WHO WE ARE:

Come join the Merchandising Strategy Office and make an impact on the future of automotive retail. We are a highly motivated team leading bold change with speed in an ever-changing economic environment. We seek to delight our stakeholders by driving the future of supplier engagements and delivering perspectives that enable optimal total value contribution to the organization. We value and cultivate our culture by seeking to always be collaborative, intellectually curious, results oriented, and open to new ideas and ways of thinking.

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY:

The Senior Manager of Strategic Business Planning will oversee the business planning process focused on strengthening retailer-vendor relationships. This role is pivotal in facilitating collaborative goal setting between our merchandising organization and supplier community to drive shared success and mutual growth. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of retail strategy, vendor management, and business analytics, combined with leadership capabilities to influence and support cross-functional initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in strategic planning, vendor management, or retail strategy.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating retailer-vendor partnerships and collaboration.
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in data analysis and vendor performance measurement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities.
• Proficiency with planning and analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI) and collaborative planning frameworks.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a track record of driving vendor engagement through strategic initiatives.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Experience in the retail or consumer goods industries is a plus.
• Advanced knowledge of vendor relationship management and strategic alignment.
• Certification in strategic planning or project management (e.g., PMP) is a plus.
• Familiarity with contract management and legal aspects of procurement.
  

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• Lead the strategic business planning process to establish shared objectives between merchants and vendors, aligning with corporate growth targets.
• Develop frameworks for collaboration, including goal setting, performance tracking, and joint business planning sessions.
• Serve as the primary liaison between merchants and vendors, ensuring alignment on strategy, execution, and performance metrics.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (e.g., finance, operations, marketing, and product management) to develop and track joint business plans.
• Build and maintain vendor performance dashboards to provide real-time insights into strategic initiatives and partnerships.
• Conduct market analysis and competitive benchmarking to identify opportunities for vendor collaboration and mutual growth.
• Stay updated on industry trends, market conditions, and emerging technologies to make informed sourcing recommendations.
• Present strategic partnership updates and performance insights to senior leadership, including C-level executives.
• Manage and mentor a growing team of analysts, focusing on developing vendor relationship management skills.
• Implement continuous improvement practices in strategic planning processes, emphasizing collaborative vendor strategies.
• Lead special projects focused on enhancing vendor engagement and partnership success.
• In partnership with our sourcing support team develop and implement negotiation strategies to optimize vendor agreements and drive mutually beneficial outcomes. Facilitate training and guidance on negotiation and best practices for team members and stakeholders.
• Responsible for defining and implementing the strategy and classification (role/intent) for suppliers and commodities – under strong cooperation with Sourcing, Quality, Supply Chain, Category Management
• Responsible to recognize proactive weaknesses in processes, to work on process improvements and to update or create the required documentation.