Associate Buyer at Sherwin-Williams in Cleveland, OH

Associate Buyer

Location: Cleveland, OH, United States

Responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing assigned product categories, including identifying and acquiring new products in collaboration with Marketing. Negotiates with national and regional suppliers to secure competitive product costs, favorable payment terms, advertising and promotional funding, vendor credits, freight considerations, rebate programs, show incentives, and other financial agreements that improve category profitability and sales performance. Evaluates supplier proposals, conducts cost analyses, and develops internal product costing structures to support pricing, margin, and merchandising objectives.

Maintains strong supplier relationships while holding vendors accountable for service, delivery, quality, and compliance requirements. Supports category and program management responsibilities, including assortment planning, product lifecycle management, inventory alignment, and execution of promotional initiatives. Serves as a primary liaison among suppliers, internal teams, stores, and customers to resolve issues, maintain operational continuity, and drive profitable category growth through effective supplier partnerships and strategic sourcing.

The role will focus on developing new and optimizing existing sourcing strategies, improving procurement processes, and establishing performance measures to evaluate Procurement’s effectiveness and business impact. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong relationship-building skills, business acumen, and a customer-focused mindset while fostering continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration.

Procurement Strategy

Develop and execute short- and long-term procurement strategies aligned with enterprise objectives.

Partner with business leaders to create category strategies that reduce costs, mitigate risk, and support profitable growth.

Support strategic sourcing initiatives and complex, high-value procurement projects.

Identify opportunities to improve supplier performance, reduce costs, and increase operational efficiency.

Maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers and ensure alignment with business needs, service expectations, and risk-mitigation strategies.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Impact

Develop strategic partnerships with Finance, Marketing, Category Development, Pricing, Store Operations, In-Store Experience, and store teams to identify cost-saving and value-creation opportunities.

Establish performance metrics to evaluate supplier results, category performance, and Procurement’s impact on the broader business.

Align procurement and category strategies with profitability, working capital, inventory, and other business objectives.

Characteristics

Collaborative and team-oriented, with the ability to work effectively across functional departments and prioritize overall company objectives.

Ability to interpret complex information and communicate clear facts, financial implications, and recommended actions.

Strong critical-thinking, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Proactive and results-oriented, with the ability to overcome obstacles and manage projects from initiation through completion.

Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, professionalism, and accountability.

Maintains high standards of accuracy, thoroughness, and quality.

Ability to manage multiple priorities, business needs, and deadlines.

Flexible and comfortable operating in situations where information may be incomplete or priorities may change.

Specific Job Responsibilities

Manage assigned North American product categories, including Painter Tools, Drywall Tools, and Drywall Compounds, representing approximately $60 million in annual category volume.

Negotiate product costs and establish internal product costing to support pricing, margin, and merchandising objectives.

Ensure products and suppliers meet established quality, insurance, legal, and compliance requirements.

Negotiate vendor terms and supply agreements with national and regional suppliers.

Identify and evaluate new vendor opportunities within assigned categories.

Collaborate with suppliers to maintain service, delivery, quality, and compliance standards.

Identify and develop secondary suppliers for targeted product categories to reduce supply risk.

Coordinate with Inventory Rebuyers to establish appropriate inventory levels and resolve supply chain disruptions.

Manage product assortments and product lifecycles in partnership with Marketing and other internal teams.

Partner with Marketing and suppliers to identify products for promotional events, including Blue Bucket, Pro Week, Pro Buy, and social media offers.

Secure promotional funding, rebates, vendor credits, and other supplier support to improve category sales and profitability.

Serve as a liaison among suppliers, internal teams, stores, and customers to resolve issues and maintain operational continuity.

Required:

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum of eight (8) years post college experience

Strong decision-making ability and organizational skills

Must be an initiative-taker with an ability to work with minimal direction/supervision in a challenging environment.

History of increasing responsibility with impressive performance and focus on sourcing, product optimization, cost savings and product availability

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Word, and Power Point.

Preferred:

Minimum of three (3) years successful Sourcing, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, or related experience.

Demonstrated management capabilities, especially related to leading strategic initiatives, driving performance, leading change efforts, and producing superior results

History of increasing responsibility with powerful performance and focus on security of supply and cost optimization.

Strong written and verbal people skills

Proficient with MicroStrategy and Microsoft Office Tools.

At Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:

Life … with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being
Career … with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution
Connection … with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities
It's all here for you... let's Create Your Possible

At Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commute—it matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at http://www.myswbenefits.com/. Click on “Candidates” to view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.

Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.

Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.

As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-Williams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.

Please be aware, Sherwin-Williams recruiting team members will never request a candidate to provide a payment, ask for financial information, or sensitive personal information like national identification numbers, date of birth, or bank account numbers during the application process.