Supplier Operations Specialist

Van-Meter; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Pet insurance

Company paid life and disability

Paid time off including holidays

401(k) with company match

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Job summary

Van Meter, a leading electrical distributor serving Cedar Rapids and surrounding markets, seeks a Supplier Operations Specialist to support product lines from purchasing to pricing decisions. You will collaborate across sales, marketing, operations and finance to improve market share, profitability and inventory health.

A self-starter who can work autonomously is valued and encouraged to drive measurable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in cross-functional collaboration across sales, marketing, operations, and finance.
• Proven negotiation skills to benefit the company financially while maintaining supplier relations.
• Ability to analyze trends, cost/pricing strategies, and improve line performance.
• Experience with purchasing software systems; Eclipse experience preferred.
• Must learn and implement internal processes and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Drive market share and profitability for designated product lines.
• Optimize inventory levels based on market needs and financial return.
• Analyze price in-to-stock files and communicate price impacts.
• Develop relationships with suppliers and local reps.
• Collaborate with internal teams in sales, marketing, operations, and finance.
• Support supplier performance improvement projects.
• Provide input on inventory management strategies across territories.
• Execute procurement strategies including PO acknowledgement and shipping follow-ups.
• Understand Eclipse inventory system for procurement processes.
• Assist with data loading and product data maintenance in PIM.
• Participate in cost recovery strategies like ship and debit claims.
• Monitor KPIs for PO management, data integrity, and SPA/Rebate.
• Support 3P sales support approach.
• Promote Van Meter culture and 5 P’s.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Decision making

Adaptability

Education

Associate degree

Pricing strategy knowledge

Electrical product knowledge

Tools

Eclipse

Excel

Access

Job description

Description

The Supplier Operations Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting our purpose of creating lasting value for those we serve by helping the company gain additional market share and focus on the profitability of a specific set of product lines within our business for Van Meter, Inc (VM). The primary responsibilities of this position are to help execute on the team’s strategy for the product lines designated as it pertains to the functions of purchasing, cost negotiation, data integrity and making solid pricing and product decisions for our business while collaborating across departments. The Supplier Operations Specialist is a self-starter, works autonomously and sets an example for others. This individual will impact the business by growing sales, market share and overall profitability. This individual’s behavior promotes our culture, our 5 P’s and our purpose to create lasting value for those we serve.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions:

• Drive improvements in market share and profitability for designated lines
• Optimize inventory levels based on market needs and financial return
• Obtain and analyze in-to-stock price file and communicate impact of price changes to the organization
• Have an understanding of how Van Meter manages cost of goods sold from our suppliers
• Develop and foster key relationships with local representatives and suppliers
• Build strong relationships with the internal resources in sales, marketing, operations, and finance
• Identify opportunities to review or analyze our day-to-day selling strategies
• Develop an understanding of local market distributor/manufacturer competition and market selling levels
• Understand the inventory position of designated lines across all territories in order to offer input on our inventory management strategy
• Execute on the strategies, schedules, and processes defined to ensure we have the right product at the right time: including PO acknowledgement, Ship Date Follow-Up, Emergency Ordering, and providing input on inventory settings
• Develop a knowledge of the company’s inventory system (Eclipse) as it relates to procurement and inventory management
• Participate in or manage parts of various projects to improve supplier performance, efficiency, or profitability
• Understand what product data we have access to from our suppliers and support implementing what’s needed by our company and our customers
• Be familiar with our company’s PIM software and the attributes it manages that impact our supplier operations so that you can help prepare data to load or be processed
• Execute on strategy developed for cost recovery on designated lines: including ship and debit claims, defective credits, or shipping error resolution
• Understand and suggest ways to improve on KPI’s related to purchase order management, data integrity and SPA/Rebate contract efficiency
• Support company’s 3P’s sales support approach
• Provides decision-making support to team supervisor
• Promote our culture and our 5 P’s

Requirements

Critical Success Factors:

• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively across departments
• Able to create a teaming atmosphere with internal customers
• Strong negotiation skills, which will benefit the company financially while maintaining solid relationships with internal customers and suppliers
• Willingness to take managed risks
• Able to analyze trends, cost/pricing strategies, and best practices to constantly improve product line performance
• Willingness to give and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to understand and implement our processes and procedures
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting deadlines
• Must lead by example by displaying a positive work ethic and attitude
• Ability to learn, grow, and adapt to change
• Ability to make sound decisions with minimal guidance
• Strong analytical skills and ability to solve problems and develop solutions
• Drive for continuous improvement
• Dependable

Job Requirements/Specifications:

• 0-2 years of experience with an Associate’s Degree, four-year degree preferred
• Education in Pricing Strategy is a plus
• Electrical product knowledge is a plus
• Previous sales or customer service experience required
• Proven negotiation skills required
• Knowledge of the electrical wholesale distribution industry preferred
• Contractor market experience preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software, specifically Excel and Access
• Experience with purchasing software systems required. Eclipse experience preferred

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• Consistently sitting, working with hands & fingers, talking, hearing, vision acuity-near, works with others, and customer contact
• Frequently standing, walking, vision acuity-far, depth perception, field of vision, and vision adjustment
• Sometimes reaching and works alone
• Occasionally bending at the waist, twisting upper body, and climbing

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an incumbent. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities, duties or responsibilities. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

Several factors are considered in making compensation decisions at Van Meter; including but not limited to education, skill sets, work experience and training, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation may be below the lower end of the range when the minimum requirements of the role are not met and the higher end is reserved for candidates with extensive experience and qualifications that exceed the requirements of the role.

Van Meter offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, pet insurance, company paid life and disability insurance, paid time off including holidays, 401(k) with company match and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.