Vendor Relations Manager

Role Overview

Working from our Brampton, Ontario location, the Vendor Relations Manager will develop and leverage strong relationships with strategic vendors and operating companies to maximize profitability through alignment and execution. This individual will be responsible for the development and management of vendor agreements, including negotiating new and/or existing vendor year‑end rebates, terms and conditions of agreements, making recommendations of investment levels for new vendors, and determining added value of new vendor(s) while ensuring there is a minimized risk of possible duplicate product conflict.

• Manage, negotiate, and implement national vendor programs to maximize alignment and financial outcomes while managing risks. Analyze profitability of key vendor product lines.
• Forecast, model, and monitor vendor incentives and rebates, ensuring maximum capture against contractual agreements and identifying gaps or underperformance in real time.
• Support organization-wide needs for due diligence, risk assessment and vendor monitoring.
• Responding to problems and resolving issues that may arise between vendors and the Company.
• Partner with Finance, Purchasing, and Operating Companies to align on KPIs, reporting cadence, and performance targets, ensuring visibility into vendor contribution to overall profitability.
• Develop and maintain trusting and respectful relationships with vendors, corporate and operating company leadership, and vendor relations’ teams.
• Collaborate with operating companies to embed data‑driven decision making into local vendor negotiations and purchasing strategies.
• Troubleshoot problems and support process improvements across vendors and operating companies to drive productivity and growth.
• Own end‑to‑end vendor performance reporting, including the design and delivery of standardized dashboards and executive‑level reporting (Power BI/Excel) to track rebates, margins, growth, and ROI on vendor investments.
• Develop data analytics capabilities to support strategic vendor decision‑making, including:
  • Rebate performance tracking and forecasting
  • Vendor profitability and product line margin analysis
  • Cost‑saving opportunities and purchasing optimization
  • Vendor concentration and risk exposure analysis
• Establish data governance and reporting frameworks to ensure consistency and accuracy of vendor‑related financial metrics across operating companies.
• Translate complex data into actionable insights and recommendations for senior leadership (VPs/GMs), influencing vendor strategy, category management, and investment decisions.
• Conduct deep‑drive analysis on vendor performance trends, identifying opportunities for SKU rationalization, product substitutions, and strategic vendor expansion.
• Lead continuous improvement of analytics tools and reporting processes, leveraging automation and Power BI to enhance efficiency, scalability, and accessibility of data.
• Attending key meetings with VP's/GMs as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum 5–7 years of related experience in a similar role (Purchasing, Sales, Product Management, Vendor Relations).
• Post‑secondary education in Business, Commerce, or a related discipline; advanced coursework or certifications in Marketing, Analytics, or Supply Chain considered an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in the electrical distribution industry, with strong product knowledge and understanding of vendor dynamics, pricing structures, and rebate programs.
• Advanced analytical capabilities, with proven experience leveraging data to drive decision‑making, including proficiency in Power BI, Excel (advanced functions), and data visualization tools.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed, fast‑paced environment, balancing competing priorities and influencing cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills with customer service orientation.
• Strong business acumen and negotiation skills, with the ability to structure agreements that optimize profitability while managing commercial risk.
• Ability to work independently in a team environment, without close supervision and meet deadlines.
• High degree of integrity.
• Outstanding team player.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of proprietary business information.
• Solid Microsoft Office skills required, including Power BI and Excel.

• Competitive salary, plus a full set of benefits, including versatile benefits program allowing you to choose from options that best fit you and your dependents’ needs. Benefit options include:
  Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Spending Account & RRSP matching.
• Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Discounts and a career path.
• Company‑paid Life Insurance, and employee‑paid disability.

Sonepar is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes submissions from all candidates. Accommodation is available to all applicants upon request.