Strategic Cost Manager - Cost Models

About the role

This is a hybrid position requiring an on-site presence 3 to 4 days per week. The number of on-site days may increase based on business needs.

Location
1390 Enclave Parkway
Houston, TX 77077

Responsibilities

• Cost Modeling
  • 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.
• Supplier Negotiations
  • 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.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Lead cost risk and opportunity meetings with Merchants.
  • Regularly 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.
  • Assist in benefit forecasting for sourcing events and supplier direct negotiations.
  • Advise Merchandising on market relevance of supplier net cost.
• Market Intelligence
  • Utilize third-party platforms for market insights and cost model framework.
  • Leverage cost models to recommend optimal timing windows for sourcing events.
  • Monitor and analyze commodity markets, industry trends, and supplier cost drivers.
  • Develop and present ad-hoc market analysis to internal stakeholders.
  • Serve as subject matter expert on category-specific commodities and cost models.
  • Translate raw component market movements into actionable net cost insights.
  • Possess knowledge of macro-economic factors that influence market volatility.

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.
  • 3 years of experience in market intelligence and developing leadership reporting.
  • 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.

Work Environment

This position will be performed at the GSC (hybrid schedule). The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.