Commodity Group Manager

The Kendall Group is a 100% employee-owned company with eight divisions and 75+ locations across ten states, serving the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, Fitting, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation industries. As an employee-owned company, you will own part of the company and your future, with opportunities to learn, grow, and be coached along the way. More than 60% of associates have over 5 years of tenure, and 40% have over 10 years, reflecting a culture where ideas are heard, voices matter, and success is shared.

About the role

Reporting to the EVP of Kendall Electric and collaborating with senior sales and operations leaders, the Commodity Group Manager drives growth and profitability through strategic procurement, market analysis, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. This role supports the sales team, manages relationships with commodity partners, and shapes pricing, inventory, and service strategies. Responsibilities include monitoring supplier compliance, mitigating risks, and fostering continuous improvement to enhance value, reduce costs, and secure long-term partnerships. The Commodity Group Manager leads a team of Regional Commodity Managers and ensures consistent product availability to support business success.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, growth, and mentoring to your team while adhering to company values: Success Beyond the Sale, Partnership as a Promise, We Do What We Say, Legacy of Impact, and Purpose-Driven Progress.
• Invest in self-growth through continuous improvement, learning, and development.
• Build and maintain supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier performance to ensure optimal pricing, quality, and product availability.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and operations teams to align commodity strategies with business goals and ensure effective implementation.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier relationships, market changes, and competitive pressures to ensure supply continuity and profitability.
• Develop strategies with account managers and sales teams to win large projects.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with vendors and regional rep agencies.
• Create procurement strategies for electrical commodities and negotiate the best possible price and terms with suppliers.
• Conduct market research to stay updated on industry trends, pricing fluctuations, and competitor offerings.
• Collaborate with internal teams to understand supply needs and ensure seamless procurement processes.
• Interact with sales managers and territory/location managers to analyze market trends and develop local strategies for profitable growth.
• Support the sales team with product information, pricing, and availability.
• Engage with customers to understand their needs and provide solutions.
• Assist in forecasting sales trends to maintain adequate inventory levels.
• Participate in promotional activities to showcase products and generate sales leads.
• Analyze key vendor performance and develop strategies to improve category health.
• Ensure proactive cost competitiveness and analyze forward buy opportunities.
• Track performance for manufacturer incentive programs and create cross-reference tables for strategic vendors and products.
• Develop and track KPIs, reporting quarterly results and trends to the team.
• Provide technical solutions to account managers and support vendor and industry events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

• Customer Focus
• Results and Action Oriented
• Accountability and Responsibility
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Developing Talent
• Managerial Courage
• Building Team Morale
• Process Management
• Awareness of the needs of others
• Problem Solving
• Strategic Ability
• Negotiating
• Self-motivation

Requirements

• 7 years of experience in electrical distribution, including commodity management with negotiation of copper, aluminum, and steel bulk purchase agreements, pricing contracts, and hedge arrangements.
• 2 years of experience in a people management role.
• Associate’s degree in a related field or equivalent business and industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a multi-regional procurement strategy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, especially Excel; strong analytical skills.
• Understanding of inventory calculations, forecasting, and modeling.
• Strong knowledge of commodities markets and ability to plan purchases based on cost averaging, replacement cost, and market prices, including understanding income and balance sheet impacts.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to multi-task, shift priorities, and work in a fast-paced, evolving, and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Ability to prioritize, document processes, and track progress.
• Ability to work effectively across the division, partnering with Senior Leadership and Shared Services teams to drive alignment and share best practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate with all levels of the organization and manage supplier relationships division-wide.
• Ability to see, talk, and hear; ability to sit for 8 hours a day.
• Ability to work in a normal office environment, as well as warehouse, fabrication environments with exposure to moving equipment.
• Must be able to travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in commodity management.
• Previous experience developing and executing a multi-regional procurement strategy.
• Bachelor’s degree.