Darigold, Inc.: Sr. Customer Business Partner – Vendor Managed Inventory

As a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) Business Partner, reporting to the Customer Business Partner Manager, you will provide superior customer service for our retail customer Costco, who entrusts Darigold to write and fulfill orders.A VMI Partner is part of Darigold’s Customer Service organization and works directly with our largest Consumer Products (CP) customers, ensuring they receive product in a manner that drives sales at optimal service levels for both the customer and Darigold.

This position is entrusted to proactively meet key performance metrics like building and managing customer orders, independently from the customer, to meet on time and in full performance delivery standards, inventory in stock targets and Darigold delivery efficiency and effectiveness targets.

The role will also assist in volume forecasting, planning, with both the sales team and customer, and will provide sales, inventory, delivery, and order fulfillment reporting and analysis.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Manage Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)Proactively meet key internal and external metrics, to include, but no limited to:Full pallets and full truckloads efficiencyOn time deliveryIn-stock statusDelivery route optimizationVolume growthCost managementUse strong quantitative and qualitative skills to identify areas of improvement opportunity to lower costs, increase efficiencies and support levels for our largest customers.Develop system tools for data mining and analysis that allow Darigold to determine order size, inventory levels, production schedules, and logistics load schedules.Through ongoing engagement and recurring site visits, build relationships with key customer contacts to ensure product acceptance at point of delivery and timely issues feedback.Develop and manage on-line database that defines every customer’s physical location and then build allocation models that ensure optimization between orders, production runs, and delivery frequency.Using self-generated data and analysis, develop strong collaborative relationships with internal customers.Possess personal communication and presentation skills necessary to crisply present relevant information to Senior Leadership.Meet and exceed customer requirements for out of stock and 99%+ service levels.Drive process and communication with Sales, Operations, and Logistics to ensure on time product delivery.Responsible to proactively develop automated system tools to monitor data flow and identify outliers, allowing for immediate issue resolution before it becomes a major concern.Responsible to define and manage inventory levels and throughput to ensure a quick, cash-to-cash cycle.Actively partner with Finance, Sales, Logistics, and Operations to determine the lowest total cost solution to support key customers.Directly initiates action required to resolve obstacles between customers’ requirements and Darigold’s ability to satisfy them.Manage seasonal SKU activity and plan for inventory buildup rates.Provide order fulfillment backup support for the Customer Business Partner team for EDI and Web Portal customers.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Detailed oriented.Strong analytical skills.Apply critical thinking skills to analyze and resolve complex problems.Skilled in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook) and ERP systems.Work independently while contributing to a team environment.Understand Enterprise business relationships and understand how role impacts others.Develop business relationships with internal customers.Prioritize multiple assignments at the same time and meet established deadlines.Ability to multi-task.Proactively identify and act on problems before issues occur.Provide creative solutions to business problems.Strong follow-up skills.Strong written and verbal communication skills.Effectively communicate with various levels of management in a professional manner.Demonstrated organization skills.Develop and enhance knowledge of customers and markets.Flexibility for weekend and holiday work as needed.

Education, Experience and Certifications:Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Finance, Operations, or Supply Chain required1-3 years of experience in Planning, Forecasting, Finance, or Supply Chain preferred.5-7 years of experience with Customer logistics, replenishment, or Customer Service requiredDarigold is known for delivering fresh, high quality, value-added dairy products to people, & customer-driven solutions to organizations, all around the globe.

We are the 5th largest dairy Co-Op in the US & one of the largest privately held organizations headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

We produce over 10 billion pounds of milk every year!

Since 1918, our Farmer-owners have taken great pride in producing nutritious dairy products with unsurpassed quality.

Our work environment provides a results driven, collaborative space, with open & transparent communication, & a culture of celebrating everyone’s wins.

Our mid-size private business model provides the ability to have dynamic involvement at all levels of our organization.

We are also proud to say we offer an excellent Total Compensation Package & a few other unique perks to our industry!Our vision at Darigold is to Lead Dairy Forward – achieving that vision requires cultivating and supporting a team with varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

We are committed to providing a workplace based on mutual respect where all employees feel included and can bring their best and authentic selves to work every day.We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer.

We welcome all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, creed, religion, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.As a condition of employment applicants offered a role will be required to successfully pass our pre-employment background screen, receive a negative drug screen result & confirm eligibility to work in the U.S.

We participate in E-Verify please follow the links for details, English / Spanish & view our Right to Work Statement, English / Spanish.

EducationRequiredBachelors or better in Logistics /Supply Chain Management or related fieldEqual Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThe contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor???s legal duty to furnish information.

41 CFR 60-1.35(c)