Merchandising & Supplier Management Rotational Program

Work Location Type: Hybrid  

Req Number 322181

About Grainger:

W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products and solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Known for its commitment to service and award-winning culture, the Company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models. In the High-Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers approximately 2 million maintenances, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, including technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment, Zoro.com offers customers access to more than 14 million products, and MonotaRO.com offers more than 24 million products. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.  

 Compensation

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $64,000 to $74,000.

Rewards and Benefits:

With benefits starting on day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.

For additional information and details regarding Grainger’s benefits, please click on the link below:

https://experience100.ehr.com/grainger/Home/Tools-Resources/Key-Resources/New-Hire

The pay range provided above is not a guarantee of compensation.  The range reflects the potential base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills.   

The anticipated compensation range described above is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above. 

Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.  

Position Details:

The Merchandising & Supplier Management (MSM) Rotation Program is designed to provide recent college graduates a broad cross-functional learning experience. The program consists of an orientation and three subsequent rotational experiences where individuals will gain working exposure across Assortment Design & Execution, Supplier Relationship Management, Reporting & Analytics and Continuous Improvement. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the business and develop relationships with senior leaders at every juncture. Each rotation will provide an intentional set of learning experiences. Upon completion of the program, you should have a firm foundation of our merchandising principles, assortment strategy, methods to cultivate supplier relationships, product information governance and how they all tie together to deliver world class customer experiences.  This is a full-time role with the program duration lasting approximately 36 months.  Upon successful program completion, participants will have the opportunity to continue their career at Grainger in a full-time role. where they will be able to apply their learnings for success within MSM. 

Experience Gained:

• Rapid development in various business functions through meaningful and impactful work
• Opportunity to get formal learning and experiential learning in first two years of your career
• Preparation to enter a permanent role within the Merchandising & Supplier Management organization upon completion of the program
• Networking opportunities with senior leadership within all functions
• Cross functional experience that sets participants up for long-term success at Grainger
• Unique opportunity to bond and build relationships with other peers in the program
• Experience working on cross-functional teams
• Competitive compensation and career exploration
• Provide support to Managers within each rotation with activities such as data analysis and report building
• Review internal & external customer feedback and implement changes for improving customer experience
• Communicate internally & externally status of work or projects, including communication with supplier base.
• Manage assigned projects to completion and complete daily tasks on time
• Work with peers and various business partners supporting overall merchandising initiatives
• Participate in improvement opportunities and provide constructive feedback
• Interact and develop rapport with a diversified population of business leaders
• Other role responsibilities specific to the rotation

You Have:

• Currently enrolled in a college or university working towards a bachelor’s degree or have successfully completed an undergraduate degree
• Expected graduation December 2025 – June 2026
• Demonstrated curiosity and research skills
• Ability to build strong relationships
• Strong communication/presentation skills – oral, written, and active listening
• Financial acumen with demonstrated intellectual and analytical capabilities
• High integrity in all business dealings
• Strong time management, planning / prioritizing and organizational skills
• Proven ability to enhance business knowledge or leadership skills through internships, on-campus involvement
• Relevant work experience in supplier management or merchandising
• Ability to multi-task efficiently and adapt within a rapidly changing environment
• Intermediate level of computer skills in Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to resolve conflict
• Critical thinking and negotiating skills
• Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate on work output
• Global mindset to thrive in a diverse culture and environment
• Results oriented and ability to make decisions
• Adaptability and ability to continually grow and develop
• Initial Program Locations and Relocation Requirement: The program locations will be Lake Forest, IL and Chicago IL.
• This role may include travel (up to 10%)
• Full-time
• No visa sponsorships provided now or in the future
  
  

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.