Category Management Analyst

at W.W. Grainger, Inc. in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Work Location Type:Hybrid

As a leading industrial distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom, We Keep The World Working by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. With 2023 sales of $16.5 billion, we're dedicated to providing value for customers, fostering an engaging culture for team members and driving strong financial results.

Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a 2024 Glassdoor Best Place to Work and a Great Place to Work-Certified company, we're looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry over our next 100 years.

Position Details:
The Grainger Indirect Procurement team manages over $1 billion of indirect spend for business team members across Grainger North America. As Category Management Analyst, you will support the implementation of the sourcing strategy. You will provide services and results through transactional planning and contracting, project support, and building and executing cost savings/value pipeline initiatives. You will report to the Senior Manager, Category Management and can be based in either the Lake Forest, IL or downtown Chicago Office on an hybrid (3 days per week) basis.

You Will:

Support the standard global procurement sourcing activities related to spend in specific categories through conducting spend and savings analysis. Present findings to management.

Support defined global sourcing strategies for managed categories, consistent with goals.

Support the global sourcing process for suppliers including eSourcing RFI/RFP/RFX, negotiations, and contract execution.

Partner with business leaders to align with short-term and long-term global category goals and pipeline opportunities.

Use research and market intelligence tools to monitor supplier industry trends and to validate and benchmark costs and competitive pricing

Support projects with the ability to meet defined timelines and provide status updates to partners and business leaders

Support the Category Review process through market research, business planning, pipeline development and project presentation.

Perform analysis of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for proposed solutions

Identify continuous improvement opportunities in procurement processes to increase efficiency and results across the department.

You Have:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

1+ years of Category Management, indirect procurement, contract negotiations, and sourcing experience

Experience supporting continuous improvement projects

Ability to assess and manage contractual, operational, financial and risk

Rewards and Benefits:
With benefits starting day one, Grainger is committed to your safety, health and wellbeing. Our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet our team members' individual needs. Check out some of the rewards available to you at Grainger

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans

Paid time off (PTO) and 6 company holidays per year

Automatic 6% 401(k) company contribution each pay period

Employee discounts, parental leave, 3:1 match on donations and tuition reimbursement

A comprehensive set of emotional, financial, physical and social wellbeing programs

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one's employment. With this in mind, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.
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Grainger is an Equal Opportunity Workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.