Associate Procurement Manager Contract Manufacturing

Ecolab Inc

Naperville, IL

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$96,700–$145,100 Per Year
SKILLS
Analytical Chemistry, Business Growth, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Communication Skills, Compensation Management, Continuous Improvement, Contract Management, Contract Manufacturing, Contract Negotiation, Corrective Action, Cost Control, Cost Modeling, Customer Relations, Decision Support, Engineering, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), GEP (Good Engineering Practices), Geography, Housekeeping/Cleaning, Logistics, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Management, Manufacturing Systems, Market Trend Analysis, Negotiation Skills, Onboarding, Performance Analysis, Performance Management, Petrochemicals, Power BI, Pricing, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Procure to Pay/Purchase to Pay (P2P), Procurement Management, Procurement Strategy, Product Support, Purchasing/Procurement, Regulations, Research & Development (R&D), Risk Management, Sourcing Strategy, State Laws and Regulations, Supply Chain, Team Player, Vendor/Supplier Evaluation, Vendor/Supplier Management, Vendor/Supplier Sourcing
LOCATION
Naperville, IL
POSTED
30+ days ago

The Associate Procurement Manager is responsible for delivering business results through sourcing and supplier management for chemical contract manufacturing and tolling partners supporting Ecolab's Institutional portfolio. This role focuses on security of supply, total delivered cost (TDC), contract execution, and supplier performance, while partnering closely with Operations, RD&E, Quality, Planning, and other cross‑functional stakeholders. This position will report to the Procurement Manager.

What you will do:

Focus & Priorities for the position

  • Develop and deploy sourcing strategies for chemical contract manufacturing and tolling partners to reduce total delivered cost, mitigate supply risk, and improve security of supply.
  • Lead and execute RFx events, cost modeling, and total delivered cost (TDC) analysis for chemical categories and CM services.
  • Develop, draft, negotiate, and execute commercial supply agreements, including pricing structures, MOQs, capacity commitments, indexation mechanisms, and service levels.
  • Support contract manufacturing portfolio optimization, including make‑where decisions, dual sourcing strategies, and supplier transitions aligned with business needs.
  • Identify, develop, and execute cost savings and value creation initiatives across raw materials, conversion costs, packaging, and working capital
  • Stay current on chemical and petrochemical market dynamics, CM capacity trends, and regulatory considerations impacting sourcing decisions.

Stakeholder/Supplier management / Collaboration

  • Serve as the primary procurement interface for assigned chemical contract manufacturers, driving supplier performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Partner closely with Operations, Quality, RD&E, Planning, and Logistics to support NPIs, product transfers, and scale‑up activities in regulated manufacturing environments.
  • Lead or support alternate supplier qualification and approval efforts, ensuring milestones are met and risks are proactively managed.
  • Monitor supplier service, quality, and reliability; lead corrective actions and performance improvement plans when performance gaps arise.
  • Engage internal stakeholders to maintain alignment with evolving business needs, growth initiatives, and supply continuity requirements.

Housekeeping/Systems

  • Support processes critical to the efficient functioning of the procure‑to‑pay (P2P) process, including supplier onboarding and contract implementation.
  • Leverage eProcurement, sourcing, and analytics tools (e.g., GEP, Power BI, Cirtuo, or similar platforms) to support decision‑making, performance tracking, and reporting.
  • Drive continuous improvement in sourcing processes, tools, and ways of working to enhance efficiency and execution effectiveness.

Minimum qualification

  • Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
  • 5 years of procurement or supply chain experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
  • Experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing external suppliers.
  • Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
  • Immigration sponsorship is not offered for this role.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in procurement or strategic sourcing within a manufacturing or supply‑chain‑driven organization, preferably in the chemical or petrochemical industry, including contract manufacturing or tolling models.
  • Demonstrated experience with regulated products, including working within DIN, EPA, FDA, or similar regulatory frameworks and compliant manufacturing and quality systems.
  • Proven experience with contract drafting, commercial negotiations, and contract execution, including pricing mechanisms, service terms, capacity commitments, and supply agreements.
  • Experience managing supplier performance, continuity of supply, and risk mitigation, including supporting supplier transitions, dual sourcing strategies, or make‑where decisions.
  • Strong cross‑functional execution skills, partnering effectively with Operations, Quality, RD&E, Planning, and Logistics in a regulated manufacturing environment.
  • Experience with eProcurement, sourcing, and analytics tools (e.g., GEP, Power BI, Cirtuo, or similar platforms).
  • Demonstrated results orientation, professionalism, and strong communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and suppliers and solve complex problems in ambiguous environments.

Annual or Hourly Compensation Range

The base salary range for this position is $96,700.00 - $145,100.00. This position is eligible for annual bonus pay based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.

Benefits

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits.

If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

  • Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.
  • Be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster if eligible, unless a religious or medical accommodation is requested by the applicant and approved by Ecolab.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.

About the Company

E

Ecolab Inc

A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab (ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Building on a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of $15 billion and more than 48,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights and world-class service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, life sciences, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world.

When you come to work at Ecolab, you get to take on some of the world’s most meaningful challenges and have the opportunity to learn and grow, shape your career, make an impact and quickly see the importance of your work.

For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com. Follow us on Twitter @ecolab, Facebook at facebook.com/ecolab, LinkedIn at Ecolab or Instagram at Ecolab Inc. To explore career opportunities at Ecolab, visit jobs.ecolab.com.

COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Chemicals/Petro-Chemicals
FOUNDED
1923
WEBSITE
http://www.ecolab.com/