Senior Supply Chain Specialist

SUMMARY: 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.

PURPOSE: 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

Performance in this role is measured through contribution to the following 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: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s required (Business, Supply Chain, Finance or related field). Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and value creation.  Minimum of 7-10+ years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, or category management or equivalent combination of education and experience.  Strong leadership, analytical and decision-making capabilities.
• Experience using an automated purchasing, ERP or inventory management systems to effectively collaborate with senior leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with senior leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and value creation efforts
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data, market trends, and financial impacts to drive decision-making
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office with strong proficiency in Excel (e.g., pivot tables, data modeling, analysis)
• Strong understanding of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and inventory planning concepts, including their impact on service levels and working capital
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple strategic initiatives in a fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to anticipate risks and develop proactive solutions
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional decisions and align stakeholders to achieve business objectives
• Ability to balance cost, service, and working capital considerations to optimize overall performance
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including mentoring, coaching, and developing team members
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment
• Ability to pass background check and drug screen

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and vendors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral or schedule form.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office and business operating software purchasing systems.

ATTENDANCE DEMANDS: The attendance demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Attendance is required Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. or within normal business hours as established by the supervisor. Employee may be required to work overtime, and occasional weekends.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands, handle, or feel; and required to speak, read and hear English. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and may be occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Located mostly in an office environment with some exposure to a warehouse environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• This is a high stress and fast paced environment.

DISCLAIMER: The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Hercules Industries is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or other legally protected status.