposure.
• Strong communication and data analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive cost-saving initiatives by evaluating supplier performance.
• Manage supplier relationships and ensure compliance with Tyson policies.
• Analyze Power BI dashboards and Excel reports to support sourcing decisions.
• Lead RFPs/RFx processes to achieve category savings.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on sourcing strategies.

Skills

Power BI

Excel

Contract Management

RFX platforms

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Job Details

Job Purpose/Summary: The Associate Manager Category is responsible for sourcing services that meet Tyson's high standards of quality and reliability, while maximizing value for Tyson plants. This role is essential in supporting our plant operations by managing relationships with service providers, ensuring they deliver exceptional service that meets the plants' specific operational needs, provides maximum value, and remain market competitive.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Drive cost-saving initiatives by continuously engaging with suppliers and assessing their performance through tools such as scorecards.
• Manage supplier relationships, maintaining clear and regular communication regarding Tyson’s policies, procedures, and performance expectations.
• Provide exceptional customer support to Tyson plants, acting as a primary point of contact and escalation for vendor management / service issues.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to develop sourcing strategies that maximize value across Tyson’s plant environment.
• Analyze Power BI dashboards, Excel reports, and other data sources to support sourcing decisions and identify areas for improvement.
• Lead and participate in sourcing projects, including RFPs, RFx aimed at achieving cost savings for the category.
• Assist in building communications regarding program initiatives, updates, consolidations, and changes to Tyson Foods facilities.
• Support the development and maintenance of Category Management processes, including risk management assessments, business continuity plans, market driver assessments, price mitigation plans, and supplier strategies.
• Provide support to Category Managers as needed, particularly in the plant services vertical.
• Perform additional duties as required by the department.

Education / Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree is preferred.

Experience

4+ years of relevant experience, with Procurement / Sourcing experience being a plus.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is required.
• Strong skills in creating and maintaining advanced spreadsheets and databases, particularly in Excel.
• Experience analyzing data through Power BI dashboards and other business intelligence tools.
• Experience working in Contract Management and Rfx platforms desired.

Communication Skills

• Clear and Concise Written Communication: The ability to effectively document strategies, supplier performance reports, procurement updates, and process changes.
• Verbal Communication: Strong verbal skills are needed for effective interactions with internal teams, suppliers, and stakeholders. This includes articulating ideas, providing updates, negotiating with suppliers, and presenting information to cross-functional teams.
• Active Listening: The ability to listen carefully to suppliers, team members, and stakeholders to fully understand their needs and concerns. This helps in making informed decisions and resolving issues effectively.
• Presentation Skills: The ability to present complex data, sourcing strategies, and performance reports in a way that is understandable and persuasive to senior management or cross-functional teams.

Special Skills

Strong strategic planning, project management, and problem-solving abilities. Exemplary customer service skills with a strong ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism. Demonstrated ability to take initiative, manage tasks autonomously, and deliver results independently. Must be Equally skilled in collaborating within a team environment, working effectively with cross-functional groups to achieve shared goals and support organizational objectives. Demonstrated leadership, negotiation, influencing, and critical thinking skills. Strong interpersonal skills and a solid business acumen. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple tasks with ease. Preferred experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders.

Travel

Occasional travel (3-5 domestic trips per year).

Location

Springdale, AR

AI tools

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: No

Work Shift

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

Background Checks

Certain roles at Tyson require background checks.

Hourly Applicants

ONLY -You must complete the task after submitting your application to provide additional information to be considered for employment.

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 Employer

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.

Data Privacy Notice

If you would like to learn more about your data privacy rights and how you may use that information, please read our Job Applicant Privacy Notice here.

Unsolicited Assistance

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.

Culture and Growth

Our team members make the difference. If you are ready to grow your career with an industry leader and want to positively impact the team and community around you, then join us in helping us in raising expectations. 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. To learn more about our culture, please read Our Purpose. The successful candidate(s) must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. Tyson Foods, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are unable to apply for career opportunities through use of this site due to an impairment or disability, please contact [phone] for further assistance.