Are you an excellent communicator and negotiator? Do you enjoy contributing to and developing crucial business strategies? Are you skilled at building and maintaining trusted partnerships? If so, then we’d like you to join our dedicated team as a Vendor Relations Lead.  

 

About the Role: 

    You will: 

Be responsible for managing a robust set of vendor relationship programs and crafting a long-term vision for growing and maintaining deep and mutually beneficial partnerships and vendor relationships. 

Build and manage vendor relationships; identify and build new opportunities and foster and grow existing partnerships.

Develop strategies to add maximum value for Hajoca by successfully negotiating and managing best in class Vendor programs (e.g. Rebates, Payment Terms, Restocking Fees, Growth Goals, etc.)

Build Level 5 boundaryless vendor partnerships consistent with Hajoca’s Compelling Path Forward Strategy.

Maintain an influencer role within the industry; serve as the point of contact (face of Hajoca) for our suppliers and help them clearly understand our business model and core values. 

Have clear accountability for National Merchandise Credit %, Learning Center funding and overall business development for assigned vendors.

Provide critical feedback to key suppliers on the quality of their relationship with Hajoca, in general, and with specific Profit Centers.

Actively communicate and educate Hajoca business units on vendor opportunities. Make sure information is fully disseminated and understood across profit centers.

Partner with Division/Region Managers. Serve as a resource as they develop and grow strategic partnerships with their vendors. Provide a company-wide view that drives consistency, leverages volume, and maximizes return on commitment. 

Stay abreast of emerging business models and market shifts (e.g. e-commerce; new marketing strategies) and create opportunities to capitalize on new trends.

Successfully complete required safety and compliance training programs as assigned.

Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

United States Domestic travel – 50%+

 

About You: 

5+ years of experience in a vendor management, purchasing, or business development capacity.

Knowledge of Wholesale plumbing products

 

Our ideal candidate will also: 

Possess leadership qualities and is viewed as a leader.

Possess strong personal sales skills.

Effectively use Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel) to communicate via email, to maintain weekly sales plans, call reports, customer contact files, and to analyze customer data.

Be able to interpret financial report data to determine the success/failure of plans and to take appropriate action to adjust business plans ensuring success.

Be able to build influential relationships and trust with customers and key vendor partners through open and interactive communication.

Possess deep industry knowledge and a strong strategic thinking mindset.

Possess excellent problem solving and analytical skills as well as impeccable business judgment.

Demonstrate a deep product knowledge to answer customer questions and identify opportunities to upsell or cross sell.

Be able to build positive working relationships and inspire teamwork with co-workers.

Possess excellent communication and listening skills, as well as the ability to persuade.

Be able to learn and operate the computer related systems used for business operations.

Read, write, speak, and understand English.

Be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.