Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better. As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it's a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better. Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 500 passionate team members.
Summary:Whisker has an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Sourcing Specialist. The role of the Strategic Sourcing Specialist is to assist the e xecution of new product introductions (NPI) and ongoing spend management. The role will also aid in the quantitative analyses and analytical efforts in support of Whisker's Operations Management Team. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist will support analytical efforts by collecting and managing the procurement data necessary for, and assisting with, conducting spend analysis, developing cost baselines, conduct market research to evaluate contracts, and obtain new contract ideas; perform benchmarking, and all other types of quantitative analyses required in the sourcing process for a broad range of spend categories.
We are open to candidates based in either Auburn Hills, MI or Juneau, WI for this role.
What You'll Do:This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.
Manages vendor relationship and spend for assigned supply partners
Creates business and sourcing process(es) in areas of opportunity
Creates bid lists for NPI, cost savings measurements, or supply continuity as required
Assists in the preparation of high-level analytical reports pertaining to spend data
Collects and manages procurement data necessary for various analytics initiatives
Requests specific information from internal connections and/or business partners
Researches, identifies, and collects available relevant external data sources, or extracting data directly by means of a detailed source document review
Creates bid lists for NPI, cost savings measurements, or supply continuity as required
Participates in RFI/RFP/RFQ calls, contract review meetings, and category meetings as required
Collects the necessary data to identify the data constraints presented
Consolidates, normalizes, cleanses and manages all the data collected
Analyzes, summarizes, documents, and reports findings
Assists with the cleansing, enriching, categorizing, loading, and testing of spend data
Will perform additional responsibilities when required
What You'll Bring:
Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Statistics, or Applied Mathematics is highly desired
2-5 years of experience in a business-related field or field requiring quantitative skills
Work experience in procurement or strategic sourcing
Experience in Contracting/Supplier/Company researching
Understand basic, relevant research info/resources/techniques in a procurement environment i.e. industry, competitors, revenue/spend, rankings
Ability to summarize and present findings to all levels of the company
Solid Analytical Skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office with a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel software
Understanding of data sampling techniques and approaches
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Demonstrated ability to work with others both internally and externally
Working knowledge of the procurement function
Ability to multitask and prioritize
Requires up to 40% travel both domestically and internationally
Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)
Not Required but Nice to Have!
DOMO or Power BI software experience
Spend Management Application experience
Benefits & Purrks: Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the "why", and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow's pet products-plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:
Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
Life Insurance
PTO
14 Paid Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
401K with 4% Match
Flexible Work Arrangements
Top of the line equipment
Life Insurance
Supplemental Pet Insurance
Statement of Inclusivity: We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.