The Customer Supply Lead’s primary role is to ensure Royal Canin products are on the retailer’s shelf when and where our customer’s need them by understanding and driving Service as Measured by Customer metrics.  This role plays a vital internal role supporting GSV growth and driving operational efficiencies.  This role is the primary operational liaison between the Customer Supply Chain Manager and the Royal Canin internal supply function and is expected to execute supply solutions through a strong understanding of inventory, transportation, warehouse management, and continuous improvement practices. Effective influencing of the customer, our Sales account team, and our internal Supply teams is critical to the effectiveness of this role.

Key Responsibilities

Please list the most important and relevant responsibilities

• Support customer collaboration process with a focus on service metric improvements, product allocations, operational execution, and mutually beneficial, efficient supply chain solutions
• Partner with Key Account and National Account Managers to support development of strategic end to end supply chain solutions for the customer.  Support implementation where applicable.
• Develop & nurture business practices & processes with external stakeholders for sustainable business results, credibility, and integrity for future opportunities.
• Drive cost savings initiatives (payload, casepick) to reduce cost to serve and deliver LCC savings commitments for their customer
• Supports Service as Measured by Customer (SAMBC) metrics and provides proactive communication and robust action plans to mitigate service risk.
• Utilize Customer Supply Chain Manager, customer service representatives (CSRs), and customer finance contacts for ordering & cash analysis to provide operational recommendations that are mutually beneficial for Mars and the account.
• Must effectively influence team members to gain support in customer facing initiatives to drive improvements
• Manage the supply chain interdependencies between Sales, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, and the Customer
• Embrace and live the Mars culture by leading with The Five Principles
• Ability to adjust, adapt, respond to, and be resourceful in the face of change to deliver business objectives.
• Must be able to work flexible hours
• Ability to travel (20%) as required

Education & Professional Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Management and/or related field

Knowledge / Experience

5+ years experience in Supply Chain or Operations Management

Context and Scope

Explain how the job gets done and the way it operates within the team and with stakeholders

• Strong communication skills – written and verbal
• Managerial presence, interpersonal and leadership skills
• Ability to work across multiple cross-functional teams
• Analysis and Evaluation of Business Activities
• Can effectively draw insights from data, processes, subjective inputs, and develop collaborative solutions for supply chain challenges.
• Effective negotiation skills
• Process and project management
• Analysis and Evaluation of Business Activities
• High decision quality in a fast-paced environment
• High learning agility to utilize customer specific data systems   
• Proficient with Microsoft Office. MS Access skills desired

About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5â„¢, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitalsâ„¢, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCAâ„¢ and Pet Partnersâ„¢. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Disclaimer:
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.​​​​​​​

Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific.  Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.