Procurement Associate Jobs in Gardner, KS (NOW HIRING)

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Job Number #173742 - Overland Park, Kansas, United States
Who We Are
Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!
Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values-Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous-we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.
Job Summary:
We are looking for a Specialist/Associate Manager, Capital & Infrastructure Procurement to join our North America Business Services Procurement team. In this role, you will play a key part in shaping and executing sourcing strategies for over $150M+ of manufacturing automation, plant infrastructure, conveyor loops, and facility expansion initiatives across our North America production sites (including Colgate and Hill's Pet Nutrition). You will transition our capital spend tracking from a historical budget view into a proactive, forward-looking sourcing pipeline. Step into a dynamic environment where your technical expertise in capital markets, data-driven forecasting, and cross-functional leadership will directly mitigate supply chain risk and power business growth.This role leads complex engineering sourcing and contracting activities in full compliance with Global Procurement guidelines. You will promote advanced category management, strategic sourcing methodologies, and robust stakeholder engagement to deliver efficiencies, cost-savings, and capital optimization across multiple manufacturing facilities. This role will be a Specialist or Associate Manager level, dependent on the experience of the successful candidate.
This position can be based in either Overland Park, Kansas or Piscataway, New Jersey, depending on the selected candidate's location.
Responsibilities:

• Pipeline ownership: Develop, maintain, and own a forward-looking Capital Sourcing Pipeline to provide senior leadership with 12-to-24-month visibility into upcoming plant expenditures, project milestones, and target savings.
• Sourcing & Execution: Lead end-to-end sourcing, commercial/technical negotiations, and contracting processes for high-value factory automation, processing equipment, and site infrastructure projects.
• Stakeholder Diplomacy: Build highly collaborative, trust-based relationships with remote internal partners, including Plant Directors, Project Engineers, Site Operations, and Corporate Finance.
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Manage robust SRM programs with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and engineering contractors to drive lead-time reductions, innovation, and strict risk mitigation.
• Market & Spend Analytics: Conduct ongoing market analysis, supplier financial segmentation, and predictive spend analytics to convert raw capital data into actionable business intelligence.
• Compliance & Governance: Lead RFI/RFP processes, ensure total alignment with Global Procurement compliance policies, and champion digital transformation/data integrity tools within the department.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Sourcing, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in Procurement or Supply Chain operations, with a dedicated focus on Capital Expenditure (CapEx) or Manufacturing Operations.
• Deep understanding of capital equipment contracting, commercial construction/engineering terminology, and asset lifecycle cost management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven track record of navigating complex cross-functional environments, managing stakeholder friction calmly, and influencing without direct authority across tenured teams.
• Advanced proficiency in data visualization and digital procurement tools; a demonstrated passion for transforming reactive spreadsheets into proactive, strategic pipeline models.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical engineering specifications into clear, risk-managed commercial presentations for Executive VPs.

Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range $96,800.00 - $137,000.00 USD
Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.
Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Our journey begins with our people-developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.
Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.
For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click here.
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