Vendor Relations Lead

Hajoca; Whitemarsh Township (PA); Remote; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Hajoca Corporation is seeking a Vendor Relations Lead to manage and enhance vendor relationships. This remote role focuses on developing strategies for maximizing vendor partnerships and requires strong communication and negotiation skills. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of experience in vendor management or business development, particularly within the plumbing supply industry.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage

401(k) plan

Employee discounts

Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time

Targeted training programs

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in vendor management, purchasing, or business development.
• Knowledge of Wholesale plumbing products.
• Ability to interpret financial data and adjust business plans accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Manage vendor relationship programs and negotiate vendor partnerships.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with customers and key vendor partners.
• Communicate vendor opportunities across profit centers.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Problem Solving

Analytical Skills

Leadership

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Hajoca Corporation is one of the country’s largest privately-held wholesale distributors of plumbing, heating & cooling, and industrial supplies. Founded in 1858, Hajoca is a company based on the principles of “Service, Integrity, Reliability,” and on relationships of trust and support with teammates, customers, and suppliers. Throughout its history, Hajoca has played an active role in shaping advances in plumbing. However, we attribute our success to two simple truths; a unique business philosophy and talented people. Hajoca is all about the people, who give us our advantage, and who will guide us successfully into the future.

Hajoca has over 400 locations nationwide, called Profit Centers; and at the foundation of our family of businesses is a National Support Center (NSC) where Centers of Excellence are dedicated to enabling the success of our Profit Centers.

The Vendor Relations team in our National Support Center (NSC) is looking for a Vendor Relations Lead. This is a remote position.

Pay for this position is between $80,000 and $115,000 per yearat this location.

Are you an excellent communicator and negotiator? Do you enjoy contributing to and developing crucial business strategies? Are you skilled at building and maintaining trusted partnerships? If so, then we’d like you to join our dedicated team as a Vendor Relations Lead.

About the Role:

You will:

• Be responsible for managing a robust set of vendor relationship programs and crafting a long-term vision for growing and maintaining deep and mutually beneficial partnerships and vendor relationships.

• Build and manage vendor relationships; identify and build new opportunities and foster and grow existing partnerships.

• Develop strategies to add maximum value for Hajoca by successfully negotiating and managing best in class Vendor programs (e.g. Rebates, Payment Terms, Restocking Fees, Growth Goals, etc.)

• Build Level 5 boundaryless vendor partnerships consistent with Hajoca’s Compelling Path Forward Strategy.

• Maintain an influencer role within the industry; serve as the point of contact (face of Hajoca) for our suppliers and help them clearly understand our business model and core values.

• Have clear accountability for National Merchandise Credit %, Learning Center funding and overall business development for assigned vendors.

• Provide critical feedback to key suppliers on the quality of their relationship with Hajoca, in general, and with specific Profit Centers.

• Actively communicate and educate Hajoca business units on vendor opportunities. Make sure information is fully disseminated and understood across profit centers.

• Partner with Division/Region Managers. Serve as a resource as they develop and grow strategic partnerships with their vendors. Provide a company-wide view that drives consistency, leverages volume, and maximizes return on commitment.

• Stay abreast of emerging business models and market shifts (e.g. e-commerce; new marketing strategies) and create opportunities to capitalize on new trends.

• Successfully complete required safety and compliance training programs as assigned.

• Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

About You:

• 5+ years of experience in a vendor management, purchasing, or business development capacity.

• Knowledge of Wholesale plumbing products

Our ideal candidate will also:

• Possess leadership qualities and is viewed as a leader.

• Possess strong personal sales skills.

• Effectively use Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel) to communicate via email, to maintain weekly sales plans, call reports, customer contact files, and to analyze customer data.

• Be able to interpret financial report data to determine the success/failure of plans and to take appropriate action to adjust business plans ensuring success.

• Be able to build influential relationships and trust with customers and key vendor partners through open and interactive communication.

• Possess deep industry knowledge and a strong strategic thinking mindset.

• Possess excellent problem solving and analytical skills as well as impeccable business judgment.

• Demonstrate a deep product knowledge to answer customer questions and identify opportunities to upsell or cross sell.

• Be able to build positive working relationships and inspire teamwork with co-workers.

• Possess excellent communication and listening skills, as well as the ability to persuade.

• Be able to learn and operate the computer related systems used for business operations.

• Read, write, speak, and understand English.

• Be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

The benefits of working with us:

Our culture is well-suited for exceptional people who use their talents to drive business and want to share in the financial success their efforts yield. In addition to a competitive starting wage, we offer a Profit-Sharing Program that provides each team member with an opportunity to earn a direct share of the profits on an annual basis. In addition to our generous compensation package, Hajoca also offers:

Full-time benefits (for team members working 30 or more hours per week):

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage
• Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Life insurance and Long Term Disability
• Pre-tax accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time (sick time also offered to PT team members as required by state law)
• Paid pregnancy and parental leave
• Paid day of community service

Full-time and part-time benefits:

• 401(k)
• Retirement cash account with company contributions
• Targeted training programs focused on your personal and professional growth
• Company wellness program
• Employee discounts
• College tuition benefits

*Please note that benefit offerings may differ for teammates employed through an intern program.

EEOC Statement

Hajoca Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer (Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled).

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected category pursuant to federal, state or local laws and will not be discriminated against on the basis of any such categories/status. Hajoca is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, during the application process. Please let us know if you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability.

Background Screening Statement

We are a drug free workplace. Employment is contingent upon pre-employment drug screening, and successful completion of a criminal background investigation subject to any federal, state and local laws.