Commodity Group Manager

About The Kendall Group

The Kendall Group is comprised of eight divisions with 75+ locations in ten states. Combined, we serve the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, and Fitting products, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation Industries. The Kendall Group is a 100% employee-owned company. Kendall offers a great opportunity for a rewarding career.

Why The Kendall Group?

Our employee ownership model is the core of who we are. You will not only own part of the company, but you will own your future. At Kendall, you'll have opportunities to learn and grow while being coached and mentored along the way. We're that company where people stay! We're proud to say more than 60% of our associates have more than 5 years of tenure, and more than 40% have greater than 10 years.

At Kendall, you will be valued and supported, your ideas will be heard, your voice will matter, and you'll work alongside incredible people who care about your success.

Role

Summary:

Reporting to the EVP of Kendall Electric and collaborating closely with senior leaders in sales and operations, the Commodity Group Manager is responsible for supporting the company's growth and profitability goals through strategic procurement, market analysis, effective leadership of their team, and internal collaboration to profitably grow our commodity business. This role also involves significant support to the sales team and ownership of relationships with commodity partners, positioning it as a key sales and supplier engagement role.

As the senior manager you will help plan execute the overall commodity strategy for Kendall Electric. You will help build and shape our most trusted partner relationships in addition to planning our pricing, inventory, and services strategies as a company. The role also involves monitoring supplier compliance, mitigating risks, and fostering continuous improvement to enhance value, reduce costs, and secure long-term partnerships.

Through effective vendor engagement and cross-functional collaboration, this position ensures consistent product availability and supports overall business success. The Commodity Group Manager will be responsible for leading and managing a team of Regional Commodity Managers.

Exciting work you will do:

The essential duties and responsibilities of the Commodity Group Manager will consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

• As a leader, model the following behaviors with your team:
  • Provide leadership, direction, growth, and mentoring
  • Adhere to our company values of Success Beyond the Sale, Partnership as a Promise, We Do What We Say, Legacy of Impact, and Purpose-Driven Progress
  • Invest in self-growth through participating in continuous improvement, learning, and development
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier performance to ensure optimal pricing, quality, and availability of products
• Work closely with sales, marketing, and operations teams to align category strategies with overall business goals and ensure effective implementation
• Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier relationships, market changes, and competitive pressures to ensure continuity of supply and profitability
• Engage with account managers and/or sales managers to develop strategies for winning large projectsevelop and maintain positive relationships with vendors and regional rep agencies
• Develop procurement strategies for electrical commodities
• Negotiate the best possible price and terms with suppliers
• Conduct market research to stay updated on industry trends, pricing fluctuations, and service offerings from competitors
• Collaborate with internal teams to understand supply needs and ensure seamless procurement processes with purchasing
• Interact with sales managers and territory/location managers to understand specific market trends and dynamics and develop local strategies to profitably grow the business
• Support the sales team with product information, pricing, and availability
• Engage with customers to understand their needs and provide solutions
• Assist in forecasting sales trends to ensure adequate inventory levels
• Participate in promotional activities to…