Senior Customer & Supply Chain Specialist

Position Summary

The Senior Customer & Supply Chain Executive will lead, develop, and support our business with our customers. This role is responsible for building strong customer partnerships, identifying growth opportunities, and translating customer insights into action plans that deliver profitable business results. The role also takes ownership of the flow of product behind each account, from accurate order entry and inventory oversight to coordinating truck and rail deliveries, so that customer commitments are met at the lowest total cost.

This role is best suited for a proactive, self-directed business builder and problem-solver who is energized by growing the business, comfortable working through ambiguity, and disciplined in using data to guide decisions. The ideal candidate combines strong commercial instincts, sound analytical capability, and interpersonal savvy to influence customers, suppliers, internal partners, and cross-functional teams.

The Senior Customer & Supply Chain Executive will work closely with customer Replenishment Managers, Buyers, and Merchandise Directors to anticipate needs, exceed expectations, and maintain a long-term strategic partnership. Internally, this role collaborates daily with Sales, Supply Chain, Logistics, Warehouses, Accounting, Customer Service, and Operations.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Partnership & Growth

• Develops and maintains strong, mutually beneficial customer partnerships, building relationships with key influencers across multiple levels.

• Develops and executes insight-led customer strategies that drive profitable growth, using category insights, customer performance trends, shopper data, and internal business priorities.

• Understands customer dynamics, priorities, and initiatives, then proactively develops win-win strategies that unlock growth for both the customer and LinkOne Ingredient Solutions, LLC.

• Gains authorization and secondary display support for new products, promotions, and drive periods.

• Organizes and maintains customer contract and pricing programs, ensuring execution aligns with plan and communicating deviations or risks to leadership.

Order, Inventory & Pipeline Management

• Enters and validates customer orders promptly and accurately, ensuring all required information is captured.

• Maintains up-to-date inventory positions and communicates changes or needs to the sales team in real time, balancing adequate supply against cost and carrying risk.

• Forecasts future demand and supply challenges based on historical trends, seasonality, and operational constraints, including factors outside of the company's control.

• Keeps pipeline reports accurate and current; anticipates shortages, delays, and operational risks before they occur.

• Monitors sales, availability, forecast accuracy, and strategic plan performance; identifies risks, opportunities, headwinds, and tailwinds; and develops action plans to improve results.

Logistics & Delivery Coordination

• Coordinates product deliveries to customers and third-party storage locations, ensuring program requirements are met while optimizing freight and margins.

• Manages, orders, and tracks [railcars / truck shipments] according to demand and contracted shipping windows; prevents detention and demurrage and adjusts plans proactively.

• Monitors movement across truck and rail to ensure accurate, on-time delivery performance and quick resolution of operational issues.

• Collaborates with internal and external supply chain partners to support service levels, new item launches, promotional events, and issue resolution.

Financial Accuracy & Cost Control

• Accurately accrues vendor charges for freight, storage, and other movement-related costs, with a strong understanding of product flow from origin to destination.

• Ensures clean documentation and precise cost entry for all activities influencing margin and delivery performance.

• Aligns customer activities with internal business objectives including profitability, market analysis, growth, and capacity utilization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication

• Leads communication of customer plans, business results, account updates, and strategic initiatives with internal and external stakeholders.

• Partners with Brand, Operations, Shopper Marketing, Category Management, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Accounting, Customer Planning, and Consumer Insights to execute customer priorities.

• Builds and maintains positive relationships with suppliers, customers, warehouses, and logistics partners, acting as a key liaison for day-to-day operations.

• Stays current with competitive marketplace developments and supports continuous improvement in order flow, documentation, freight optimization, and operational accuracy; shares best practices and process improvements.

Key Behavioral Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to achieve specific objectives and outcomes, take ownership of key initiatives, and independently drive work forward with urgency and accountability.

• Ability to remain agile while supporting established project objectives, checkpoints, and timelines, adjusting approach quickly as customer needs, business priorities, and growth opportunities evolve.

• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, influence across levels, and navigate complex customer and internal relationships.

• Strong financial acumen and analytical capability, with the ability to interpret performance trends, identify risks and opportunities, and translate insights into strategies that drive growth.

• Ability to think ahead, anticipate risk, and solve problems in a fast-moving environment.

Leadership Competencies

• Adapts approach and attitude in real time, according to the changing demands of the situation.

• Creates a climate where people are motivated to do their best.

• Holds self and others accountable.

Qualifications and Preferred Experience

• BA/BS in Business, or a related field required.

• Minimum of [3] years of experience managing, expanding, and growing strategic accounts and customer relationships in the consumer packaged goods or food industry, with experience developing and executing annual business plans.

• Supply chain experience, preferably in the food or pet food industry, including managing inventory, truck and rail logistics, vendor accruals, and service metrics.

• Experience managing P&L, budgets, trade, and customer financials with a focus on profitable growth.

• Strong analytical skills, including experience leveraging syndicated data, category insights, customer performance trends, and business reporting to identify opportunities and recommend action.

• Excellent presentation, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to negotiate, influence others, and communicate data-backed recommendations with confidence.

• Highly organized, proactive, and comfortable independently managing priorities, timelines, customer needs, and growth opportunities in a fast-paced environment.

• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and Word required.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Profitable growth and strong, trusted relationships with key customer contacts.

• Accurate and timely order, inventory, and accrual management.

• Smooth, on-time execution of delivery activities, with low detention and demurrage and optimized freight spend.

• Effective promotional and new item execution supported by reliable supply.

• Positive feedback from internal teams and visible improvements in efficiency and cost control.

• Proactive identification and resolution of supply, demand, or logistical roadblocks.