Vertical Market Group - Cross Reference & Sourcing Supervisor

MSC Industrial Direct Co.,Inc.; Southfield, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

MSC Industrial Supply Co. in Southfield, MI is seeking a VMG Cross Reference & Sourcing Supervisor to lead the cross reference and sourcing team for Public Sector and Commercial opportunities.

You will guide research, validation, and delivery of compliant part-number solutions, supporting the sales team and driving process improvements. The role emphasizes coaching, workload management, and ensuring accuracy, compliance, and customer satisfaction while aligning with MSC policies and continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, or operations, or 5 years of relevant experience.
• 3+ years in sourcing, cross-referencing, or related operations.
• Knowledge of NSNs, CAGE codes, OEM docs, CAD drawings.
• Advanced knowledge of MRO, industrial, safety, or facilities products.
• Proficient in business systems and Excel for data analysis.
• Ability to manage workload priorities and metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead VMG Cross Reference & Sourcing team to meet service levels and compliance.
• Coach and develop associates; manage workloads.
• Oversee daily operations for RFQ, bid, and customer support.
• Analyze performance, drive process improvements.
• Develop team metrics and SOPs to improve accuracy.
• Collaborate with sales, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to MSC policy and procedures.

Skills

Sourcing

Cross-reference

Team leadership

Data analysis

Excel

MS Office

Contract compliance

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Experience in lieu of degree

Tools

AS400

SalesForce

SAP

Power BI

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 :21492

Employment Type :Full Time

Job Category :Customer Service/Support

Work Location :Southfield, MI (CSC)

Vertical Market Group – Cross Reference & Sourcing Supervisor

BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY:

The Vertical Markets Group (VMG) Cross Reference & Sourcing Supervisor provides leadership and oversight for the Cross Reference and Sourcing team supporting Public Sector and Commercial customer opportunities. This role is responsible for guiding the team in researching, validating, and delivering compliant product cross‑references and sourcing solutions for customer‑specific part number requirements, helping the sales team secure business. In addition to daily team oversight, the Supervisor provides coaching, prioritizes work, manages workloads, offers process guidance, and monitors productivity and quality metrics to ensure customer requirements are met efficiently and accurately. The Supervisor will also support continuous improvement efforts by identifying process gaps, promoting documentation standards, improving sourcing and cross‑reference workflows, and driving efficiencies that enhance accuracy, compliance, customer experience, and revenue growth.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the VMG Cross Reference & Sourcing Team to achieve performance goals related to service levels, product approvals, cross & sourcing accuracy, compliance, and profitability.
• Provides leadership, coaching, performance management, training, and development opportunities to support associate growth, accountability, succession planning, and achievement of team objectives.
• Oversees daily VMG Cross Reference & Sourcing operations, including workload management, service levels, and aging requests, to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant support of customer, RFQ, and bid requirements.
• Analyzes operational performance, identifies improvement opportunities, and drives process and system enhancements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and service effectiveness.
• Work with managers to develop team metrics, training plans, and process improvements to strengthen performance, improve accuracy, and support continuous operational efficiency.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures, job aids, and documentation while promoting knowledge sharing and standard work practices to support quality, consistency, and scalability.
• Understands key compliance and contracting issues associated with government segment and incorporates into business planning and decision making.
• Partners with Sales, suppliers, and key business stakeholders to align priorities, resolve complex sourcing and compliance issues, remove operational barriers, and support customer commitments.
• Supports supplier and category engagement for complex sourcing needs, phase‑outs, replacement items, private label opportunities, and profit improvement initiatives.
• Reviews team output for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with customer requirements, contract terms, and compliance standards.
• Provides reporting and performance insights to management to support decision‑making, resource planning, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Serves as a working supervisor when required by business needs, directly supporting cross‑reference, sourcing, RFQ, bid, or customer‑related activities to ensure service commitments are met.
• Ensures that direct reports follow all MSC policy and procedure documented in the Associate handbook.
• Performs all duties inherent in the role of an MSC Supervisor including hiring, termination, review and development of associates.
• Drives the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSC's vision and unity of purpose.
• Participation in special projects and performs additional duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

What You Need:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain, Operations, or (5) years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree, is required.
• Minimum of three years of experience in sourcing, product cross‑referencing, customer support, operations, sales support, procurement, or a related business function, is required.
• Working knowledge of NSNs, CAGE codes, OEM documentation, CAD drawings, and technical specifications.
• Advanced knowledge of MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations), industrial, safety, janitorial, facilities, or military‑related products.
• Proficient in business systems, reporting tools, Microsoft Office applications, and workflow or productivity platforms, is required.
• Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables, formulas, reporting, and data analysis
• Strong understanding of product data, item specifications, sourcing channels, supplier capabilities, and customer‑specific part number matching.
• Demonstrated ability to manage workload priorities, monitor performance metrics, and support timely completion of business‑critical requests.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills with the ability to resolve complex sourcing, compliance, and customer‑related issues.
• Ability to coach, develop, and provide feedback to associates while supporting accountability and team performance.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to partner effectively with Sales, Procurement, suppliers, management, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to maintain accurate documentation and standard work practices.
• Ability to support process improvements, system enhancements, and continuous improvement initiatives that improve efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience.

Bonus Points If You Have:

• Prior leadership, supervisory, or team lead experience preferred.
• Experience supporting RFQs, bids, government contracts, Public Sector customers, or compliance‑driven customer requirements preferred.
• Experienced user of AS400, SalesForce, SAP, reporting applications, is preferred.
• Experience with Smartsheet, Power BI, dashboards, or workflow tracking tools, is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement, automation, or system enhancement initiatives, is preferred.
• Experience developing standard work, training materials, SOPs, or team reference guides, is preferred.
• Strong supplier relationship management and negotiation skills., is preferred.
• Experience supporting high‑volume RFQ, bid, or quote environments with tight deadlines, is preferred.
• Understanding of contract compliance, risk mitigation, auditing, and documentation controls, is preferred.

Other Requirements:

• The ability to travel up to 10-20% of the time is required.
• This position may require access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations Information (“ITAR”) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”). Must be a U.S. Citizen.

INDICATES ESSENTIAL DUTIES

To perform this job successfully an associate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of knowledge, experience level and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Compensation starting at $71,900 - $105,225 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.