{"id":3246015,"url":"https://alion.io/job/aar-corp-category-manager","title":"Category Manager","company":{"id":1914653,"name":"AAR Corp","domain":"aarcorp.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/aarcorp","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Oracle","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":40,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Wood Dale, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":105000,"max":135000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":135000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Excel","optional":false},{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false},{"name":"Power BI","optional":false},{"name":"Tableau","optional":false},{"name":"Time Series","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-21T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-21","last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T00:59:49Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":99,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":99},"description":"A Category Manager in Procurement at AAR is responsible for owning one or multiple procurement categories from end to end. These end-to-end ownership responsibilities include (but are not limited to) strategic sourcing, conducting RFPs, direct negotiations with potential suppliers, supplier risk assessment, supplier selection, and contracting. A category manager is also responsible for proactive stakeholder management with Business Unit leaders and General Managers at different AAR sites to fulfill all of their category needs and for ensuring that the sites receive quality goods and services on time and at the right cost. Developing new and maintaining existing supplier relationships is also core to the category manager role.\nThe ideal candidate has prior hands-on sourcing and contracts experience and is comfortable working with spend management software such as Coupa, Infor SCM, SAP Ariba or Zycus, analysis tools such as MS Excel, and BI tools such as Power BI and Tableau, to support supplier strategy and sourcing decisions in a fast-paced environment.\nThis position is based at our Corporate Headquarters in Wood Dale, IL, with a planned relocation to the Merchandise Mart (Chicago) in early 2027.\nWhat you will be responsible for:\nOwn multi-year sourcing strategy and program management for the following categories: Real Estate (including leases, renewals, extensions, small-scale buildouts, etc.), Large-scale Buildouts and CapEx, Plant Supplies, and other indirect categories. \nLead RFPs, supplier negotiations, and award recommendations, ensuring alignment with cost targets, capacity constraints, quality requirements, and contractual terms.\nEvaluate sourcing options using a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) framework to support informed supplier selection decisions.Supplier Performance and Risk Management\n\nMonitor supplier performance against cost, quality, delivery, turnaround, and capacity commitments.\nIdentify various potential supplier risks such as financial, cyber security, regulatory, legal, etc. \nLead supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.\nWork closely with Business Unit Stakeholders / Leaders, Operations, CI, Legal, Risk, and Finance teams to align Procurement with operational and customer requirements.\nWork with Suppliers and internal teams to lead contract reviews, pricing agreements, and service-level terms informed by Business Unit requirements.\nInterpret historical demand data to inform sourcing strategies, supplier capacity discussions and volume-based or long-term agreements.\nDemonstrate working knowledge of time-series concepts such as trend, seasonality, variability, and forecast error.\nUse Microsoft Excel for raw spend data analysis, RFP response analysis, etc. \nDevelop and maintain BI dashboards (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) to track KPIs including cost savings, contract coverage, and contract performance.\nTranslate analytical insights into clear, actionable recommendations for sourcing and operations leadership.\nA Category Manager in Procurement at AAR is responsible for owning one or multiple procurement categories from end to end. These end-to-end ownership responsibilities include (but are not limited to) strategic sourcing, conducting RFPs, direct negotiations with potential suppliers, supplier risk assessment, supplier selection, and contracting. A category manager is also responsible for proactive stakeholder management with Business Unit leaders and General Managers at different AAR sites to fulfill all of their category needs and for ensuring that the sites receive quality goods and services on time and at the right cost. Developing new and maintaining existing supplier relationships is also core to the category manager role.\nThe ideal candidate has prior hands-on sourcing and contracts experience and is comfortable working with spend management software such as Coupa, Infor SCM, SAP Ariba or Zycus, analysis tools such as MS Excel, and BI tools such as Power BI and Tableau, to support supplier strategy and sourcing decisions in a fast-paced environment.\nThis position is based at our Corporate Headquarters in Wood Dale, IL, with a planned relocation to the Merchandise Mart (Chicago) in early 2027.\nWhat you will be responsible for:\nOwn multi-year sourcing strategy and program management for the following categories: Real Estate (including leases, renewals, extensions, small-scale buildouts, etc.), Large-scale Buildouts and CapEx, Plant Supplies, and other indirect categories. \nLead RFPs, supplier negotiations, and award recommendations, ensuring alignment with cost targets, capacity constraints, quality requirements, and contractual terms.\nEvaluate sourcing options using a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) framework to support informed supplier selection decisions.Supplier Performance and Risk Management\n\nMonitor supplier performance against cost, quality, delivery, turnaround, and capacity commitments.\nIdentify various potential supplier risks such as financial, cyber security, regulatory, legal, etc. \nLead supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.\nWork closely with Business Unit Stakeholders / Leaders, Operations, CI, Legal, Risk, and Finance teams to align Procurement with operational and customer requirements.\nWork with Suppliers and internal teams to lead contract reviews, pricing agreements, and service-level terms informed by Business Unit requirements.\nInterpret historical demand data to inform sourcing strategies, supplier capacity discussions and volume-based or long-term agreements.\nDemonstrate working knowledge of time-series concepts such as trend, seasonality, variability, and forecast error.\nUse Microsoft Excel for raw spend data analysis, RFP response analysis, etc. \nDevelop and maintain BI dashboards (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) to track KPIs including cost savings, contract coverage, and contract performance.\nTranslate analytical insights into clear, actionable recommendations for sourcing and operations leadership.\nWhat you need to be successful in this role:\nBachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Data Analytics or related field.\n4-5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement or supply chain roles.\nExperience using spend management software (Coupa, SAP Ariba, Zycus).\nExperience using BI tools (Power BI, Tableau).\nProficiency with computer-based applications, such as Microsoft Office suite products.\nMasters degree preferred.\nExperience in Real Estate, Project Management, and / or CapEx a plus. \nExperience in aviation MRO, aerospace aftermarket, or similarly regulated environments preferred.\nProfessional certification (CPSM, CSCP, CIPS) a plus.\nExperience or familiarity with mergers and acquisitions is a plus.\nThe rewards of your career at AAR go far beyond just your salary:\nCompetitive salary and bonus package\nComprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.\n401(k) retirement plan with company match\nGenerous paid time off program\nProfessional development and career advancement opportunities\nPhysical Demands/Work Environment:\nThe physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.\nReasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.\nWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach and move about the facility.\nThe environmental characteristic for this position is an office setting.\nCandidates should be able to adapt to a traditional business environment.\nAAR provides accommodation in accordance with applicable laws through all stages of the hiring process. If you require accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please advise Human Resources.\nCompensation:\nThe anticipated salary range for this position is $105,000 to $135,000 annually. This range reflects the base salary for candidates who meet the requirements of the role, including experience, education, and location. In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a 15% bonus. AAR offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan with employer match, paid time off and holiday pay, as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.\n#LI-ONSITE #LI-RV1\nWhat you need to be successful in this role:\nBachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Data Analytics or related field.\n4-5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement or supply chain roles.\nExperience using spend management software (Coupa, SAP Ariba, Zycus).\nExperience using BI tools (Power BI, Tableau).\nProficiency with computer-based applications, such as Microsoft Office suite products.\nMasters degree preferred.\nExperience in Real Estate, Project Management, and / or CapEx a plus. \nExperience in aviation MRO, aerospace aftermarket, or similarly regulated environments preferred.\nProfessional certification (CPSM, CSCP, CIPS) a plus.\nExperience or familiarity with mergers and acquisitions is a plus.\nThe rewards of your career at AAR go far beyond just your salary:\nCompetitive salary and bonus package\nComprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.\n401(k) retirement plan with company match\nGenerous paid time off program\nProfessional development and career advancement opportunities\nPhysical Demands/Work Environment:\nThe physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.\nReasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.\nWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach and move about the facility.\nThe environmental characteristic for this position is an office setting.\nCandidates should be able to adapt to a traditional business environment.\nAAR provides accommodation in accordance with applicable laws through all stages of the hiring process. If you require accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please advise Human Resources.\nCompensation:\nThe anticipated salary range for this position is $105,000 to $135,000 annually. This range reflects the base salary for candidates who meet the requirements of the role, including experience, education, and location. In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a 15% bonus. AAR offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan with employer match, paid time off and holiday pay, as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.\n#LI-ONSITE #LI-RV1","description_format":"text","description_chars":10951,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":4,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Professional development","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Real Estate","Military Logistics","Aircraft Manufacturing","Supply Chain"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-25T19:05:12Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":8,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.275,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":98,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":135000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/aar-corp-category-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/aar-corp-category-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-28T06:01:46Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":7854,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-29T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1914653},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1914653"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Faar-corp-category-manager"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Faar-corp-category-manager"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Faar-corp-category-manager"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/aar-corp-category-manager\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Faar-corp-category-manager"}]}