Location: LAKE FOREST, IL, US, 60045-5202 CHICAGO, IL, US, 60603-4013
Work Location Type: Hybrid
As a leading industrial distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan, and the United Kingdom, we serve more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. With 2023 sales of $16.5 billion, we’re dedicated to providing value for customers, fostering an engaging culture for team members, and driving strong financial results.
Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow, and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a 2024 Glassdoor Best Place to Work and a Great Place to Work-Certified company, we’re looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry over our next 100 years.
You will have North American strategic responsibility for the supplier relationships and cost of goods sold across multiple product categories which range from $200M - $400M in COGS to $400M, $400M to $800M in sales.
You will work with Grainger International to guide a North American strategy with aligned suppliers. You will negotiate profitable business, ensure the implementation and compliance with agreements both with the customer and field-based sales resources and Grainger resources.
You will report to the Director, Supplier Management.
You Will:
Negotiate Win-Win Solutions:
- Develop and implement SRM plans by working directly with supplier leadership of strategic suppliers to assure Grainger's goals are met.
- Use supplier relationships to meet end-to-end needs across the business to improve customer and team member experience and grow revenue.
- Develop relationships with vendor partners, focusing on assortment plans, product cost, pricing, logistics, volume rebates, etc.
- Develop deep supplier relationships with strategic suppliers to include data review and analysis, performance management, and development and improvement of end-to-end value, and bring innovation to the business.
Manage Complex Supplier Relationships:
- Be the single contact for supplier and internal partners for all supplier-related issues.
- Develop the vision, strategy, and implementation plan for specific strategic supplies to meet the strategies and long-range requirements to deliver the maximum value for Grainger.
- Build relationships with suppliers in North America, working with decision-makers within the supplier's organization including Vice Presidents, Presidents, and CEOs.
- Lead efforts to help improve supplier relationships with Grainger.
- Collaborate with merchant and other partners to review the impact of inbound management issues on national brand product assortment sourcing strategy and determine action plans.
- Design a price/cost management strategy, which provides market competitive pricing.
- Implement processes to monitor division satisfaction with suppliers and the central sourcing department.
- Support the Supplier Performance Manager in the collection, synthesis, communication, and feedback of performance metrics.
- Inbound from Supplier: supplier-driven product discontinuations, procure to pay issues, manufacturing issues, supplier relationship severance, product underperformance (damages, quality, warranty, etc.), product cost change (cost season and other one-offs), new product development opportunities.
- Outbound to Supplier: sales force, quotes, RFP, cross-reference, and sourcing support, SSGP, escalations to guide business partner needs (PI, compliance, legal, supplier performance, Zoro, etc.), proactive management of commodity adjustments and business environment changes (bankruptcy, sale of supplier, market changes, etc.).
Achieve Results Through Others:
Coach team to guide results through others with a focus on improving gross margin, category ROIC & Economic Earnings, supplier performance, and product information.
Lead teams to ensure product compliance with all US and appropriate foreign regulations.
Within the Product Category Review (PCR) Process:
Gather feedback on national brand supplier performance (field support, supply chain performance, product information, customer service, etc.)
- Evaluate current national brand supplier cost positions.
- Document national brand supply recommendations.
- Collaborate with merchant on national brand product assortment sourcing strategy.
- Develop national brand supplier sourcing strategy.
- Establish relationships with national brand suppliers.
- Conduct/finalize cost negotiations guided by product assortment strategy.
- Negotiate favorable terms and support for growing the business.
You Have:
- 7+ years business experience with a working knowledge of Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Cost Accounting, Finance, and Economics.
- Comfortable building and delivering presentations to management, staff, and field audiences.
- Understanding of our business direction, customer requirements, supply management-marketing strategy, and demand generation fulfillment process.
- Experience driving and demonstrating results.
- Experience with suppliers, customers, Grainger's strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
- Clear knowledge of the negotiation process.
- Change Management skills by inspiring teams to welcome change, embrace new directions, and future opportunities.
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment. With this in mind, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.
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