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 : 19017
Employment Type : Full Time
Job Category : Facilities
Work Location : Davidson, NC (CSC)
BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY:
The Sr. Manager, Category Strategy is responsible for developing and leading the execution of the Category strategy through implementation of tactics, assessing results, and adapting based upon outcomes. Implementation activities can be grouped in four major disciplines: strategy management, vendor relationships, category marketing, and cross-functional collaboration. Key activities include key vendor relationship management and negotiation, product line value proposition, and annual tactics planning
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Product Line Ownership:
- Ownership of all suppliers within assigned product line(s)
- Responsible for population of suppliers that make up Sales of assigned product line(s) $100M+ in annual Sales total
- Includes developing and cultivating key relationships with Preferred & Strategic supplier partners to help drive engagement, investment and growth
- Responsible for overall performance of assigned Product Line(s) (Sales Growth, Profitability, execution and overall success)
- Develops and leads plans to drive successful solutions with internal & external partners
- Resolves conflict with internal partners or external suppliers or escalates to next leadership level.
- Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSCs vision and unity of purpose.
- Leads special projects and performs additional duties as required
Provides supporting category and industry expertise, data, and insights used to define the strategy for the Category:
- Provide key input to the Business Unit Head and Strategic Business Unit Managers in the development of the Business Unit strategy
- (8-step process), with emphasis on setting, implementing, and adapting tactics:
- Define Category
- Assess Role of Category
- Assess Category Performance
- Set Objectives and Targets
- Devise Strategy
- Set Tactics
- Implement Tactics
- Review and Adapt
Tactics Planning and Implementation:
- Leads annual planning process, leading all recommendations and activities related to his/her product lines. Creates customer solutions for assigned product lines and lead execution in partnership with sales
- Leads cross-functional initiatives to drive the business, serving as the SME for the assigned product lines
- Drives Change Management as the Strategy evolves
- Builds and leads a cross-functional plan for tactical execution of the assigned product lines incorporating sales, marketing, supply chain, and any other necessary key functions collaborating across the organization and resolving issues where needed to ensure the product line initiatives can be executed.
Vendor Management:
- Negotiates with and manages key suppliers; aligns goals with key strategic partners.
- Resolves contract-specific conflicts
- Creates and articulates product line value propositions and whitespace
- Develops, optimizes and manages +/- product, brand, and vendor rationalization
- Develops and provides product line guidance to the Category Operations team to implement pricing strategy
Review Results:
- Has full ownership of product line results (i.e. Sales & Profitability)
- Drives strategies to achieve product line contribution margin (sales, cost, coop negotiation, supply chain opportunities)
- Identifies and leads execution of actions to drive growth
- Leads through vendor performance reviews
Builds and Motivates a High-performing Team of Associates and a Culture of Engagement:
- Develops skills and competencies of category team, serving as a mentor for newer and less experienced associates
- Communicates openly and effectively
- Manages performance
- Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSCs vision and unity of purpose.
- Participation in special projects and performs additional duties as required
QUALIFICATIONS
What You Need:
- Bachelors degree in business administration, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a Related Field.
- Minimum of seven years of industry experience in distribution, supplier management and negotiations, business development, distribution, product management, marketing or merchandising management, supply chain is required.
- Ability to manage cross-functional initiatives required.
- MS Office proficiency required
- Strong execution focus; drive for results required.
- Prioritizes deliverables and allocates resources appropriately required.
- Ability to remain focused and make decisions through times of ambiguity required.
- Solid business acumen, including key financial targets, and knowledge of distribution process required
- Strong customer focus and understanding of their needs and expectations; understands market direction and trends required.
- Ability to diagnose problems quickly and works to find solutions required.
- Successfully navigates the organizations people and processes to accomplish work efficiently required.
- Works cross-functionally and has effectively participated on cross-functional teams required.
- Skilled at cultivating supplier relationships at a non-strategic level requited
- Comfortable negotiating externally and representing the best interests of the company required.
- Strong written and verbal communication with presentation experience required.
- Develops and manages a team with clear goals, performance expectations, and growth opportunities required. Emphasis on inspiring, motivating and developing talent to achieve annual goals and build a team for future success.
- Experience with leading a team through an evolution of change required.
- Comfortable cultivating supplier relationships and leading negotiations at a strategic level to a mutually successful resolution required.
- Masters Degree Level preferred.
Other Requirements:
- A valid drivers license may be required.
- Position requires up to 10% of travel
- This position may require access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations Information (ITAR) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
Compensation starting at $94290 - $148170 depending on 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 candidates 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 on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position at this time.**
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.
