National Procurement Specialist

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%.

ALDI offers competitive wages and benefits, to all employees including:

• 401(k) Plan
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• PerkSpot National Discount Program

In addition, full-time employees are offered:

• Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Generous Vacation Time & 7 Paid Holidays
• Up to 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave at 100% of pay
• Up to 2 Weeks Paid Caregiver Leave at 100% of pay
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life, Dependent Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance

*Full-time employees average 30 or more hours per week within an annual lookback period

**Benefits offered to full-time and part-time employees may vary by state

ALDI is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. As a proud Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), we do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual stereotyping, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), or any other protected characteristic. Employment may be contingent upon ALDI's receipt of an acceptable and job-related drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.