Description

Position Summary:

The Senior Vice President of Supplier Relations is primarily responsible for managing and negotiating Supplier programs, conflict resolution, overseeing and maintaining the reporting data base, serving as an Affiliate advocate and developing and/or maintaining positive relationships with all existing and potential Suppliers in the U.S.

The individual is also responsible for leading the Division’s Product Committee and Supplier Advisory Council; two key volunteer groups that influence the Division’s strategic priorities.

Primary Responsibilities

Suppliers

• Manage and negotiate all Supplier programs (confidential agreements, rebates, terms and conditions, Growth Incentive Bonus Program, Vendor Published Programs, etc.)
• Develop new reports and oversee and maintain current reports (Purchase Power Survey, Added-Value, etc.)
• Lead engagement with the Supplier Advisory Council, Product Committee and Product Sub-committees
• Promote Affiliate achievement of Supplier incentives
• Coordinate growth/expansion of Supplier list (Based on Product Committee direction)
• Promote Supplier and Manufacturer Representatives focus and participation in AD
• Lead market engagement with NEMRA and other trade organizations as needed
• Manage relationships with all existing and potential IESD Preferred Suppliers:
• Take a strong advocacy position on behalf of Affiliates with Suppliers
• Alert Suppliers to potential opportunities with Affiliates and assist in conflict resolution
• Work to strengthen Supplier relationships and aid in converting sales to IESD preferred Suppliers
• In conjunction with the ESD Senior Management team and the Marketing Department, help develop, implement and drive programs and promotions
• Monitor and analyze sales/earnings data and trends; take predictive stance and corrective action as appropriate to maintain growth of the division
• Participate in Supplier meetings and conferences
• Participate in Industry Trade shows to evaluate new and prospective suppliers
• In collaboration with the IESD Board and Product Committee, identify adjacencies and expansion opportunities
• Continuously evaluate category performance via formal review processes
• Understand and educate internal and external stakeholders on industry trends, commodity impacts and provide global insights from a supplier perspective to the business
  
  

Affiliate and Associate Members

• Help manage relationships with all existing IESD Affiliate and Associate Members
• Gather constant feedback on Affiliate and Associate member satisfaction with the organization; identify concerns and opportunities; ensure that internal departments are responsive; take corrective action
• Advocate and encourage Affiliate and Associate Members to maximize earnings and volume with Preferred Suppliers
• Train new and existing Affiliate and Associate Members on AD’s benefits and operations
• Monitor Affiliate and Associate Members’ support of AD programs, suppliers and compliance to membership commitments
• Alert Affiliates to potential opportunities with Preferred Suppliers and assist in conflict resolution
• Help to identify growth areas and plans to achieve financial targets
• Help to develop new business/division opportunities related to IESD
• Actively participate in strategic planning for AD
• Work closely with all departments at AD to increase operating efficiencies and the professionalism of AD
  
  

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong personal leadership and energy profile
• Strong drive and work ethic, be well organized and able to work well independently
• Ability to successfully facilitate meetings, listen and assimilate opposing views and build consensus with high-powered individuals (senior distributor and supplier executives)
• Ability to successfully execute against the above consensus
• Ability to successfully communicate, negotiate and resolve conflict at the senior executive level (Ability to be forceful but diplomatic and find the win-win)
• Ability to build and maintain positive, long-term relationships
• Ability to build and maintain a personal network of respected Affiliates and Suppliers who provide ideas, feedback, counsel and guidance
• Ability to deliver results through teamwork (Proven ability to build and lead a cross-functional team)
• Results oriented (but not at the expense of alienating Affiliates/Suppliers by not getting the needed group buy-in and support)
• Very strong and effective interpersonal and telephone communication skills
• Above average written communication skills
• Good presentation / speaking skills (Comfortable in front of large groups)
  
  

Qualifications

• Strong negotiation capabilities.
• Financial acumen and understanding of program and profitability levers.
• A demonstrable and consistent record of achieving worthy business goals
• Familiarity and a solid reputation for integrity, results and competency with some or many of our IESD Affiliates and Suppliers
• Ideally have had a successful tenure in general management with a large or medium sized IESD distributor or Supplier, experience in program negotiation, and familiarity with electrical products
• A record of leading and building successful teams (Prior reputation as a team-oriented leader/player will be a priority)
• Successful experience in implementing/managing/selling a service, program and/or a concept (AD is not a product)
• Ideally will have had a combination of large company and small company career experience (Have the organizational skills and training one gets from a large company, but be able to operate in an entrepreneurial environment where there is little staff support)
• Intricate knowledge of the Electrical channel as a whole, it’s workings and nuances, not simply in one product category
• Bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred. However, a candidate’s formal education and degree is secondary to their work experience
  
  

Additional Comments

• Travel Required: 40-50%
  
  

AD is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. At AD, we support a collaborative and inclusive environment. We value open participation from individuals with different ideas, experiences, and perspectives which we believe make AD a better place to work.