Vendor Program Manager

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.
 
This position will be located in: Fargo, ND  

Application Deadline: November 10, 2025.

Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed application deadline. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.

Job Summary

Provides focused core category leadership and direction, manages and executes effective category strategies, secures strategic vendor alignment to increase sales and grow profits.  Works with all Category Directors to track, maintain, and provide guidance on opportunities to maximize all vendor programs. Negotiates terms and programs with vendors and reps.  Identifies strategy development and ownership of major category trends and initiatives. Develops, communicates, and maintains strategic vendor alignment strategies and platforms. Develops category plans, vendor performance plans, share of wallet analysis, and supports business development with target categories.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Develops assigned category strategy plan.  
• Ensures growth and profitability of category sales.
• Create and maintain vendor programs within vendor program tracking software
• Develops vendor program reporting
• Communicates opportunities for program enhancements and growth to both Category Team, as well as Regional Leadership.
• Communicates opportunities to maximize Reward programs to appropriate business units.
• Ensures category health by understanding and monitoring profitability, reducing risk and streamlining alignments.
• Develops vendor evaluations and approvals.
• Develops vendor alignment grids for assigned categories to ensure profitability.
• Develops vendor segmentation strategy.
• Regularly meets with key vendors and jointly prepares strategies for the company on key assigned product lines in collaboration with all departments.
• Negotiates and ensures renewal and collects vendor rebate payments for assigned vendors.
• Negotiates terms and conditions for assigned vendor agreements.
• Develops cost methodology for assigned vendors.
• Develops category and subcategory plans for category reviews.
• Addresses escalated issues related to price level, mis-delivery, branch authorization and partner collaboration as it relates to our vendors relationship. 
• Leads collaboration between all departments in reviews and vendor performance planning.
• Leads product line conversions and vendor consolidation processes.

Non-essential Functions

• Participates in executive level vendor meetings and internal Border States Vendor Scorecard meetings. 
• Responsible for vendor product training.  
• Provides input for the development and execution of training initiatives to fit category strategies. 
• Supports and drives team and category KPI's.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or designate.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in sales, category management, product management, industrial distribution, technical or business degree and 3 years equivalent in work experience required.
• 2+ years prior supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of electrical, utility, industrial or communication products and systems preferred. 
• Knowledge of the SAP materials management system and its reporting capabilities preferred. 
• Strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint), Internet, Email and SAP software.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication, reading, and analytical skills. 
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and negotiate. 
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive and engaged.
• Ability to perform all aspects of the job accurately and efficiently as possible while providing exceptional customer service. 

Physical Requirements

Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%

• Lift from Waist:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
• Lift from Floor:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Frequently
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Fre