Manager, Customer Strategy

Grainger; Lake Forest (IL); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

401(k) matching

Employee discounts & tuition

Parental leave

Job summary

Grainger is seeking a Manager, Customer Strategy to leverage customer data for insights that guide growth across industries. The role oversees an industry desk, designs segment strategies, and collaborates with Merchandising, Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain to drive profitable growth for new and existing customers.

The position is hybrid, requiring three days onsite per week at Lake Forest, IL or Chicago, IL offices, and emphasizes translating strategy into actionable insights and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Economics, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years in a Fortune 500 company with relevant customer strategy experience.
• Experience translating strategies into revenue-driving tactics.
• Experience in a matrixed organization and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience executing growth and go-to-market strategies in industrial, retail, or distribution contexts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth research to understand key segment roles, challenges, products, and Grainger's right to win.
• Drive cross-functional execution on opportunities to grow share via improved offer or tailored go-to-market touches.
• Translate growth strategies into content and expertise that supports go-to-market touches.
• Generate industry performance insights, multi-year roadmaps, and prioritization of key segments.
• Gather seller and customer feedback on market developments for priority segments.

Skills

5+ years experience in Fortune 500

Customer strategy

Matrixed organization experience

Growth/go-to-market execution

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Economics, Business, or related field

Job description

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and value-added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer expertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose-driven culture, the Company reported 2025 revenue of $17.9 billion. For more information, visitwww.grainger.com.

Work Location Type: Hybrid

Req Number 334211

Compensation

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $112,900.00 – $188,100.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 15 % or $ , based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.

Rewards And 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

Grainger Benefits

The pay range provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The range reflects the potential base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills.

The anticipated compensation range described above is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above.

Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.

This position is not eligible for any form of sponsorship now or in the future. Individuals requiring sponsorship (e.g. OPT or H1B visa status) should not apply. Only individuals authorized to work in the United States now and for the foreseeable future will be considered for this position.

Position Details

The Manager, Customer Strategy utilizing customer data to provide detailed insights related to customers' needs and key challenges. This role involves managing an industry desk and designing segment strategies using a standard review process. The manager will collaborate across functions to drive process improvements by determining how their work is utilized and facilitates outcomes aimed at achieving targeted and profitable growth for both new and existing customers. This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days per week onsite at the Lake Forest, IL or Chicago, IL offices.

You Will

• Conduct in-depth research during review process via primary and secondary research (e.g., desk research, customer visits, seller ridealongs, expert interviews) to understand key segment roles, departments, challenges, products, services, purchase process, and Grainger's \"right to win\".
• Help drive cross-functional execution (e.g., Merchandising, Sales Coverage, Marketing, Sales Enablement, Supply Chain) on opportunities to grow share in segment via improved offer (e.g., product, price, service) or tailored go-to-market touches (e.g., coverage, sales & marketing tactics).
• Translate growth strategies on prioritized industries or special topics into relevant content and expertise that supports go-to-market touches.
• Generate overall industry performance insights, multi-year industry roadmaps, and prioritization of key segments or special topics.
• Gather seller and customer feedback from select activities (e.g., roundtables, tradeshows, third-party partnerships) on latest market developments for priority industry segments or special topics.

You Have

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Economics, Business, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in a Fortune 500 company, including 2 years in a customer strategy or development function
• Experience translating strategies to tactics that increase revenue
• Experience driving results in a matrixed organization
• Experience structuring work that enables development and testing of scalable concepts
• Experience executing growth/ go-to-market/ sales and marketing strategies within an industrial, retail, or distribution business.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work 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, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.