The Supplier Negotiation Specialist plays a key role in supporting the organization's efforts to recover value, mitigate losses, and strengthen supplier accountability. Responsible for preparing for and participating in supplier negotiations, with a focus on recovery of costs, credits, or other commercial remedies related to performance issues, contractual deviations, or disputes. Working closely with cross-functional teams (e.g., procurement, legal, finance, and operations), contribute to negotiation strategy development, participate in structured role-play exercises, and engage directly in live supplier discussions. Requires strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills, along with the ability to operate in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Maintain quality and service standards of the team in support of the contracted Service Level Agreements. Identify, recommend, and implement operational efficiencies to drive continuous improvement in the execution of processes.
Key Responsibilities:
Preparation & Strategy Development
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to gather and analyze relevant supplier data, contracts, and performance metrics.
Support the development of negotiation strategies, including objectives, fallback positions, and risk assessments.
Prepare briefing materials, negotiation playbooks, and supporting documentation.
Role-Play & Simulation Exercises
Actively participate in structured role-play sessions to simulate supplier negotiations.
Provide constructive feedback and insights to improve team readiness and negotiation effectiveness.
Continuously refine negotiation approaches based on learnings from simulations.
Supplier Negotiations & Recovery Execution
Participate in and support supplier negotiations focused on cost recovery, claims resolution, or commercial adjustments.
Maintain a professional and firm approach to ensure alignment with organizational goals while preserving supplier relationships where appropriate.
Track negotiation progress, outcomes, and financial recovery metrics.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with legal, finance, and procurement teams to ensure alignment on contractual interpretations and recovery strategies.
Communicate negotiation updates, risks, and outcomes to key stakeholders in a clear and timely manner.
Continuous Improvement
Identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improving supplier performance and recovery processes.
Contribute to the development of best practices, templates, and tools for negotiation and supplier management.
Role Requirement:
| Location | Des Moines, IA |