Commodity Group Manager

The Kendall Group is comprised of eight divisions with 75+ locations in ten states, serving the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, Fitting, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation industries. As a 100% employee-owned company, Kendall offers a rewarding career where you will own part of the company and your future. With more than 60% of associates having over 5 years of tenure and 40% over 10 years, Kendall values and supports its employees, ensuring your ideas are heard and your voice matters.

About the role

Reporting to the EVP of Kendall Electric and collaborating closely with senior leaders in sales and operations, the Commodity Group Manager is responsible for supporting the company's growth and profitability goals through strategic procurement, market analysis, and effective leadership of their team. This role involves significant support to the sales team and ownership of relationships with commodity partners, positioning it as a key sales and supplier engagement role. You will help plan and execute the overall commodity strategy for Kendall Electric, build and shape trusted partner relationships, and develop pricing, inventory, and services strategies. The role also includes monitoring supplier compliance, mitigating risks, and fostering continuous improvement to enhance value, reduce costs, and secure long-term partnerships.

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 relationships with suppliers, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier performance to ensure optimal pricing, quality, and product availability.
• Work closely with sales, marketing, and operations teams to align category strategies with overall business goals.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier relationships, market changes, and competitive pressures to ensure continuity of supply and profitability.
• Engage with account managers and/or sales managers to develop strategies for winning large projects.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with vendors and regional rep agencies.
• Develop 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 understand 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 ensure adequate inventory levels.
• Participate in promotional activities to showcase products and generate sales leads.
• Analyze key vendor performance and develop strategies for improving 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 and report quarterly results and trends to the team.
• Provide technical solutions to account managers and support various 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’ experience in electrical distribution, with commodity management including negotiation of copper, aluminum, and steel bulk purchase agreements, pricing contracts, and hedge arrangements.
• 2 years’ experience in a people management role.
• Associates degree in a related field or equivalent business and industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a multi-regional procurement strategy.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products, especially Excel; strong analytical skills.
• Understanding of inventory calculations, forecasting, and modeling.
• Strong understanding 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 environment.
• Ability to prioritize, document processes, and track progress.
• Ability to work effectively across the division, partnering with Senior Leadership and Shared Services teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate well 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.
• Must be able to travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

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

The physical demands include working in a normal office environment, warehouse, or fabrication environment with exposure to moving equipment.