Cost Engineering & Sourcing Strategy Analyst - Onsite

ACE Hardware; South Carolina; On-site; USD 88,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive opportunities

401(k) matching

Job summary

Ace Hardware seeks a Cost Engineering & Sourcing Strategy Analyst to evaluate cost, commodity and market data and develop cost out strategies across categories. You will work with Cat Management, Finance, Merchandising and Pricing to transform insights into negotiations and supplier actions.

In this role you’ll use tools like Alteryx, Power BI and Excel to build models, track milestones and support cross-functional teams with fact-based recommendations that drive margin growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, sourcing or analytics.
• Bachelor’s degree; graduate degree preferred.
• Strong data interpretation and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Mine and prioritize cost engineering opportunities from data sources.
• Assess commodity markets and negotiate cost out opportunities.
• Use input cost models to identify off-cycle savings.
• Synthesize market research into actionable negotiation insights.
• Maintain project milestones and dashboards for stakeholders.
• Prepare materials for vendor negotiations using fact-based analysis.

Skills

Analytics

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

MS Office

Excel

Power BI

Alteryx

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

eRFx platform

Coupa

Jaggaer

Job description

About this role:

The Cost Engineering & Sourcing Strategy Analyst (internally known as Cost Engineering Analyst) evaluates cost, commodity and market data to identify and set cost out goals, then coordinates and partners with cross functional teams to develop and execute cost out strategies using Cost Engineering tools, including but not limited to competitive bidding, presentation and negotiations materials, analysis on CTQ, consumer review, survey, assortment, should-cost, competitive, and demand transfer data.

What you’ll do:

• Mine, combine and assess facts from 3rd party experts, publications, vendors and internal partners (Cat Management, Finance, Domestic Merchants, Import Merchants, Pricing) to identify and prioritize cost engineering opportunities

• Monitor changes in commodity markets, industry shifts (M&A), product innovations to evaluate changes in negotiation gaps / leverage

• Use input cost models and price opportunity reporting to identify off-cycle cost out opportunities

• Synthesize product, assortment, competitive and market research into actionable insights and opportunities for cost negotiations through the Cost Engineering process

• Review spend data to help prioritize areas of focus

• Research cost drivers across various industries, vendors and products

• Learn the key metrics, CTQ, features and drivers for different product categories

• Leverage consumer data/reviews, surveys, interviews and pilot programs to test assumptions and assess brand value

• Use demand transfer data and margin impact models to evaluate assortment updates impacts, quantify negotiation tradeoffs (carrots and sticks) and prioritize recommendations for merchants

• Identify inconsistencies in vendor pricing architecture to demonstrate the need for cost concessions

• Incorporate merchant expertise and context into analysis to account for nuance and real-world factors

• Serve as an independent, unbiased thought contributor capable of using data to make recommendations others may have overlooked and to influence cross-functional stakeholders

• Track project milestones and resolve roadblocks to ensure project timelines stay on track

• Coordinate and host recurring category team meetings to investigate opportunities, assess vendor bids and craft negotiation strategies

• Maintain a repository of facts, analysis, dashboards, charts and findings for respective projects

• Conduct negotiation training and mock negotiations

• Author materials for and participate in vendor negotiations using fact-based analysis

• Manage line review bid process using eRFx platform (program creation, coding scenarios, impact analysis, troubleshoot issues, coordinate vendor communications, track and report on progress)

• Employ analytics tools (eRFx, Alteryx, Power BI, Excel) to evaluate bid scenarios, calculate cost savings and profit margin impacts

• Efficiently run detailed financial analysis for scenario testing and cost out projections

• Provide recurring performance and execution updates

• Refine should-cost models and commodity insights, establish cost out goals, and identify margin growth prospects

• Accumulate expertise and insights on raw material markets and manufacturing processes

• Manage list of negotiation tactics in Merchandising Leverage Library

• Introduce and drive CE best practices; lead continuous improvement of analytic tools, methodologies, and visualization for the CE team

• Help refine and enhance cost reporting in Power BI

• Collaborate with Merchandising, Category Management, Finance and Pricing

• Advice on the differences in commodity prices and manufacturing processes

• Occasionally perform Ace and competitor product tear downs

What you will need:

• Able to interpret complex, large volume and sometimes contradictory data to develop fact-backed insights and strategies

• Demonstrated analytic abilities with an emphasis on critical thinking, root cause analysis, and problem solving required

• Ability to collaborate effectively in a cross functional team setting to share insights, co-create outputs and iterate with speed

• Demonstrated self-starter and ability to semi-independently run analysis to drive to answers

• Clear, proactive and collaborative communicator

• Can tactfully address issues with internal and external business partners

• Demonstrates poise, composure, presence, communication skills and an understanding of key data drivers to establish rapport and respect with negotiation partners

• Experience developing creative solutions that provide win-win outcomes in difficult or ambiguous situations

• Skilled in coordinating timelines and project managing across multiple simultaneous projects

• Prior exposure to manufacturing, sourcing, product development desired

• Possess a positive attitude with a bias towards action

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite

• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills with a passion for discovering answers and insights

• Preferably has previous experience using reporting tools such as Alteryx and Power BI

Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years’ prior work experience, ideally in some of the following fields:

• Manufacturing, engineering, commodity trading, sourcing, analytics, forecasting, merchandising, product design, category management, consulting, project management

• Prior experience with sourcing software (Coupa, Jaggaer, etc) a plus

Education: Bachelor’s degree or graduate degree preferred

• Applicable fields of study include but are not limited to: Business, economics, engineering, analytics, mathematics, data science, supply chain, purchasing, merchandising, manufacturing, product design

WORK AUTHORIZATION:

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Compensation Details:

$88400.00 - $110700.00 per year

Why should you join our team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don’t often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits* that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

• Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity!)

• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met).