Operations Program Associate Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Ready Program Teammate 2026

Advantage Solutions' READY Program is a strategic initiative to build a strong internal pipeline of future Advantage leaders through robust learning experiences and impactful career development opportunities. The READY Program Teammate position is an important investment in developing future leaders who are strategic, innovative, insight-driven, and customer focused. This 24-month program immerses teammates in a series of structured, rotational assignments across four key Branded Services teams- Retail, Analytics/Insights/Operations, Headquarter Sales, and Business Development-ensuring they gain comprehensive, cross-functional expertise. With a comprehensive development plan that includes actionable on-the-job and structured learning, Executive Mentorship, career coaching, and networking, the position develops leaders with organizational savvy, business acumen and leadership skills, who can drive long-term business success.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

Responsibilities/Qualifications

The Company is one of North America's leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Responsibilities

Retail Rotation

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with retail decision makers, retail personal and client representatives.
• Execute strategic retail partnerships needs and client initiatives to drive sales growth.
• Analyze market data, competitive activity and business trends to develop retail sales strategies

Analytics, Insights, and Operations Rotation

• Develop actionable insights and recommendations utilizing a broad range of data metrics, tools, and analytics to influence customer engagement strategies.
• Develop engaging, insight driven, customer facing presentations that effectively communicate findings, actionable tactics and strategies.
• Master data visualization tools and various software platforms to strengthen business recommendations and business process efficiencies.

• Forecast, design, and conduct business and financial models for client promotional trade plans.
• Analyze and develop insights using multiple data sources to identify business opportunities.
• Collaborate with Key Account Managers and Category Leadership teams to build compelling selling presentations to achieve client's business objectives.
• Provide strategic input into client's annual business plan adding fact-based insights and solutions to achieve client's objectives.

Business Development Rotation

• Own and manage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) strategy, ensuring data is leveraged effectively for business development.
• Utilize CRM to gather data, insights and reports for monthly Senior Leadership Pipeline review meetings.
• Identify and prioritize new business opportunities by analyzing industry and business trends, developing insights and mastering tools like; LinkedIn, Circana and Nielsen
• Perform comprehensive new business research and new Client Discovery/Intake meetings to identify quality new clients and business opportunities.
• Support new business RFP process and preparation/presentation development for new client meetings.

• Train READY team on Industry, client and customer knowledge
• Collaborate with READY team to develop and present business opportunities to Senior Leaders
• Complete cross-functional project work to understand company organization, strategies, client services and business objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports

• This position does not have guidance or mentoring responsibilities for indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

- Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job

During retail rotation you will be required to use your personal vehicle on a daily basis to travel to stores.

Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree

Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree

Candidate must have completed their undergraduate degree between May 2025 and May 2026)

(Minimum of 1 year of internship and/or professional work experience required)

1+ Years of experience

Consumer Packaged Goods Industry (CPG) Internship and/or college curriculum/major in Food/Beverage/Marketing/Category Management a plus

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word
• Strong ability to develop and deliver virtual and in-person presentations to all audience types
• Willingness to engage and build relationships with a variety of internal and external leaders, clients and retail partners
• Collaboration and Team building Skills
• Ability to work independently using strong prioritization and time management skills to meet deliverables
• Ability and willingness to operate in a fast-paced and changing work environment
• Consumer Packaged Goods Industry (CPG) Industry data sources (Circana, Nielsen, etc.) knowledge and usage skills a plus

Environmental & Physical Requirements
Office / Sedentary Requirements: Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically, requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may require the ability to lift up to 10lbs. During retail rotation, incumbent must be able to stand extended periods of time and the ability to lift up to 20 lbs.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions
Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Important Information

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by law.

Job will remain open until filed.

The Company is one of North America's leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Responsibilites

Analytics, Insights, and Operations Rotation

• Develop actionable insights and recommendations utilizing a broad range of data metrics, tools, and analytics to influence customer engagement strategies.
• Develop engaging, insight driven, customer facing presentations that effectively communicate findings, actionable tactics and strategies.
• Master data visualization tools and various software platforms to strengthen business recommendations and business process efficiencies.

Retail Rotation

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with retail decision makers, retail personal and client representatives.
• Execute strategic retail partnerships needs and client initiatives to drive sales growth.
• Analyze market data, competitive activity and business trends to develop retail sales strategies

• Forecast, design, and conduct business and financial models for client promotional trade plans.
• Analyze and develop insights using multiple data sources to identify business opportunities.
• Collaborate with Key Account Managers and Category Leadership teams to build compelling selling presentations to achieve client's business objectives.
• Provide strategic input into client's annual business plan adding fact-based insights and solutions to achieve client's objectives.

Business Development Rotation

• Own and manage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) strategy, ensuring data is leveraged effectively for business development.
• Utilize CRM to gather data, insights and reports for monthly Senior Leadership Pipeline review meetings.
• Identify and prioritize new business opportunities by analyzing industry and business trends, developing insights and mastering tools like; LinkedIn, Circana and Nielsen
• Perform comprehensive new business research and new Client Discovery/Intake meetings to identify quality new clients and business opportunities.
• Support new business RFP process and preparation/presentation development for new client meetings.

• Train READY team on Industry, client and customer knowledge
• Collaborate with READY team to develop and present business opportunities to Senior Leaders
• Complete cross-functional project work to understand company organization, strategies, client services and business objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports

• This position does not have guidance or mentoring responsibilities for indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

• Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job

Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree

1+ Years of experience

Consumer Packaged Goods Industry (CPG) Internship and/or college curriculum/major in Food/Beverage/Marketing/Category Management a plus

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word
• Strong ability to develop and deliver virtual and in-person presentations to all audience types
• Willingness to engage and build relationships with a variety of internal and external leaders, clients and retail partners
• Collaboration and Team building Skills
• Ability to work independently using strong prioritization and time management skills to meet deliverables
• Ability and willingness to operate in a fast-paced and changing work environment
• Consumer Packaged Goods Industry (CPG) Industry data sources (Circana, Nielsen, etc.) knowledge and usage skills a plus

Environmental & Physical Requirements
Office / Sedentary Requirements: Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically, requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear telephone, ability t...