Strategic Cost Manager

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive cost models which closely reflect supplier input cost volatility
• Work closely with suppliers to acutely understand cost structures
• Continuously maintain and refine cost models to ensure cost component alignment with production enhancements and contract changes
• Develop a fundamental understanding of the manufacturing process for specific product groups
• Educate and gain alignment with suppliers on cost component eligibility for pricing action
• Support Merchants with fact-based market intelligence in supplier negotiations
• Create detailed negotiation insights and benefit targets for Sourcing
• Review contracts to understand supplier cost change dynamics and develop strategies for proactive increase and decrease activities
• Create customized cost breakdown templates for RFPs
• Build working relationships with suppliers that promote transparency and partnership
• Lead cost risk and opportunity meetings with Merchants
• Routinely provide comprehensive cost change analysis and recommendations to Merchants
• Provide market insights to cross-functional teams (PGMO, RevMan, Merchandising, Sales) to facilitate proactive decision-making
• Aid in benefit forecasting for sourcing events and supplier direct negotiations
• Advise Merchandising on market relevance of supplier net cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or applicable experience in merchandising, market intelligence, and supplier negotiations
• Experience: 4 years of experience in merchandising preferred or equivalent combination of education and industry (food service or retail) experience
• Experience: 3 years of experience in market intelligence and developing leadership reporting
• Experience: 3 years of experience in fact-based negotiations
• Requires excellent Microsoft Excel skills including lookups, pivot tables, and summarizing large data sets
• Knowledge of Power Query and VBA a plus
• Prior experience working with relational database management systems
• Knowledge of internal systems like CDM, RME, and Workday Strategic Sourcing
• Understanding of supply chain principles and dynamics
• Understanding of the dynamics of supply and demand
• Ability to effectively collect and use market data to provide actionable insights
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills