Senior Supply Chain Specialist

Senior Supply Chain Specialist

The Senior Supply Chain Specialist is a strategic supply chain leader responsible for end-to-end ownership of assigned commodities, driving measurable financial and operational value across cost, inventory, supplier performance, and service. This role leads commodity strategy, supplier partnerships, and cross-functional decision-making to optimize total cost, ensure supply continuity, and enhance the company's competitive advantage. $92,300 - $123,100 annually, DOE.

Own end-to-end performance and strategy of assigned commodities by leading sourcing, inventory, supplier, and market-driven decisions to deliver measurable value across cost leadership, inventory optimization, supplier performance, and service excellence. This role is accountable from source → pay → performance outcomes, with full ownership of commodity performance and strategic direction.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Commodity Ownership

• Owns all SKUs, suppliers, spend, and performance outcomes within assigned commodities
• Defines and executes commodity strategies aligned with company objectives
• Leads decisions related to product mix, supplier strategy, and supply continuity
• Acts as the single point of accountability for commodity performance
• Performance Expectations:
• Demonstrates enterprise-level ownership of results
• Drives long-term value creation across cost, service, and supply continuity
• Influences decisions beyond functional boundaries

Strategic Sourcing & Cost Management

• Develops and executes comprehensive sourcing strategies
• Leads complex supplier negotiations (pricing, terms, freight, rebates)
• Drives cost reduction, value engineering, and total cost optimization
• Applies deep understanding of supplier cost drivers and market dynamics
• Performance Expectations:
• Delivers cost performance exceeding BLS/PPI benchmarks
• Leads advanced sourcing and value creation initiatives
• Establishes long-term cost leadership strategies

Inventory & Supply Chain Management

• Owns inventory performance and working capital outcomes
• Defines stocking strategies aligned with demand and financial objectives
• Ensures supply continuity through risk mitigation and planning
• Partners with planning functions while retaining outcome accountability
• Performance Expectations:
• Optimizes inventory turns and working capital
• Balances cost, service, and risk at a strategic level
• Drives measurable improvements in inventory performance

Supplier Performance Management

• Leads supplier performance management strategy and reviews
• Establishes and manages supplier KPIs (OTIF, lead time, quality)
• Builds and maintains strategic supplier partnerships
• Positions the company as a preferred customer
• Performance Expectations:
• Drives continuous improvement in supplier performance
• Builds long-term, value-based supplier relationships
• Ensures high performance across service, quality, and delivery

Market & Economic Intelligence

• Maintains expert-level understanding of commodity markets and supply/demand dynamics
• Applies BLS/PPI insights and cost drivers to strategic decisions
• Monitors and anticipates market trends, risks, and opportunities
• Performance Expectations:
• Translates market intelligence into actionable strategies
• Positions the company ahead of market trends
• Proactively mitigates risks and capitalizes on opportunities

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partners with Sales, Operations, Finance, and Data teams to align strategies
• Influences pricing, product mix, and customer value decisions
• Leads supply-side input into Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP)
• Performance Expectations:
• Drives enterprise-level alignment and decision-making
• Influences outcomes across the organization
• Aligns supply chain strategy with overall business objectives

Continuous Improvement / Force Multiplier

• Leads high-impact value creation initiatives across cost, service, and efficiency
• Drives adoption of best practices, tools, and supply chain processes
• Mentors and develops Buyer I and Buyer II team members
• Performance Expectations:
• Acts as a force multiplier across the organization
• Drives transformation toward a proactive and strategic supply chain
• Elevates team capability and overall performance

Key Performance Focus Areas

• Cost management and purchasing decisions aligned with company objectives
• Inventory performance including availability, inventory turns, and reduction of excess
• Supplier performance including delivery, responsiveness, and issue resolution
• Service and product availability to support branch and customer needs
• Data and system integrity, including accuracy of item and planning data
• Process execution with consistency, discipline, and adherence to standards

What Success Looks Like

• Significant, measurable financial impact (cost, working capital)
• Consistent delivery of KPI targets
• Strategic influence across the organization
• Elevated performance of team and suppliers
• Recognized leader and change agent

Qualifications

• Bachelor's required (Business, Supply Chain, Finance or related field).…