Product Channel Manager – Commodities

About the role

PACE Supply is seeking a Product Channel Manager - Commodities to lead product channel strategy, vendor alignment, assortment direction, and margin performance for our commodity categories — including pipe, valves, and fittings, copper tube, carbon and stainless steel pipe, brass, PVC/CPVC, PEX, cast iron soil pipe, and related consumables — across all markets.

Responsibilities

• Support the overall channel strategy for commodity categories across all markets

• Determine the right product mix by market, branch profile, and customer segment, balancing stocking breadth against carrying cost

• Review product line performance, identify assortment gaps, and recommend additions, consolidations, and exits

• Standardize commodity assortments across branches where practical to improve buying leverage and reduce duplication

• Identify growth opportunities within existing categories and adjacent product lines

• Align preferred vendor partners, mills, and producers to channel strategy and to division and regional priorities

• Support negotiation preparation and administration of vendor programs, rebates, and buying group participation

• Serve as primary point of contact for assigned commodity vendors; coordinate line reviews and business reviews

• Monitor vendor performance on cost, fill rate, lead time, allocation behavior, and program compliance, and escalate gaps

• Coverage of vendor-led product training and promotional support for branch and sales teams

• Track commodity cost movement, published price increases, and market indices; communicate impact and timing to the field

• Analyze cost changes, sell-price positioning, and margin leakage; recommend corrective action

• Provide pricing guidance to divisions, branches, and regional sales teams on volatile categories

• Partner with the Pricing team on matrix maintenance, cost updates, and special pricing agreements

• Support quoting and bid strategy on large projects, including cost validity windows and escalation terms

• Translate channel strategy into executable branch-level actions

• Partner with Division Managers, regional leadership, and regional sales teams on category growth plans

• Support branch needs including product selection, availability, substitutions, and customer-specific requirements

• Communicate cost increases, allocations, and supply constraints to the field with clear guidance on how to respond

• Conduct branch and market visits to gather field feedback and reinforce category priorities

• Manage the product lifecycle from evaluation and introduction through maturity and discontinuation

• Evaluate new products, alternate materials, and vendor submissions against strategy, margin, and demand criteria

• Coordinate new product setup, item data accuracy, and launch readiness with internal partners

• Manage transitions, substitutions, and end-of-life plans to minimize obsolete and aged inventory

• Support stocking strategies, min/max levels, and branch-level assortments

• Support buy-ahead and forward-buy decisions against announced cost increases, balancing margin opportunity against inventory exposure

• Support forecasting for seasonal demand, large project activity, and promotional programs

• Monitor inventory health — turns, fill rate, excess, and aged stock — and recommend corrective action

• Resolve supply disruptions, allocations, and vendor lead-time changes

• Monitor market and competitive trends, raw material movement, competitor assortments, and pricing dynamics

• Analyze sales, margin, and share data to identify risks and opportunities by region and category

• Prepare category performance reporting and recommendations for leadership review

• Collaborate with Marketing, Operations, and Finance to support company initiatives and shared best practices

• Recommend process improvements that strengthen channel execution and field support

• Perform other duties as required

Requirements

• A high school diploma and an associate's degree

• 5-7 years of wholesale distribution experience

• Experience in product/category management, purchasing, or commodity product sales

• Working knowledge of commodity product categories — pipe, valves and fittings, copper, steel, brass, PVC/CPVC, PEX — including vendors and applications

• Demonstrated ability to analyze sales, cost, and margin data and translate it into actionable recommendations

• Experience managing vendor relationships and vendor programs

• Ability to influence and partner across divisions, regions, and branch teams without direct authority

• Computer proficiency including Microsoft products, with advanced Excel skills

• Excellent time management and proven ability to meet deadlines while managing multiple priorities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills at all levels of the organization

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or a related field

• More than 7 years in wholesale distribution with direct product/category or channel management responsibility in commodities or PVF

• Experience managing price-volatile categories, including forward-buy strategy and cost increase pass-through

• Experience supporting a multi-branch, multi-region distribution network

• Experience with buying group programs, rebate structures, and mill or manufacturer negotiations

• Proficiency with ERP and business intelligence tools for category reporting and analysis

• Professional certification in supply chain or product management (e.g., APICS CPIM/CSCP)

Benefits

• Competitive wages

• Career pathways of growth

• Excellent benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision care

• Life insurance

• Sick days

• Holidays

• Vacation

• Two retirement programs of 401(k) and ESOP

• Relocation benefits