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:
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.
Location Information:
Hybrid Role (3 days onsite at St. Paul, MN or Naperville, IL)
Open to Relocation
Minimum Qualifications:
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
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field
- 5 years of procurement or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment
- Experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing external suppliers
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Ecolab Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Ecolab and has not been reviewed or approved by Ecolab.
-
Retirement Support — Feedback suggests the company provides strong retirement programs, including a 401(k) with employer matching and a pension, alongside options like an employee stock purchase plan. Offerings such as retiree healthcare benefits and diverse investment choices reinforce long-term financial support.
-
Healthcare Strength — Feedback suggests medical coverage is broad, with HSA plan options and company contributions, prescription benefits, dental and vision, and virtual care and mental health support. Company-paid wellness programs and income protection (short- and long-term disability, life and accident) further strengthen core coverage.
-
Parental & Family Support — Family-focused programs include fertility support, adoption assistance, and paid parental leave, complemented by counseling and resource services. These offerings are positioned as supportive of employee well-being across different life stages.
Ecolab Insights
What We Do
A trusted partner at nearly three million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. With annual sales of $12 billion and more than 44,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and personalized service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com, or follow us on twitter.com/ecolab, facebook.com/ecolab or instagram.com/ecolab_inc.
