The Fountain Group is a national staffing firm and we are currently seeking a Category Manager for a prominent client of ours. This position is in Mettawa, IL 60045. Details for the position are as follows:
Category Management / Procurement Operations Analyst
📍 Mettawa, IL (100% Onsite)
💰 Pay: $55–$59/hour
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Procurement Operations Analyst to support category management and procurement processes across marketing and data partnerships. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional with strong analytical skills, vendor management experience, and the ability to improve operational workflows.
You will partner cross-functionally with procurement, finance, and marketing teams to support vendor operations, track spend and savings, and help build scalable processes and tools.
Key Responsibilities
- Support category management initiatives by developing frameworks and improving operational processes
- Manage vendor rebates, reconciliations, and savings tracking to ensure accurate financial reporting
- Oversee intake and tracking of data usage agreements across marketing and data partners
- Validate and maintain procurement data, ensuring accuracy within financial and tracking systems
- Develop and maintain process documentation, SOPs, and operational playbooks
- Review market research scopes and identify opportunities for cost savings and value optimization
- Assist with execution of vendor contracts and procurement workflows
- Improve data quality and enhance workflows within internal procurement tools
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support ongoing procurement and operational initiatives
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in procurement, category management, or procurement operations
- Experience working with procurement systems (e.g., Provalido, Agency Mania, SAP, Coupa, Ariba, or similar)
- Strong analytical skills with experience in data validation, reporting, and financial tracking
- Experience supporting vendor management, contracts, or procurement workflows
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
- Strong communication and documentation skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting marketing, media, or data vendors
- Familiarity with data usage agreements or marketing procurement processes
- Experience in process improvement or operational optimization
- Procurement or supply chain certifications (e.g., CPSM, CSCP)
Work Environment
- Team-oriented, cross-functional environment
- Open workspace with close collaboration across procurement, finance, and marketing teams
- Standard schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM (flexible start)
- No travel or overtime required
