Cross Reference Manager

S.P. Richards Company•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Manager, Product Cross Reference & Competitive Product Intelligence is responsible for the strategy, governance, and continuous improvement of SPR’s product cross-reference capabilities. This role leads the development and management of the company’s Product Cross Reference database, ensuring Sales teams can quickly identify and recommend SPR products that compete effectively with alternative products in the marketplace. This position plays a critical role in enabling competitive selling by combining data analytics, product research, and cross-functional collaboration to develop accurate product match intelligence. The role also drives improvements in how products are categorized, compared, and analyzed, helping identify gaps in SPR’s product portfolio and opportunities for expansion. This manager partners closely with Sales, Merchandising, Pricing, Marketing, Vendors, and IT to ensure product comparison data is accurate, scalable, and aligned with how customers evaluate purchasing decisions. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, strategic, and detail-oriented, with the ability to balance immediate business needs with long-term data infrastructure development.

Requirements

Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities with strong attention to detail
Ability to develop scalable data processes and manage complex product datasets
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders
Ability to balance urgent operational needs with long-term strategic improvements
Strong organizational and prioritization skills in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work independently while leading cross-functional initiatives
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Data Analytics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
Advanced Excel skills (e.g., macros, Power Query, complex formulas, pivot tables)
Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau
Experience with relational databases and data modeling concepts
Ability to write and execute SQL queries
Experience with data quality management and large product datasets

Nice To Haves

Experience leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for data analysis or automation preferred
Experience with price or product data web scraping preferred
Product knowledge in business products, janitorial supplies, or office products preferred

Responsibilities

Own the strategy, governance, and continuous improvement of SPR’s product cross-reference database.
Establish standards, processes, and best practices for developing and maintaining product cross references.
Ensure cross-reference data remains accurate, scalable, and aligned with customer purchasing behaviors.
Lead the development of product comparison methodologies that improve the quality and reliability of cross references.
Identify opportunities to automate and scale cross-referencing processes through improved data architecture, analytics, and technology.
Oversee the creation and maintenance of cross references between competitor products and SPR alternatives.
Develop internal cross-reference recommendations to support substitute product selection during stock shortages or product discontinuations.
Maintain and update cross references when product IDs, packaging configurations, or units of measure change.
Develop and maintain product attribute frameworks that enable consistent product comparison and pricing analysis.
Leverage data analysis to identify product portfolio gaps and competitive opportunities.
Utilize data analytics tools such as Power BI to monitor cross-reference coverage, data quality, and business impact.
Analyze product attribute data to improve product matching accuracy and support strategic pricing initiatives.
Develop reporting and dashboards that provide insights into competitive product positioning and substitution opportunities.
Partner with Sales, Merchandising, Pricing, Marketing, Vendors, and IT to ensure cross-reference data supports business needs.
Serve as the internal subject matter expert on product matching and competitive product comparisons.
Support strategic initiatives such as major bids, new business opportunities, and customer conversions by providing product intelligence.
Oversee the fulfillment of cross-reference requests for new business, bids, and customer opportunities.
Guide stakeholders toward strategic product recommendations using data, product specifications, and industry knowledge.
Establish processes that enable faster and more scalable responses to cross-reference requests.
Continuously improve workflows, tools, and data processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
Develop documentation, standards, and training materials related to cross-reference processes.
Mentor and guide analysts supporting cross-reference or product data work and help scale the function as the business grows.