Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
At Curion, We Connect Brands to People. Our expertise and passionate pursuit of insights enable our clients to make informed decisions that drive meaningful impact. Our vision? Advancing the way brands connect to people to build a better future. Our core values: Integrity, Resiliency, Accountability, Curiosity, and Collaboration.
Position Summary:
We are seeking a highly organized, energetic, and proactive Manager, Procurement & Distribution to manage company-wide product procurement, Deerfield facility warehouse management, and Deerfield facility shipment logistics to ensure efficient operations across the organization. This role is responsible for managing procurement processes and inbound/outbound logistics, while developing vendor partnerships and building internal capabilities to support large-scale distribution, including Home Use Test (HUT) mailers and in a future state of the business, Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) equipment logistics.
The ideal candidate is a proactive, detail-oriented logistics professional with strong leadership and organizational skills. The Logistics Manager will excel at balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution, ensuring procurement, inventory, and shipment processes run smoothly and efficiently.
This Manager thrives in a dynamic environment, communicates clearly across departments, and is skilled at building relationships with vendors and partners. A collaborative problem-solver, the ideal candidate anticipates challenges, adapts quickly, and maintains a customer-focused approach in all aspects of logistics management. This leadership role will require the management of employees who are not located in Deerfield, IL, so the candidate should feel comfortable leading a team remotely.
Key Responsibilities:
Procurement Management – 50%
- Oversee and manage the procurement team across various US locations (Procurement Technicians, and a dotted line to Sr. Field Technicians who can also complete procurement tasks).
- Onboard and train Senior Field Technicians and Field Technicians in procurement processes, creating a scalable “bench” of procurement-trained staff.
- Work with cross-functional teams on procurement/logistical process creation and/or SOPs
- Provide technical procurement guidance to ensure orders are fulfilled efficiently and cost-effectively.
- Manage and maintain the procurement dashboard, ensuring data accuracy and timely reporting.
- Fulfill procurement orders on-line and at local stores when procurement technicians are at capacity (varies weekly but estimated to be ~25% of time)
- Maintain product integrity during delivery to Curion (coolers, blue ice packs, dry ice)
- Handle special procurement requests i.e. matching date codes
- Safeguard corporate credit card and debit cards
- Enter receipts into expense reimbursement software and into the expense report along with job number as soon as receipt is available
- Identify and develop partnerships with local grocery store chains to streamline special order placement and expand sourcing options.
- Develop a national procurement support network (shoppers in other US states) to manage procurement needs for HUT mailer campaigns, where product that consumers test are shipped directly to their house from the Deerfield facility, and other large-scale initiatives.
- Collaborate with the Facility Director/Testing Operations Manager on cold storage
Warehouse & Shipment Management – 50%
- Oversee inbound and outbound shipments for the Deerfield warehouse location, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and cost efficiency.
- Coordinate and manage HUT mailer shipment logistics, ensuring on-time delivery and proper handling.
- Manage warehouse inventory levels, ensuring optimal stock levels, organization, and reporting.
- In a future state of the business, oversee the logistics and movement of QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) equipment, including storage, maintenance, and deployment.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
- 5+ years of experience in project management, logistics, or product procurement management preferred.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams, especially remotely.
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Proficiency in logistics or procurement management systems and dashboard tools.
- Strong vendor relationship management and negotiation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with project management platforms, Asana preferred.
- Experience working with Microsoft 365, including SharePoint
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- High attention to detail, process-oriented mindset, and problem-solving ability.
- Natural sense of urgency in accomplishing tasks and in communications
Work Environment & Requirements:
- This is an on-site role with regular time spent in a warehouse environment
- This role will require in-person procurement in local stores (~25% of time), reliable transportation is required, Valid Driver’s License and proof of Valid Auto Insurance required
- Travel to other locations (10%) for offsite management for test supervision
- Ability to lift 40-50 lb boxes
For Curion’s Manager, Procurement & Distribution position, we offer a starting salary between 60,000-70,000 plus bonus eligibility based on the qualifications and experience of each individual. Curion offers a benefits package for this position which includes:
- 401(k) retirement account with company match
- Health, dental, vision, basic life, short and long-term disability, accident insurance, critical insurance, pet insurance, flexible spending account (FSA), and more.
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Company paid holidays
Curion is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status.
About the company
Curion specializes in delivering impactful insights to the world's top CPG companies, helping them develop winning, repeatedly purchased products. Curion’s deep data-driven product insights, sensory expertise, and state-of-the-art consumer centers enable them to uncover responses to critical client objectives. With over five decades of experience in the product testing industry, Curion is dedicated to guiding clients with their proprietary Product Experience and Performance (PXP™) platform, connecting brands to consumers at every step.
As an innovator in the industry, Curion recently developed a groundbreaking benchmarking product testing method, the Curion Score™, which has become a trusted and sought after tool within the industry. As one of the largest product and consumer insights companies in the U.S., Curion has built a reputation for excellence and trust among the world's leading consumer brands. Curion’s commitment to innovation and expertise, coupled with a passion for delivering actionable insights, makes Curion a valuable partner for companies looking to develop and launch successful products.
Requirements: