Product Specialist

Univar Solutions USA Inc; Dublin (OH); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Univar Solutions USA Inc is seeking a Product Specialist to manage a portfolio of products, coordinate across functions, and support supplier relationships. You will drive profitability through price and cost management and act as product manager when needed.

The role requires collaboration with Sales, Purchasing, Customer Service, and Operations. The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of sales or purchasing experience in chemicals, a bachelor’s degree, and strong Excel/PowerPoint skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or scientific subject area from an accredited university.
• At least 3-5 years of sales or purchasing experience in chemicals or related industry.
• Experience coordinating across many functions to gain alignment and influence execution.
• Able to manage multiple projects with high levels of detail at once.
• Projects a professional and positive image both inside and outside of the company.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; SAP Business Warehouse and Salesforce.com experience preferred but not required.
• Travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Maintain daily business operations of product line and support product launches.
• Negotiate pricing and communicate price strategy to the sales team.
• Maintain supplier relationships and participate in supplier meetings.
• Serve as acting product manager when the Product Line Manager is unavailable.

Skills

Excellent verbal and communication

Cross-functional coordination

Project management

Detail oriented

Excel and PowerPoint

SAP BW experience

Salesforce.com experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or scientific subject area

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

SAP Business Warehouse

Salesforce.com

Job description

A Place Where People Matter.

Start your career journey with Univar Solutions! Here you can make an impact on the world around you and accelerate your career in areas that energize and excite you.

Position Title: Product Specialist

In this role as Product Specialist, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of a portfolio of products. This position plays a key role in driving the various business strategies crafted by the Product Marketing Managers. Product Specialists are responsible for coordinating activities across functions to benefit the product line, maximize profitability through sales price/cost management, and support the development of supplier relationships through proactive communication.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Maintain daily business operations of product line:
  • Provide direction as needed to sales, purchasing, customer service, operations, and network planning in support of daily business decisions
  • Complete new product set-up in support of product launches
  • Maintain knowledge of and communicate all necessary product information to the organization in a timely manner
  • Serve as acting product manager when Product Line Manager is out of the office
• Price and Cost Administration:
  • Negotiate exception-based cost or pricing with supplier
  • Implement and communicate price strategy to the sales team as directed by the Product Line Managers
  • Primary contact for all pricing questions or issues from sales organization
• Supplier relationship:
  • Maintain close supplier relationships with frequent, proactive, and professional communication to supplier representatives
  • Develop or maintain supplier reports as directed by the Product Line Manager
  • Participate in periodic supplier meetings

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or scientific subject area from an accredited university
• At least 3-5 of years sales or purchasing experience in chemicals or related industry
• Experience coordinating across many functions to gain alignment and influence execution
• Able to manage multiple projects with high levels of detail at once
• Projects a professional and positive image both inside and outside of the company
• The role requires proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. SAP Business Warehouse and Salesforce.com experience preferred but not required.
• Travel up to 15%

Competencies:

• Excellent verbal and communication skills
• Ability to establish strong working relationships and influence action
• Drive continuous improvement in business processes
• Proven negotiation skills and strong discernment
• Strong organizational, time management skills, and ability to prioritize
• Data and analytic driven decision making

WHERE YOU'LL WORK:

This is a hybrid role that requires 3 days in office.

Univar Solutions is a leading, global distributor of chemicals and ingredients essential to the safety, health, and wellbeing of our daily lives from life-saving medicines and vitamins to hand sanitizers and industrial materials used for cleaning, construction, and more. Our global team of more 9,500 employees support our vision to redefine distribution and be the most valued chemical and ingredient distributor on the planet!

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes market aligned pay and incentives as well as a diverse benefits offering to support our employees' physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

Univar Solutions supports sustainable solutions for the world around us so that we can do our part to help keep our communities healthy, fed, clean, and safe!

We are committed to a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusion. Together, we are building a culture that acknowledges the unique experiences, perspectives and expertise of individuals and provides the development and growth opportunities to empower us to redefine our industry.

Univar Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected classification. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the hiring process, please contact us at [e-mail].