Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

This position oversees and is responsible for leading a distributed team managing strategic and tactical sourcing and purchasing for assigned spending categories.  They will lead the development and implementation of sourcing strategies and practices to improve business results, driving improvement in supplier quality, total cost of ownership, and supply continuity, resilience and risk. They will develop a competent and effective team, lead by example, collaborate cross-functionally, and model and reflect Graco’s values in their work and that of their team.

What You Will Do at Graco

• Lead team of Category Managers, Sourcing Specialists, and other members as assigned. Hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate the employees reporting to this position on Graco supply management and procurement processes while developing the skills of the purchasing team.  Be a role model for Graco’s culture and values.

• Lead development and execution of supply management strategies, processes, and projects consistent with corporate, factory, division, and functional goals. Improve business performance and competitive advantage by improving quality, availability, cost, and risk for assigned purchased materials and services.  Measure and communicate progress and implement corrective action if needed.

• Stay informed of economic and business conditions in the industry as they impact supply and cost in order to understand, track and forecast the key performance drivers and market factors that may affect the Graco’s ability to meet its objectives and develop contingency options.

• Provide process ownership for purchasing and supply management processes, including development, documentation, implementation, team facilitation, communication and training for all appropriate policies and procedures.  Build, add, and evolve Graco’s Supply Management Playbook to increase its value to the team over time.

• Build strong working relationships within and outside of the Supply Management function, including with suppliers, supplier development, factory and operations managers, planning, engineering, accounting, sales and marketing, and others.

• Other duties as required.

Team Leadership and Financial Management 

• Lead, mentor, manage, and staff a Category Managers, Sourcing Specialists, and other members of the team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of excellence. 

• Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities. 

• Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual team budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives. 

What You Will Bring to Graco

• College degree in Business, Engineering, or related field required.

• 7+ years related experience in purchasing, manufacturing or engineering required.

• Excellent leadership skills: 2+ years of team leadership experience preferred. 

• Proven experience in building effective departmental and cross functional teams while consistently delivering superior results.

• Knowledge of commodity & category management, purchasing contracts, purchasing practices and internet-based purchasing are critical.

• Value analysis ability; the ability to analyze a system or sub-system in terms of operational and financial performance, identify improvement opportunities, and develop comprehensive plans to attain improvements.

• Demonstrates excellent project management and communication skills and capable of managing cross-functional teams on a matrix organizational basis.  The ability to manage complex projects across multiple departments, sites, and companies serving a variety of diverse needs.

• High levels of numeric, computer literacy and strong data / analytical and organizational skills are essential.

• Strong customer focus, drive and determination for setting standards of excellence, challenging the status quo and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.

• Role requires strong influence and written / oral communication to convey detailed information to multiple individuals/audiences with differing knowledge levels of sourcing strategies.

• Ability to multi-task and deal with competing priorities successfully.

• Willing and able to travel an estimated 20% of the time to all global Graco sites and supplier visits is required.

Accelerator

• MBA degree & CPM certification preferred.

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At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.