Grainger is a global leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions. Our 18,000 employees are driven to serve customers and the community in exceptional ways focusing on delivering the highest level of service. The Grainger team works closely with customers to better understand their challenges and provide cost-saving solutions. Grainger's employees serve customers more than 115,000 times every day through multiple channels. As part of a high-performing team, you’ll be able to develop your talents, and make a difference. Grainger is a Fortune 500company and a perennial member of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies list.

Primary Function:

Product and Supplier Lifecycle Management is our approach to managing both the products in Grainger’s portfolio and the suppliers who provide those products. It is a long-term, holistic view of the phases that both products and suppliers move through in their lifetimes with Grainger.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for owning a set of global cross-functional processes in order to maximize process effectiveness and ensure proper connectivity and accountability of stakeholders.
• Responsible for continuous improvement, implementation of process changes and measurement of the effectiveness of assigned business processes.
• Insures that improvements are customer focused and aligned with the organization’s strategic direction and goals.
• The role serves as the primary contact for all cross-functional partners involved in the process, and solicits their cross-functional participation in the development and execution phases of process improvements.
• Drives both cultural and procedural changes across a global organization and supply base.
• Develops and maintains open and productive communication channels across all stakeholders.
• Responsible for managing a centralized & standardized set of global cross-functional processes (may include but not limited to):
• Supplier Contract Management
• Supplier Discontinuation
• Supplier Lifecycle Metrics/Dashboards
• Integration of Acquisitions and Other Business Units
• Responsible for driving process changes based on evolving business need and to improve productivity and/or profitability. Must be able to balance voice of the customer with operational capabilities. Must be able to solicit feedback, prioritize actions, and gain alignment & adoption from stakeholders on new or existing processes.
• Ensure the timeliness, quality and effectiveness of all processes performed within a given area of responsibility. Manage and communicate metrics to ensure processes are in control. Redefine metrics as business need changes, thereby impacting metric criteria.
• Utilize formal CI Methodology to continuously drive process enhancements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the assigned process and facilitate and/or lead cross-functional quality teams that generate active employee involvement in the improvement of the processes.
• Identify key variables that influence the workflow process. Develop and implement changes enhancing workflow optimization including new technology solutions.
• Develop, maintain, and train users on process documentation in order to drive compliance of standard work processes.
• Manage project plan and secure appropriate cross-functional team resources.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3-5 years of experience in Product Management, Operations Management, or Logistics Management Critical Skills
• Change Management – foster collaboration cross-functionally; identify and manage impacts to key stakeholders; influence without authority; create alignment to achieve objectives
• Communication – excellent verbal and written communication; active listening; effectively distill complex information into a clear, appropriate message
• Relationship Building – identify key internal and external stakeholders at all levels and develop strong partnering relationships; develop and maintain open communication and coordination; leverage relationships in pursuit of objectives
• Business and Financial Acumen – knowledge and application of business strategies; effectively evaluate costs/benefits of varying options. Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to drive results.
• Process management skills- process mapping, and root cause analysis.
• Ability to design and utilize metrics - assess health of operation and process efficiencies.
• Demonstrated Project Management skills -ability to plan and execute on tight deadlines with multiple priorities.
• Functional expertise in Supply Chain
• Results and Deadline-oriented
• Systems Proficiency - SAP, BW, Teradata, Excel, Word and Access

Grainger is an Equal Opportunity Workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.