Supplier Enablement Manager

MSC Industrial Direct Co.,Inc.; Davidson (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

MSC Industrial Supply Co. in Davidson, NC seeks a Manager, Supplier Enablement to lead end-to-end JBP and QBR cycles for strategic suppliers.

You will translate category strategy into growth plans, align priorities, investments, and resources, and drive cross-functional execution within MSC's supplier programs. This role partners with Category leadership and multiple functions to create measurable outcomes, manage KPIs, and secure funding for supplier initiatives, go-to-market activation, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, supply chain, finance, analytics or equivalent
• Five+ years in supplier management, category management, merchandising, or related disciplines
• Experience leading cross-functional programs from strategy through execution
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, and collaborative Microsoft 365 tools

Responsibilities

• Lead the complete annual JBP and quarterly QBR cycles for the assigned portfolio
• Translate priorities into the locked growth template with owners and timelines
• Coordinate input from Category, Sales, Marketing, Finance, BI, and other partners
• Facilitate JBP and QBR meetings, document commitments, and relock the 90-day plan
• Drive go-to-market activation and supplier funding across functions
• Monitor performance with KPIs and dashboards and adjust plans as needed

Skills

Supplier management

Cross-functional leadership

Program management

Analysis & reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, supply chain, finance, analytics

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Power BI

Microsoft 365 tools

Job description

BUILD A BETTER CAREER WITH MSC

Serving customers and our community starts with the best people doing their best work. That is precisely what we have created at MSC Industrial Supply Co. We are a leading North American distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), products and services. We offer more than 2 million products and have over 80 years of experience across dozens of industries. We aim to execute our Built to Make You Better brand promise for all our stakeholders, including our associates.

Requisition ID : 21458

Employment Type : Full Time

Job Category : Business Transformation

Work Location : Davidson, NC (CSC)

BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY:

The Manager, Supplier Enablement independently leads the end-to-end Joint Business Planning (JBP) and Quarterly Business Review (QBR) cycle for an assigned portfolio of strategic suppliers within the MRO Business Unit. In partnership with Category leadership, the Manager translates MRO and category strategy into focused, measurable supplier growth plans that align MSC and supplier priorities, investments, capabilities, and resources around the highest-value opportunities. The role strengthens strategic supplier advantage by converting supplier innovation, customer and market insights, commercial opportunities, and go-to-market priorities into committed objectives, owners, measures, actions, and timelines, then driving disciplined cross-functional execution and accountability through the QBR operating rhythm. By consistently delivering agreed commitments and measurable outcomes, the Manager helps deepen supplier relationships, strengthen supplier confidence in MSC, and create greater access to investment, innovation, product-launch opportunities, promotions, and differentiated programs that drive joint growth and customer value.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PORTFOLIO STRATEGY, PERFORMANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Independently owns the performance and development of an assigned strategic supplier portfolio, with accountability for translating category priorities into measurable supplier growth outcomes.
• Build and maintain the supplier fact base by integrating Category-owned strategy, historical performance, customer and seller insights, market dynamics, supplier capabilities, innovation pipelines, and whitespace opportunities.
• Brings field, sales, customer, Digital, and eCommerce insights into portfolio decisions to identify adoption, retention, differentiation, and growth opportunities.
• Incorporates relevant vertical-market priorities and, where applicable, Exclusive Brands inputs into the supplier portfolio strategy in partnership with the appropriate Category and brand teams.
• Monitors supplier and initiative performance through agreed KPIs, financial outcomes, dashboards, scorecards, and progress pulls; converts results into recommendations to continue, adjust, accelerate, or stop activities.
• Maintains accountability across MSC and supplier teams for committed outcomes, owners, milestones, and expected returns, and escalates barriers, unresolved decisions, resource gaps, and risks that threaten delivery.

JBP & QBR PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP

• Independently leads the complete annual JBP and quarterly QBR cycle for the assigned portfolio, including planning launch, supplier kickoff, cross-functional input, readiness, meeting leadership, growth-template lock, and quarterly re-locking.
• Partners with Category leadership to translate business priorities into the locked JBP growth template, including growth objectives, initiatives, investment requirements, measures, owners, and timelines.
• Leads internal and supplier preparation using standardized templates, automated data inputs, decision briefs, meeting narratives, and initiative summaries to focus meeting time on decisions and execution.
• Coordinates required input from Category, Sales, Sales Enablement, Marketing, Finance, Business Intelligence, Customer Analytics, Merchandising, Digital, eCommerce, Exclusive Brands, and other partners while keeping specialist ownership with the appropriate function.
• Facilitates JBP and QBR meetings, drives decisions, documents commitments, and re-locks the next 90-day execution plan based on performance, risks, customer feedback, supplier input, and changing business priorities.

GO-TO-MARKET ACTIVATION & SUPPLIER FUNDING

• Owns the coordination and forward movement of go-to-market execution tied to approved supplier plans, ensuring priorities translate into field, Digital, marketing, training, customer-facing, and supplier actions.

• Builds the cross-functional execution plan from the locked growth template, establishes clear owners and milestones, and maintains the follow-through required to move innovative ideas from agreement to market.
• Partners with Sales Enablement and Marketing to brief, develop, and deploy seller communications, training, selling tools, campaigns, content, and field engagement required to execute supplier growth priorities.
• Drives alignment across functions when execution becomes complex, resolves or escalates dependencies, and keeps strategic initiatives moving through decision points to launch and measurable results.
• Helps execute Dynamic Offering opportunities for JBP suppliers when documented through the JBP, locked growth template, or QBR; coordinates with Category, Marketing, Finance, and other stakeholders on Above & Beyond and co-op processes used to secure required supplier funding.
• Coordinates supplier-specific training, education, awareness, and enablement activations using in-person, virtual, streaming, event, and other appropriate formats.
• Leads supplier-specific go-to-market campaigns, including content-channel testing, coordinated communication, and targeted seller and customer engagement; evaluates execution results and adjusts the plan through the QBR rhythm.

OPERATING MODEL, PROCESS IMPROVEMENT & DIGITAL ENABLEMENT

• Applies the common Supplier Enablement playbook, governance standards, templates, scorecards, SharePoint resources, and operating cadence while maintaining accurate portfolio content within the shared infrastructure.
• Uses standardized inputs, workflow automation, generative AI, responsible AI practices, and support from the Supplier Enablement Coordinator to reduce preparation effort and preserve Manager capacity for go-to-market execution and supplier growth.
• Contributes practical feedback and lessons learned that improve the JBP/QBR operating model, cross-functional alignment, and execution scalability over time.

CULTURE & ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSC's vision and unity of purpose.
• Participates in special projects and performs additional duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

What You Need:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, supply chain, finance, analytics, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Five or more years of experience in supplier management, category management, merchandising, product marketing, commercial operations, sales enablement, program management, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional programs, business planning, or supplier/customer initiatives from strategy through execution and performance review.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and collaborative Microsoft 365 tools used to organize plans, analyze performance, and communicate recommendations.

Bonus Points If You Have:

• Experience in industrial distribution, manufacturing, MRO, or a supplier-facing commercial environment.
• Experience leading Joint Business Planning, Quarterly Business Reviews, annual business planning, or comparable customer/supplier governance processes.
• Ability to synthesize financial, customer, supplier, and market inputs into a clear strategic narrative and executable growth plan.
• Strong facilitation, executive communication, influence, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience with Power BI, business intelligence, customer analytics, performance scorecards, or ROI measurement.
• Experience applying process improvement, workflow automation, generative AI, or AI-agent solutions to business processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and create accountability across teams without direct authority.

Other Requirements:

• Position requires up to 20% travel.
• This role independently owns supplier portfolios and outcomes within the established Supplier Enablement operating model but does not own enterprise brand governance, creative production, assortment governance, or Power BI dashboard development.
• This position may require access to confidential company and supplier information and is expected to handle that information appropriately.

• This position may require access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations Information (“ITAR”) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”)

Compensation starting at $84,800 - $133,320 per year depending on candidate location and experience.

The salary range represented is based on similar roles in comparable industries, and the cost of labor in respective cities. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's relevant experience, education requirements and peer pay equity. The Company reserves the right to modify the range as market conditions change.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position at this time.

This job posting will remain open for a minimum of 3 business days from the original posting date or longer as needed to fill the position.

WHY MSC?

People. Collaboration. Insight. That's how you build something that works. Built on a foundation of trust, MSC works side by side with our customers to help them drive business results. With more than one million product offerings and 80+ years of experience across industries, MSC strives to help our customers achieve greater productivity, profitability, and growth through inventory management and other innovative supply chain solutions. We care about our associates and have programs in place to help our 6,500+ team members achieve their potential.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

Our associates are our top priority and investing in their well-being is one way we execute our Built to Make You Better brand promise. Alongside competitive pay, we have a comprehensive benefits program to support you and your family's health, well-being and financial future. We offer dynamic healthcare plans, generous 401K and stock purchasing programs, tuition reimbursement opportunities, and paid time away for holidays, vacations, and illness. Visit our page for a better look at our extensive benefits: Your Future Benefits.

You will also have the opportunity to join our Associate Inclusion Circles: Women, Pride, Black, Generational, Veterans, HOLA, and Able. These circles are open to all associates and are designed to promote awareness, collaboration, and respect.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

At MSC, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all qualified applicants and our associates without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any category protected by applicable law. Accommodation requests can be made at any stage of the recruitment process; applicants are asked to make their needs/requirements known.

Please note that MSC uses electronic monitoring and system logs in its workplace, including monitoring of Company-provided systems and collaboration tools, as permitted by applicable law.