Job Title:  Supply Chain Leadership Development Associate

Position Summary

Associates in the Supply Chain Rotational Program will rotate through a series of assignments, each approximately 9-12 months in duration, within the following functional areas: Sourcing and Procurement, Operations Planning, Materials Management and Logistics and Warehousing with an expectation of learning and applying Business Process Excellence related skills within each rotation. Initial rotation includes on-the-job learning and performance of assigned functions as a basis towards subsequent strategic and/or project assignments. 

Duties

Learn and apply best practices, processes, and perform in assigned roles associated with effective sourcing strategy management including procurement, strategic sourcing and category and vendor management through assignments in areas such as: 

• Execute orders through using the company’s ordering process and system
• Identify opportunities for savings and cost reductions. 
• Interact with suppliers, conduct supplier performance audits and reviews, focus on improving specific procurement metrics (OTD, RPPM, PPV, Continuous improvement, etc.)
• Research and evaluate sourcing needs, develop and implement a category strategy
• Analyze trends and current spend
• Participate in conducting RFP process and supplier selection
• Contract negotiation and/or prepare draft contracts, including working in conjunction with legal counsel on draft and necessary changes
• Support implementation and/or maintenance of master agreements
• Exposure to visiting key suppliers 
• Evaluate total cost of ownership and price justifications
• Participate in Supplier Sustainability and Supplier Diversity projects
• Perform supplier market research to identify potential suppliers and/or alternate suppliers.
• Assess and identify supplier risk, including data risk.
• Cost reduction and/or vendor optimization through assessing market opportunities, vendor consolidation, value analysis, negotiation, pricing cost reduction strategies and contract term optimization.
• Using data driven rationale, recommend solutions for cost improvements, increased efficiencies, and/or improved processes
• Work closely with Engineering and Scientist teams to support NPD projects 

Learn and apply best practices, operations and perform in assigned roles associated with effective sales & operations planning through assignments in areas such as:  

• Materials planning, production planning, scheduling & forecasting, inventory optimization/ management and material movement
• Work cross functionally with multiple teams within the organization including sales to determine Customer demand, i.e. Customer service representatives to ensure timely and accurate order delivery information; Operations to be informed on production needs, throughput and capacity, Engineering for new product development efforts and trials, and Finance to ensure profitability.
• Plan and execute tactical level processes required to secure and manage raw materials, packaging materials, and work-in-process materials, based on a forward-looking production plan and including scheduling and managing delivery, storage, staging, and movement of materials
• Schedule day-to-day manufacturing activities required to create and maintain detailed production/supply schedules based on the master scheduling 
• Prepare capacity plan, communicate with production leaders
• Compile current input, historical data, and trend information to deliver rough forecast and market input for further refinement via the sales and operations planning process
• Use forecast and planning tools

Duties - cont'd

Learn and apply best practices, operations, and perform in assigned roles associated with effective distribution and logistics process through assignments in areas such as:  

• Effectively manage inventory accuracy and control to ensure Customer satisfaction while maintaining fiscal responsibility and alignment with inventory KPI requirements.
• Perform and/or lead physical inventory. Researches, analyzes for improvement, and processes inventory discrepancies.
• Prepare, analyze, and submit daily and weekly reports, as assigned.
• Reports warehouse shortages and needs as designated.
• Execute transactions and track movement of products associated with distribution requirement plans, including domestic movements and imports/exports.
• Ensure that material movements and tracking information are consistent with standards and regulatory requirements. 
• Serve as the point of contact for issues related to efficient movement of material in support of minimum inventories and specified Customer service level
• Monitor metrics, conduct root cause analysis and take/recommend corrective actions to address supply movement issues.

Learn and apply best practices, operations, and perform in assigned roles associated with effective business process excellence through assignments in areas such as:

• Support the development of business processes, strategies, and plans in a project team environment by collecting and manipulating data quickly and efficiently, conducting analysis, and communicating key findings and insights for additional business process improvements.
• Use project management tools to solve problems and implement improvements that support the overall end-to-end business process.
• Ensure the business meets the growing demands of Customers to deliver the right product at the right place, right time and right quality
• Development of best practices, processes and tool kits
   

Required Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Economics or a closely related field 
• Passion for learning and ability to quickly apply learning
• Track record of effectively working in a team environment and excellent collaboration skills 
• Demonstrated goal-orientation and ability to deliver results
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem solving skills
• Ability to effectively manage and/or lead change
• Continuous improvement orientation
• Demonstrated leadership abilities
• Ability to work flexible schedule, as needed. 
• Ability to travel, if needed.
• Willingness to relocate as rotational assignment changes (every 9-12 months)