Supplier Compliance Manager

Excelligence Learning Corporation is a leading developer, manufacturer, and distributor of educational products, classroom furnishings, teaching resources, and early childhood solutions. Through our family of trusted brands, we support educators, caregivers, schools, and institutions by providing innovative products that inspire learning and development for children of all ages.

We are committed to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and building strong partnerships throughout our global supply chain. We are seeking a Supplier Compliance Manager to help drive supplier performance, accountability, and supply chain efficiency across our organization.

Position Summary

The Supplier Compliance Manager is a critical operational and strategic leader within the Operations organization. This role is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the supplier lifecycle-from onboarding and compliance management to performance monitoring, logistics coordination, and scorecard reporting.

The successful candidate will partner closely with Merchandising, Sourcing, Purchasing, Finance, Quality Assurance, Warehouse Operations, and Logistics teams to ensure supplier partners consistently meet service expectations, compliance standards, and contractual obligations. This position plays a key role in improving supplier performance, reducing supply chain costs, increasing operational efficiency, and supporting Excelligence's growth initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Supplier Performance Management

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve supplier scorecards that measure key performance indicators including:
• On-time shipping
• Fill rate performance
• Inbound labeling compliance
• Product quality
• Scheduling compliance
• Publish quarterly supplier scorecards and communicate results to internal stakeholders and supplier partners.
• Analyze performance trends and identify risks, improvement opportunities, and systemic issues.
• Establish supplier performance tiers and accountability standards.
• Lead corrective action initiatives and supplier performance improvement plans.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary operational contact for assigned suppliers.
• Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with key suppliers to review performance and establish improvement plans.
• Manage supplier onboarding activities, including:
• Compliance requirements
• Routing guides
• Labeling standards
• Supplier agreements
• EDI and systems setup
• Maintain supplier records, communication logs, and contact databases.

Chargeback Administration

• Administer supplier chargeback programs in accordance with company policies and supplier agreements.
• Issue, track, and reconcile chargebacks resulting from supplier non-compliance.
• Investigate disputed chargebacks and communicate findings to suppliers.
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate accounting and recovery processes.
• Analyze chargeback trends and recommend policy enhancements.

Shipping and Fill Rate Compliance

• Monitor supplier fill rates at both purchase order and line-item levels.
• Investigate shortages, substitutions, cancellations, and late shipments.
• Track supplier adherence to purchase order ship dates and delivery commitments.
• Develop corrective action plans for suppliers not meeting service expectations.
• Partner with Purchasing to improve purchase order planning and reduce inefficient ordering practices.
• Monitor invoice approval timelines and escalate internal delays that may impact supplier production schedules.
• Communicate annual and seasonal inventory forecasts to suppliers to support production planning and shipment consolidation.
• Escalate chronic supplier performance concerns and support alternative sourcing strategies when required.

Inbound Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Ensure supplier compliance with inbound labeling requirements, including carton labels, pallet labels, GS1-128 standards, and distribution center requirements.
• Audit inbound shipments and document compliance violations.
• Coordinate with Warehouse Operations to identify recurring supplier issues.
• Maintain and distribute supplier compliance manuals, labeling guides, and operating standards.
• Monitor inbound appointment scheduling compliance.
• Support supplier audits, inspections, and corrective action initiatives.
• Ensure quality standards are clearly communicated and consistently enforced.

Freight Coordination and Appointment Management

• Coordinate inbound delivery schedules with suppliers, carriers, freight forwarders, and warehouse operations teams.
• Optimize shipment consolidation opportunities to reduce freight costs and improve container utilization.
• Manage dock appointment scheduling processes and resolve scheduling conflicts.
• Monitor supplier appointment adherence and incorporate performance into scorecards and chargeback programs.
• Partner with warehouse operations to improve inbound receiving efficiency and reduce detention and demurrage costs.
• Serve as the primary internal contact for freight forwarder performance management.
• Track freight partner KPIs including:
• Pickup timeliness
• Booking accuracy
• Supplier responsiveness
• Service level compliance

Compliance Programs and Supplier Accountability

• Develop and administer supplier compliance programs and standards.
• Lead supplier performance improvement plans (PIPs) for underperforming suppliers.
• Maintain supplier compliance documentation, audit records, routing guides, and agreements.
• Provide supplier performance data to support sourcing, procurement, and strategic business decisions.

Reporting and Analytics

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools that provide visibility into supplier performance.
• Deliver monthly and quarterly performance summaries to leadership.
• Utilize ERP, WMS, and business intelligence platforms to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Conduct ad hoc analysis related to supplier performance, supply chain efficiency, and cost reduction initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Logistics, or a related field required.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in supplier management, procurement, supply chain operations, logistics, or related fields.
• Experience managing supplier scorecards, compliance programs, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Experience with warehouse operations, inbound logistics, and supplier compliance programs preferred.
• Experience within retail, wholesale distribution, consumer products, manufacturing, or e-commerce environments preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar platforms.
• Experience utilizing reporting and business intelligence tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to drive accountability while maintaining productive supplier relationships.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled business tools and emerging technologies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role does not have direct reports but is expected to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence supplier performance across multiple departments and external partners.

Working Conditions

• Full-time onsite position located in Gardner, Kansas.
• Standard office environment with occasional travel to supplier locations, distribution centers, trade shows, and industry events.
• Extended hours may be required during peak business periods, supplier audits, international supplier meetings, or critical operational initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators

Success in this role will be measured by performance against the following metrics:

• Supplier On-Time Shipping Rate 95%
• Supplier Fill Rate 98%
• Inbound Labeling Compliance Rate 99%
• Quarterly Scorecard Publication Timeliness = 100%
• Chargeback Resolution Cycle Time < 10 Business Days
• Supplier Scheduling Compliance 97%
• Quality Defect Rate < 1% of Units Received
• Quarterly Business Reviews Completed for 100% of Tier 1 Suppliers
• Annual Supplier Compliance Cost Avoidance > $100,000
• Chargeback Recovery Rate 95%

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Excelligence Learning Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees and applicants are treated with respect and dignity. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.