Supplier Manager

Grainger Businesses • Lake Forest, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplier Manager owns the relationship with important suppliers across multiple product categories in the Grainger portfolio which range from $50-200M in annual cost. It requires product cost negotiation, develop strategic initiatives in partnership with suppliers, facilitate the communication with other teams like Merchandising, Sales, and Supply Chain, and document and share best practices for the rest of the Supplier Management team. You will report to a Senior Supplier Manager or Director of Supplier Management.

This is a hybrid position and will be based in Lake Forest or Chicago, IL 3 days a week.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• 5+ years business experience in either Product Management, Procurement, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or Consulting
• Experience managing cost negotiation, managing contracts and/or executing procurement
• Analytical mindset, being able leverage large sets of data, analyze them, and obtain insights to inform decisions
• Project management and organization
• Curious and open to learn and navigate ambiguous scenarios
• Constant improvement and best practices mindset

Responsibilities

• Develop a portfolio procurement strategy that connects Grainger's commercial strategy with the corresponding procurement support
• Perform industry research to understand the supplier landscape, important cost drivers, and primary procurement challenges
• Define best sources of supply for the business that meet customer needs, quality, and cost competitiveness
• Lead negotiations that ensure sustainable access to the best industrial products in the category with the best program economics
• Develop relationships with strategic suppliers at multiple levels, ensuring alignment in growth strategies, addressing challenges in operations on a timely manner, and making sure Grainger's customers' needs are met
• Develop strategies in collaboration with other functional areas of Grainger (e.g., product assortment decisions, inventory levels and product availability, lead times, and quality)
• Organize work meetings and field visits to suppliers and trade shows
• Facilitate product content and information gathering in partnership with the teams that support Grainger.com
• Collaborate with peers to document and share best practices across all categories and continuously improve how we work

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level