Lead, Customer Supply Chain - Kroger

Job ID: 18771 

Job Title: Lead, Customer Supply Chain - Kroger

Location: Cincinnati, OH or Portland, OR (in market)

Travel: Up to 20% domestic travel; local travel to customer as needed

Reports To: Sr. Manager, Customer Supply Chain 

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands like Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie® and Yankee Candle® - and 24,000 talented teammates around the world. Our culture is built on values in action: Integrity, Teamwork, Passion for Winning, Ownership, and Leadership. We work together to win, grow, and make a real impact—supported by a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative environment where you can be your best, every day. 

Job Summary

The Lead, Customer Supply Chain - Kroger owns day-to-day supply chain execution for one of Newell Brands’ strategic retail partnerships. Through Kroger’s vendor-managed replenishment program, this role manages ordering on Newell’s behalf and makes decisions that directly influence Kroger’s in-stock performance and Newell’s service commitments across product categories.
As Newell’s in-market representative, this person connects Kroger’s replenishment and operations teams with Newell’s Sales, Demand Planning and Supply Chain partners. The Lead converts customer insights into action, improves inventory and service performance, and strengthens the replenishment partnership.
The ideal candidate combines strong replenishment judgment, analytical capability and customer influence to deliver measurable results. Success requires decisive action, disciplined follow-through and alignment across customer and internal teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Supply Chain Execution

• Manage and execute ordering on Newell’s behalf within Kroger’s replenishment systems, using insights to influence cross-functional actions that improve fill rate, on-time delivery, in-stock performance and inventory health across product categories.
• Monitor order patterns, inventory levels and in-stock performance to detect emerging risks and initiate corrective action before service is affected.
• Evaluate order recommendations and resolve issues related to lead times, minimum order quantities, item setup and replenishment parameters.
• Assess base, promotional, seasonal, display and lifecycle forecasts to validate demand assumptions and prioritize replenishment actions.
• Review inventory availability for promotions, seasonal events and resets; identify risks; and coordinate with internal teams to align replenishment actions.
• Recommend item-level actions that balance service, working capital and exposure to excess or obsolete inventory.
• Translate scorecards and performance reporting into clear root-cause insights and customer-facing recommendations.
• Interpret Kroger supply chain policy changes, clarify requirements, coordinate needed actions with internal partners and drive timely implementation to reduce compliance risk.

Customer Partnership

• Lead alignment between Newell’s internal teams and Kroger’s replenishment and operations teams to set priorities, drive decisions and strengthen execution.
• Partner with Kroger to uncover operational opportunities and coordinate actions that support mutually beneficial supply chain results.
• Advance continuous improvement by identifying root causes, aligning corrective action plans and establishing follow-up mechanisms to support sustained service and inventory performance.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across Kroger Planning, Replenishment and Distribution Center Operations teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 5+ years of supply chain, customer-facing operations or planning experience in a consumer products environment.
• Demonstrated ability to operate within customer replenishment systems and make independent ordering decisions with measurable business impact.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, including advanced Excel and experience using business intelligence or analytics tools to turn complex data into decisions.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across customer and internal teams and present confidently to senior leaders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities through disciplined planning, communication and execution in a complex, cross-functional environment.
• Proven experience using digital, automation or AI-enabled tools to improve productivity, accelerate insight generation and streamline repeatable workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Kroger or grocery channel supply chain background.
• Vendor-managed replenishment program leadership.
• Experience working across multiple business units or product categories simultaneously.
• SAP proficiency.

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. We are focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments. Newell Brands and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers and comply with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.