Supply Chain Specialist

Description

SUMMARY:

The Supply Chain Specialist
is responsible for managing purchasing, inventory, and supplier performance for assigned commodities with increasing autonomy and accountability. This role focuses on optimizing inventory levels, improving supplier performance, and driving measurable outcomes across cost, service, and working capital. $76,000 - $99,600 annually, DOE

The Supply Chain Specialist contributes to commodity performance by independently managing sourcing, planning, and supplier activities while applying data, analytics, and market insights to support business objectives

PURPOSE: Own end-to-end performance of assigned commodities by managing purchasing, inventory, and supplier activities that deliver measurable value across cost, inventory optimization, supplier performance, and service execution.

This role is accountable from source → pay → performance outcomes while operating in a collaborative environment where supplier selection may be shared, but ownership of commodity performance remains with the Buyer II.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

COMMODITY OWNERSHIP

• Owns assigned SKUs, suppliers, and purchasing activity within assigned commodities
• Maintains accountability for cost, inventory, service, and supplier performance outcomes
• Makes decisions related to product mix, stocking strategy, and supplier utilization
• Proactively manages trade-offs between cost, service, and working capital
• Performance Expectations:
• Demonstrates clear accountability for results—not activities
• Resolves issues independently with minimal escalation
• Takes ownership of commodity performance and outcomes

STRATEGIC SOURCING & COST MANAGEMENT

• Develops and executes sourcing activities aligned with company objectives
• Leads supplier discussions and negotiations within assigned scope
• Identifies and executes cost reduction and value improvement opportunities
• Applies understanding of supplier cost drivers (materials, labor, freight)

Performance Expectations:

• Actively identifies cost savings opportunities
• Applies Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index (PPI) insights to decisions
• Begins influencing supplier pricing and terms

INVENTORY & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

• Owns inventory performance including turns, excess, stockouts, and availability
• Executes replenishment strategies based on demand and service needs
• Partners with planning functions on Material Requirements Planning (MRP) inputs while retaining accountability
• Drives improvements in inventory positioning and working capital efficiency
• Performance Expectations:
• Balances service levels with inventory and working capital
• Drives improvement in inventory turns and excess reduction
• Anticipates and mitigates supply risks

SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Monitors and manages supplier performance including delivery, responsiveness, and quality
• Holds suppliers accountable for On-Time In-Full (OTIF), lead time, and service expectations
• Builds and maintains professional, performance-focused supplier relationships
• Performance Expectations:
• Drives Improvement in supplier performance
• Strengthens supplier relationships through accountability and communication
• Supports consistent and reliable supplier execution
• Maintains knowledge of commodity markets, supply/demand dynamics and cost drivers
• Applies BLS/PPI and market trends to sourcing and inventory decisions
• Aligns purchasing decisions with market conditions and customer demand
• Performance Expectations:
• Demonstrates understanding of market dynamics
• Uses data and insights to support decisions
• Begins anticipating market trends and risks

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Partners with Sales, Operations, Finance and internal teams to align supply chain decisions
• Influences product, service levels, and inventory strategies
• Supports Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) processes
• Performance Expectations:
• Collaborates effectively across functions
• Influences decisions impacting service and performance
• Aligns actions with customer and business needs

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT / FORCE MULTIPLIER

• Identifies improvements in cost, service, working capital, and processes
• Supports adoption of new tools, systems,…