Business Performance Improvement - Supply Chain and Operations - Indirect Marketing Category Manager

Protiviti • Chicago, IL

1d • $126,000 - $202,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Protiviti is looking for a Supply Chain & Operations Manager to join our growing Supply Chain & Operations Innovation team. As a Manager, you’ll partner with our clients to solve complex business problems and provide impactful advice and solutions. You’ll develop lasting relationships with client personnel and further these relationships through quality product delivery.

Requirements

• Core supply chain and indirect procurement processes — Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Contract Management, Supplier Management, and Accounts Payable
• Indirect marketing category management — including advertising agencies, media buying firms, paid media platforms (Google, Meta, programmatic), and creative services suppliers
• Managing agency holding company relationships and negotiating high-value contracts including SOWs, retainer agreements, and media authorization structures
• Designing and implementing digital supply chain solutions, applying technologies to drive procurement efficiency
• Traditional technologies that support key supply chain functions — Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), Source-to-Pay (S2P), and Third Party Risk Management/Monitoring (TPRM)
• Process improvement, business transformation, and project management methodologies such as Lean, Agile, and Change Management
• Financial modeling, spend benchmarking, and business case management
• Evaluating, summarizing, organizing, and interpreting data — including marketing spend analytics and savings reporting
• Establishing and cultivating business relationships and a professional network, including with senior marketing and procurement executives
• Ability to translate and communicate complex sourcing and category topics to client personnel, including C-suite stakeholders
• Leadership and direct supervisory experience — conducting performance appraisals, mentoring and coaching, oversight and review of work, and motivating high-performing teams
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Supply Chain, Marketing, Operations, or Business-related field)
• 5–8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or indirect category management — with a specific focus on marketing services spend
• 4+ years working in Consulting, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field, either in professional services or industry
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite — with specific emphasis on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; secondary emphasis on Visio, Access, and Tableau/Power BI

Nice To Haves

• Professional certification such as CPM, CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, PMP, Six Sigma/Lean Six Sigma, Certified Scrum Professional, or similar is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing and procurement engagements focused on indirect marketing categories — advertising agencies, media buying, paid digital media (search, social, programmatic), and creative services
• Manage end-to-end sourcing cycles: spend analysis, market assessment, RFP/RFQ design, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and contract execution
• Oversee Statement of Work (SOW) development, management, and governance for agency and media supplier relationships
• Advise clients on agency compensation models — retainer, project-based, and performance-linked structures — and identify cost optimization opportunities

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision coverages
• FSA and HSA healthcare accounts
• life and accident insurance
• adoption and fertility assistance
• paid parental leave up to 10 weeks
• short/long term disability
• company 401(k) savings and investment plan with an employer match of 50% on the first 6% of your contributions
• Choice Time Off (CTO) for vacation, personal needs, and sick time
• up to 11 paid holidays each calendar year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager