Supplier Relationship Representative

Supplier Relationship Representative 3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars 195 Prairie Lake Rd, East Dundee, IL 60118 $25 an hour - Full-time Apet Inc. 5 reviews $25 an hour - Full-time About The Role We are seeking a Supplier Relationship Representative to professionally communicate with vendors, improve quality performance, and ensure consistent supply to support our Freshwater Segment. This role is ideal for someone with strong interpersonal skills and the desire to travel. Travel will entail portraying company's best interests and values at annual conferences and inspections of suppliers' facilities. Required experience and skills include strong written & verbal communication, attention to detail, quality assurance, and supply chain operations. Preferred expertise in Plants, experience as a hobbyist, and/or willingness & ability to learn technical aspects of the plant business through hands-on-training & experience. This position plays a critical role in maintaining mutually beneficial relations with suppliers, ensuring performance, identifying risks, and supporting operational continuity. This individual requires creative and critical thinking to time manage working closely with internal teams and external producers, having the ability to clearly convey information between the two. Responsibilities Develop and maintain professional, productive relationships with suppliers and producers. Travel domestically and internationally as required, including at least one overseas trip and one trip to Florida annually. Serve as a primary point of contact for supplier performance, inquiries, quality expectations, and corrective actions as described by Aquatics Health Team. Actively seeking new suppliers and opportunities to expand business. Ensure supplier compliance with internal policies and applicable regulations, supporting adherence to company standards, values, and operational procedures. Monitor supply availability and identify potential constraints/risks while coordinating with external suppliers & internal teams to mitigate supply disruptions. Learn & communicate freshwater species' standards, handling requirements, and quality benchmarks through structured training. Preferred Skills 1 year or less in purchasing, customer service, ichthyology or another related field that combines economics, communication, and/or science within supply chain context. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, analyze data for continuous improvement initiatives, and implement effective corrective actions. Proven experience interacting with suppliers, vendors, or producers/manufacturers, preferably within the aquatics, pet, or animal-care industry. Other related fields may apply. Strong background working with quality assurance teams to communicate the implementation of new practices and methodologies. Background in identifying and forecasting supply limitations, production capabilities, and relaying risks to management. Multilingual (Preferred) Join us if you're passionate about building strong supplier partnerships that elevate product quality while driving operational excellence! This role is perfect for a motivated professional eager to make a tangible impact on our supply chain success through innovative thinking and rigorous adherence to industry standards. Apet considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, national origin, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, military status, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal law. Apet also provides "reasonable accommodations" to qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and any applicable state and local laws.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$25.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Willingness to travel: 25% (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person