Grainger is a broad line, business-to-business distributor of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies and other related products and services. More than 3.2 million businesses and institutions worldwide rely on Grainger for products such as safety gloves, ladders, motors and janitorial supplies, along with services like inventory management and technical support. These customers represent a broad collection of industries including commercial, government, healthcare and manufacturing. They place orders online, on mobile devices, through sales representatives, over the phone and at local branches. Approximately 5,000 suppliers provide Grainger with more than 1.6 million products stocked in Grainger’s distribution centers and branches worldwide.

Primary Function

The Process Manager is responsible for the development and execution of the Global Product Management work aligned to key corporate strategies for Sustainability, Supplier Diversity, and other Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. The Process Manager is accountable for ensuring that the associated projects are properly executed, and support cross functional internal stakeholders to deliver the greatest benefit for the overall organization based on the CSR platform.

The Process Manager provides direction, guidance, oversight and communications of efforts related to sustainability, supplier diversity, and other various CSR initiatives as well as cross-functional teams assigned to the support projects of the program. The main focus is to maintain strategic alignment between the company mission, associated projects, and the applicable internal business unit requiring GPM support.

In addition to being the lead for GPM CSR work, the process manager is responsible for defining the GPM communications strategies, and coordinating the work appropriately. The Process Manager will execute communications internal to GPM as they relate to portfolio changes. They will be the point of contact for other types of communications into and out of GPM.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Process Manager is responsible for the development and execution of the Global Product Management work aligned to key corporate strategies for Sustainability, Supplier Diversity, and other Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, as well as managing GPM communications processes.

The Process Manager:

• Provides overall leadership of all participants on a given CSR program. Acts as front-line contact with the project sponsor(s) on related issues, responding to concerns with clear and concise feedback
• Directs the determination of process scope, requirements and risk associated
• Manages the supplier diversity program & sustainability program – is accountable for the data and the systems for GPM.
• Partners with Global Product Management to develop opportunities related to Sustainability & Supplier Diversity
• Monitors and documents process status; including developing and publishing KPI’s/ metrics of process performance
• Anticipates problems and resolves them or escalates them to the appropriate level of management for resolution in order to ensure proper program completion within schedule and budget constraints
• Identifies and removes barriers that may impede successful completion of the program. Also acts as an escalation point for any project or program issues
• Develops strong cross-functional business partner relationships at various levels of the organization to gain program alignment
• Manages communications across GPM
• Executes product transition communications by partnering with GPM and key internal teams (sales effectiveness, inventory, supplier performance management, etc.)
• Develops and maintains open and productive communication channels across all stakeholders
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Preferred Education and Experience

Experience and knowledge base:

• BS/BA required. MS/MA/MBA preferred.
• 3 – 5 years of experience in marketing programs and program management experience

Critical skills:

• Strategic Thinking – take a big picture, long term view; identify risks & opportunities; develop plans to achieve company and department objectives; set priorities
• Leadership – Provide overall direction of the programs
• Critical and Systemic Thinking – understanding of the system behind the program by examining the linkages and interactions between the components that comprise the entirety of that defined system
• Change Management – able to introduce change and bring key stakeholders and partners through the change management curve. Influence and align team member, business partners and cross functional partners in an effort to achieve targets and goals
• Communication – must possess excellent verbal and written communication; active listening; take and distill complex information into a clear and appropriate messaging
• Relationship Building – identify key internal and external business partners and stakeholders at all levels and develop effective and strong partners; 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

EEOC Statement

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.