Vice President Vendor Relations

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Sonepar Canada is an independent family‑owned company with global market leadership in the business‑to‑business distribution of electrical, industrial and safety products and related solutions. In Canada, we are represented by 6 locally managed electrical and industrial distributors and have over 100+ locations with coverage in 9 provinces.

We are a proud member of the Sonepar Group, the world’s largest privately‑held electrical distributor. The Sonepar Group is present in more than 40 countries with over 45,000 employees.

To explore and learn more about Sonepar opportunities, please visit

What’s In It For You?

You will be joining a market leader with over 40 years of experience to help you elevate your potential.

You will be working for the world’s #1 privately held business to business distributor of electrical products and related solutions.

A chance to get involved in the forever growing electrical industry.

We house the largest inventory to better service our customers and deliver on sales commitments.

An opportunity for career development across many business departments within our organization.

Scope of Position
The Vice President, Vendor Relations & Financial Programs is responsible for setting the strategic direction and leadership of vendor relationship management and financial rebate programs across the organization. This role oversees the negotiation and optimization of vendor agreements, including rebate structures, terms, and conditions, while ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and profitability targets. The VP will lead a team and focus on driving data‑driven decision‑making, financial modeling, and performance analysis to maximize vendor value and minimize risk.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive vendor relations strategy aligned with corporate goals.

Provide leadership and mentorship to the Vendor Relations team, including Financial Analyst and Financial Rebate Analyst.

Establish KPIs and performance metrics for vendor programs and financial analysis.

Negotiate high‑value vendor agreements, including year‑end rebates, pricing structures, and terms.

Evaluate new vendor opportunities, investment levels, and potential conflicts to ensure strategic alignment.

Build and maintain executive‑level relationships with key vendors.

Oversee financial modeling and profitability analysis of vendor programs.

Ensure accurate forecasting and reporting of rebate income and vendor‑related financial performance.

Collaborate with Finance and Operations to align vendor strategies with budgetary objectives.

Implement controls to minimize financial and operational risks associated with vendor agreements.

Monitor compliance with contractual obligations and corporate policies.

Partner with Purchasing, Operations, and Branch leadership to ensure vendor strategies support business needs.

Represent the organization in high‑level negotiations and industry forums.

Drive process improvements in vendor management and rebate tracking systems.

Leverage analytics to identify trends and opportunities for cost optimization.

Requirements

Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in vendor relations, procurement, or financial management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field; MBA preferred.

Strong knowledge of financial analysis, rebate structures, and vendor negotiations.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and financial modeling tools.

Leadership & Decision‑Making

High degree of autonomy in decision‑making with broad organizational impact.

Ability to analyze complex financial and operational data to inform strategic decisions

Knowledge of Microsoft Office required.

We offer a competitive salary, plus a full set of benefits, including:

Flexible benefits program allowing you to choose from options that best fit you and your dependents’ needs. Benefit options include:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Spending Account & RRSP matching.

Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Discounts and a career path.

Regardless of your benefits program, you will receive company paid Life…