Enterprise Commodity Manager

From day one The Standard has worked hard to make a difference, by being different In 1906, our founder Leo Samuel chartered the first locally-based life insurance company to champion the communities of the Pacific Northwest. Today, his philanthropic spirit lives on. Every day, we follow in the footsteps of our founder by our involvement in the communities in which we live. Vibrant, healthy communities provide opportunities for people and a positive environment in which to live and do business. We believe that we have a responsibility to help build and maintain such communities. Our investment in social service, health, arts, education, environmental and civic causes is part of our commitment to building lasting relationships with our employees, customers and communities. Job Description Enterprise Commodity Manager If you want to make a positive difference and stand out from the crowd, you'll fit in at The Standard (www.standard.com). Through our retirement plans and insurance products and services, we help provide people with the financial security and confidence to pursue their dreams. Come join us and share our passion for serving our customers in a positively different way. The Enterprise Commodity Manager will develop and implement Enterprise-wide supplier management strategies around specific commodities and categories of spend with emphasis on quality, cost containment and customer service. In conjunction with the businesses, direct all aspects of supplier management including contract negotiations, contract administration, ability to benchmark services against industry best practices, manage service level agreements, and maintain exceptional customer service to their internal customers. Direct the procurement, acquisition, sourcing of suppliers for goods and services, and supplier management activities for the managed commodities or categories of spend. This posting is representing two open Enterprise Commodity Managers. - Develop and implement strategies around specific commodities or categories of spend that provide cost reductions to the organization through effective negotiations and performance management. Through benchmarking industry best practices, develop long term supplier partnerships that will scale with the growth of the company. Develop and implement strategic supply chain plans to ensure reduced costs, quality improvement and alignment with business objectives. Work effectively across the customer base to proactively capture business needs and requirements in order to keep the supply base capable of meeting the customers' requirements for services and products. Conduct account management activities, including the development of strong customer relationships and two-way communication channels. Proactively promote their skills, services and value proposition to customers. - Manage relationships with suppliers and take appropriate actions to maximize customer satisfaction. Lead the management process for existing vendors and the selection process for new vendors. Lead the negotiations in vendor contract negotiations and performance reviews to maximize savings and service levels. Serve as an operational and technical resource in the resolution of procurement issues including the Procure-to-Pay process. Develop robust communication models with the key suppliers. - Establish and maintain timely customer relations to ensure appropriate service levels and value with all business units and service divisions, excluding IT commodities and suppliers. Partner with customers to understand business objectives and requirements to ensure cost effective and timely delivery of essential goods and services. Utilize robust supplier metrics to ensure customer needs are being met with the right supply base. - Lead activities to optimize procedural processes and systems supporting supply management as appropriate. Develop and implement procurement quality control practices. Lead process improvement initiatives that provide for cheaper, better and faster procurement capabilities. - Bachelor's degree in Business or related field. - Experience: Ten years of progressively responsible experience in supply management, or the equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience. - Professional certification preferred: MBA, APP or CPM. - Organize workload and prioritize tasks to meet changing priorities and deadlines; plan, schedule, implement and manage multiple projects simultaneously; analyze problems and evaluate solutions at both strategic and tactical levels; act independently and make decisions; work effectively in collaboration with peers and team members; assess customers needs and purchase appropriately; project management skills; advanced systems analysis skills; express ideas clearly to a broad audience in both written and oral communications; negotiation capabilities including contract administration skills; and senior management influencing skills; effectively resolve conflicts; build relationships. - Communicate effectively with all levels of company personnel; develop short and long range plans to meet operational and strategic objectives; make decisions in the absence of specific direction; consistently deliver on high quality customer service expectations; monitor and evaluate budget data and impact on department; negotiate complex project and technical issues; and ability to drive significant cost reductions through negotiations and process improvements. - Advanced knowledge of: Purchasing methods and procedures, products, support systems and marketplace conditions in any of the following commodities: software, networking, telecom, outsourcing or pc equipment. - Working knowledge of: Accounting principles, contract law, make/buy financial models and computer inventory control. Standard Insurance Company, The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., StanCorp Equities, Inc. and StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., marketed as The Standard, are Equal Opportunity employers. The Standard requires a criminal background investigation, drug test, plus employment and education verification as a condition of employment. All employees of The Standard must be bondable. If interested, please apply online at http://track.jobviper.com/ViewJob.asp?id=557819-3-973 www.standard.com