Lead of Supplier Partnerships - Negotiation_

Austin

Job DescriptionThe role of the Lead, Supplier Partnerships is to maximize opportunities for

driving significant financial impact and growth with Whole Foods Market’s

strategic suppliers, distributors, and third-party vendors ensuring interactions

move from transactional to transformational. This role is intended to further our

capabilities in supplier partnerships (including joint business planning and

impactful top to top sessions) and supplier negotiations (including cost of goods,

securing our fair share of inventory allocations, weighing assortment options,

negotiating promotional events and marketing, and navigating cost increases.)

Additional Information:

This role will observe the 3-day hybrid office model and be based in Austin, TX. Whole Foods Market will provide a relocation package.

Responsibilities :

Working with internal partners, the Lead is responsible for :

+ Conducting an annual supplier tiering exercise and d eveloping a list of strategic partners with whom engagement will be deepened

+ Developing and facilitating execution of an annual roadmap of partner engagements, including the type of engagement and timing

+ Assessing supplier funding collections and recommending opportunities to improve win-win relationships, while optimizing funding efficiency

+ Outlining a negotiation roadmap, in partnership with category merchants, to continue momentum on cost of goods savings

+ Coaching category merchants to tailor partnership and negotiation strategy and approach

+ Preparing for and facilitating the following partnership processes, including use of best practices:

+ Joint Business Planning

+ Top to Top meetings

+ Innovation meetings

+ Key n egotiations with partners

+ Developing and maintaining best practices for partnership and collaborative engagement

+ T rack ing the financial value of partnership advancements , reporting and managing data.

+ Creating and driving an annual supplier communication strategy

Skills :

To be successful , The Lead must possess the following skills :

Collaborative n egotiation and partnering skills :

+ A keen understanding and use of negotiation frameworks, tools and behaviors that drive collaboration and mutual-gains outcomes.

+ The ability to discover and use the core interests, needs and priorities of both parties to the relationship to fashion innovative solutions that create out-sized value and impact.

+ A keen ability to ask probing questions that reveal more information; the ability to actively listen and use what is heard to craft strategies and a way forward

+ T he ability to frame up communications and messages in a way that resonates with and reflects the strategies, interests and priorities of the other, as well as your own .

+ The ability to know where you have leverage and how to use it appropriately

Business Savvy :

+ The ability to understand the strateg ies and business of Whole Foods Market ’s categories and find ways , with supplier and distributor partners , to innovate and create financial impact .

+ An understanding of the business model, strategies and plans of supplier and distributor partners and how to engage within their model to generate the greatest mutual value.

Facilitation :

+ Ability to design and plan interactions and process es that help both organizations make progress and reach favorable outcomes

+ Act as a (neutral) leader in getting both organizations to come forward with their best data, insights and other resources, and encouraging full participation by both

+ Challenge and push both parties to go deeper (not just surface opportunities) and come up with unique, innovative solutions to initiatives

+ Ensure p articipants take shared responsibility for the outcome

+ Ensure that outcomes, actions , and questions are properly recorded and actioned, and appropriately dealt with afterward F

Strategic Problem-Solving :

+ Ability to overcome challenges and roadblocks both within WFM and with a suppler or distributor partner .

+ By understanding the interests, needs and priorities of both organizations , develop solutions that work for both .

Education & Experience:

+ BA/BS degree and 6-8 years of relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

+ Intermediate experience of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

+ Must have advanced  proficiency  in Microsoft Excel and ability to create dynamic reporting.   ]

+ Exceptionally positive attitude and ability to adapt to a highly dynamic work environment.

+ Self-motivated, innovative thinker, willing to work in an evolving role.

At Whole Foods Market we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all team members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely  on the basis of  their qualifications for the position to be filled.

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.

Whole Foods Market works with job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter to promote opportunities at our company. Please be aware that other career sites may not be accurate or up to date and may even be fraudulent. We encourage and recommend all candidates to apply via our site.