Operations Specialist
Date: Jan 7, 2026
Location: LAKE FOREST, IL, US, 60045-5202
Company: Grainger Businesses
Work Location Type: Hybrid
Req Number 326432
This position is not eligible for any form of sponsorship now or in the future. Individuals requiring sponsorship (e.g. OPT or H1B visa status) should not apply. Only individuals authorized to work in the United States now and for the foreseeable future will be considered for this position.
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 maintenance, 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 $65,900.00 to $109,800.00.
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
Grainger is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Operations Specialist to support Corporate Affairs operations by driving process standardization, managing vendor coordination and invoicing, and creating impactful content that enhances communication across the organization. This role combines operational excellence with creative expertise, requiring strong organizational skills, advanced presentation capabilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The Operations Specialist will collaborate with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure seamless execution of tasks, maintain accurate documentation, and support project management initiatives that improve efficiency and consistency. Ideal candidates thrive in fast-paced environments, excel at managing multiple priorities, and demonstrate adaptability, initiative, and sound judgment. This position requires hybrid work location 3 days per week in the offce at our corporate HQ in Lake Forest, IL.
You Will
- Applies project management principles and governance to ensure consistent delivery and compliance.
- Maintains project plans, schedules, and risk logs to keep timelines on track and provide visibility into issues.
- Communicates clearly and produces concise reports to enable quick, informed decisions.
- Manages risks and issues proactively to protect scope, schedule, and quality.
- Uses collaboration and productivity tools to organize work and share updates efficiently.
- Facilitates alignment and coordinates internal and external partners to remove obstacles and maintain progress.
- Executes change strategies—communications, training, readiness checks—to drive adoption and business value.
- Analyzes data and success metrics to validate outcomes and recommend improvements.
You Have
- Bachelor's Degree required
- 2+ years related experience
- Proficiency using Microsoft Office products speciically MS PowerPoint.
- Project management principles, governance standards, and compliance requirements to ensure consistent delivery.
- Risk management and issue resolution practices for maintaining scope, schedule, and quality.
- Problem-solving and critical thinking to identify, assess, and resolve risks and issues effectively.
- Influence and engage stakeholders without formal authority to maintain alignment and remove obstacles.
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.