Category Specialist

Description We are offering a long-term contract employment opportunity for a Category Specialist in Phoenix, Arizona. As a Category Specialist, your role will be crucial in maintaining supplier relationships, managing commodity and market information, and aligning supply with customer needs. Responsibilities: Foster relationships with suppliers, assisting in performance improvement through data analysis Communicate regularly with suppliers to understand factors such as quality, pricing, and production Share market and commodity information proactively with the commercial team to support confident sales and growth Support transactional, promotional, and contract pricing recommendations Understand customer base, including product specifications and order patterns, to match supply with customer needs Provide packing instructions to suppliers based on customer requirements Collaborate with internal teams to ensure customer satisfaction and business growth Utilize strong negotiation skills to effectively deal with suppliers Exhibit excellent communication skills to maintain strong relationships with customers, growers, and internal teams Display creativity and innovation in problem-solving, making data-driven decisions. Requirements Proven experience in Customer Service and Sales Demonstrated understanding of Quality and Pricing in a production environment Strong negotiation skills, with a willingness to travel as needed Excellent communication skills, with proficiency in Spanish being a plus Experience in dealing with suppliers and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suites Creative and innovative mindset, with an ability to recognize patterns Knowledge of Assertion Markup Language Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams Demonstrated experience in making data-driven decisions Familiarity with Mindset Software and transactional processes Proven track record of contributing to business growth Experience in commodity management Strong relationship building skills, both internally and externally Basic computer literacy is a must Knowledge of discrimination laws Proven experience in supplier relationship management Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.Robert Half works to put you in the best position to succeed. We provide access to top jobs, competitive compensation and benefits, and free online training. Stay on top of every opportunity - whenever you choose - even on the go. Download the Robert Half app (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/mobile-app) and get 1-tap apply, notifications of AI-matched jobs, and much more.All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.© 2024 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/Disability/Veterans. By clicking “Apply Now,” you’re agreeing to Robert Half’s Terms of Use (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/terms) .