National Procurement Specialist

Description ALDI is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the nation. We're growing, and we're charting an aggressive growth course to become one of the top 3 grocery retailers in the US by store count. How can you play a part? By joining our Procurement team. The team will engage in the sourcing and tendering of the non-merchandise equipment, fixtures, supplies and displays that support our operations. Helping us grow can translate into a great move for your career. As a National Procurement Specialist , you will have an exciting opportunity to support the sourcing, procurement, contracting, and supplier relationship management of non-merchandise products and services that support the store and business operations, both nationally and internationally. An ideal candidate will have experience in administrative coordination, project management, procurement of goods and/or services and have an educational background in Supply Chain Management or a business-related field. The objective of this role is to bring value to the company through sourcing and category management strategies. Position Type: Full-Time Starting Wage: $73,500 per hour Wage Increases: Year 2 - $76,500 | Year 3 - $79,750 Work Location: Batavia, IL This role is eligible to participate in ALDI’s Hybrid Work Program, which allows remote work up to 3 days per week (i.e., work remotely up to 3 days per week; work in-office at least 2 days per week). Duties and Responsibilities: Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation. • Drives development of team strategy while consulting leadership. • Consults with internal and external parties to ensure timely and efficient communication flow. • Keeps informed on external best practices and relevant changes within their area of responsibility and communicates updates to leadership. • Conducts negotiations and leads vendor meetings per agreed tender timelines. • Implements contracts and communicates contract and vendor updates both externally to the supply base as well as internally to the stakeholders. • Recommends process improvements for area of responsibility. • Develops procurement plans that aligns with the overall sourcing strategy. • Creates category plans and strategy in consideration of market data and spend analyses. • Identifies and executes cost-saving opportunities that directly impact the profitability of the company. • Utilizes procurement levers to reduce total cost of ownership and optimize performance, quality, and service within department categories. • Interprets market data and evaluates spend analysis to drive category planning. • Conducts all source to contract activity, supporting the development and approval of sourcing strategies, market testing, negotiation, and contract finalization. • Makes decisions and awards contracts to suppliers in consideration of optimizing cost and value to Aldi. • Maintains accurate procurement documentation and records for relevant non-merchandise categories. • Monitors supplier relationship management functions for relevant categories, including sourcing new suppliers, ensuring supplier compliance to contracts, and supplier performance. • Creates and analyzes department-specific reporting as required to develop overall planning and strategy. • Trains and cross-trains with other employees. • Complies with industry regulations and legal requirements pertaining to non-merchandise categories. • Leads the completion of sourcing projects and administration of contracts. • Oversees completion of work by other team members that influence their relevant non-merchandise contracts. • Identifies and implements system and process efficiencies to optimize ways of working. • Researches and stays informed on market pricing and conditions, supplier opportunities, and evolving technologies pertaining to relevant non-merchandise contracts. • Collaborates with team members and communicates relevant information to leadership. • Complies with ALDI privacy and security requirements and policies if job responsibilities include possible access to confidential and/or sensitive information. • Other duties as assigned. Job-specific Competencies: Knowledge/Skills/Abilities • Consistently demonstrates the Mindsets, ALDI Acts Competencies and Professional Skills (M.A.P.) as outlined for the role. • Gives attention to detail and follows instruction. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Effective time management; maximizes productivity. • Prepares written materials to meet purpose and audience. • Develops and maintains positive relationships with internal and external parties. • Ability to analyze data sources to create forecast, optimal cost analysis, and contract decisions and recommendations. • Drives projects and tasks to completion through effective prioritization, work planning, time management, and cross-functional collaboration. • Demonstrates clear rationale when making sourcing decisions, in consideration of cost, quality, delivery, and service. • Ability to lead meetings and negotiations. • Negotiation skills. • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite with Advanced MS Excel proficiency. • Proficient in SAP ARIBA. Education and Experience: • Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business or a related field required. • A minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in Supply Chain Management, Business, Procurement and/or Retail Operations required. • Or, a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge. Physical Requirements: • Work may be performed in an office environment, remote office or a combination of both where a computer and office equipment may be used as needed to perform duties. • Regularly required to sit, reach, grasp, stand and move from one area to another. • Constantly and repeatedly use keyboard/mouse. • Occasionally required to push, pull, bend, lift and move up to 25 lbs. Travel: • International & Domestic travel required. • Up to 25%. Qualifications Skills Behaviors : Motivations : Education Experience Preferred NRE