Product Channel Manager – Commodities

PACE Supply•Sacramento, CA

19h•$150,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

PACE Supply is seeking a Product Channel Manager – Commodities to lead product channel strategy, vendor alignment, assortment direction, and margin performance for our commodity categories — including pipe, valves, and fittings, copper tube, carbon and stainless steel pipe, brass, PVC/CPVC, PEX, cast iron soil pipe, and related consumables — across all markets. Commodity categories carry real price volatility and inventory risk. This role owns the cost and pricing discipline behind them: tracking mill and producer cost movement, positioning inventory ahead of announced increases, protecting margin through the swing, and giving branches and regional sales teams the pricing guidance they need to quote with confidence. This role serves as a strategic partner and an extension of the division — connecting product strategy, vendor programs, pricing support, inventory planning, and field execution with Division Managers, regional leadership, and regional sales teams. This is a regional office position based in the Oakland, Sacramento, or Stockton area, with remote flexibility and periodic travel to branches, distribution centers, vendor facilities, and industry events. PACE Supply is 100% employee-owned. When you join PACE, you become an employee-owner with a stake in the company's success.

Requirements

High school diploma and Associate's degree
5–7 years of wholesale distribution experience
Experience in product/category management, purchasing, or commodity product sales
Working knowledge of commodity product categories — pipe, valves and fittings, copper, steel, brass, PVC/CPVC, PEX — including vendors and applications
Demonstrated ability to analyze sales, cost, and margin data and translate it into actionable recommendations
Experience managing vendor relationships and vendor programs
Ability to influence and partner across divisions, regions, and branch teams without direct authority
Computer proficiency including Microsoft products, with advanced Excel skills
Excellent time management and proven ability to meet deadlines while managing multiple priorities
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills at all levels of the organization
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or a related field
More than 7 years in wholesale distribution with direct product/category or channel management responsibility in commodities or PVF
Experience managing price-volatile categories, including forward-buy strategy and cost increase pass-through
Experience supporting a multi-branch, multi-region distribution network
Experience with buying group programs, rebate structures, and mill or manufacturer negotiations
Proficiency with ERP and business intelligence tools for category reporting and analysis
Professional certification in supply chain or product management (e.g., APICS CPIM/CSCP)

Responsibilities

Support the overall channel strategy for commodity categories across all markets
Determine the right product mix by market, branch profile, and customer segment, balancing stocking breadth against carrying cost
Review product line performance, identify assortment gaps, and recommend additions, consolidations, and exits
Standardize commodity assortments across branches where practical to improve buying leverage and reduce duplication
Identify growth opportunities within existing categories and adjacent product lines
Align preferred vendor partners, mills, and producers to channel strategy and to division and regional priorities
Support negotiation preparation and administration of vendor programs, rebates, and buying group participation
Serve as primary point of contact for assigned commodity vendors; coordinate line reviews and business reviews
Monitor vendor performance on cost, fill rate, lead time, allocation behavior, and program compliance, and escalate gaps
Coordinate vendor-led product training and promotional support for branch and sales teams
Track commodity cost movement, published price increases, and market indices; communicate impact and timing to the field
Analyze cost changes, sell-price positioning, and margin leakage; recommend corrective action
Provide pricing guidance to divisions, branches, and regional sales teams on volatile categories
Partner with the Pricing team on matrix maintenance, cost updates, and special pricing agreements
Support quoting and bid strategy on large projects, including cost validity windows and escalation terms
Translate channel strategy into executable branch-level actions
Partner with Division Managers, regional leadership, and regional sales teams on category growth plans
Support branch needs including product selection, availability, substitutions, and customer-specific requirements
Communicate cost increases, allocations, and supply constraints to the field with clear guidance on how to respond
Conduct branch and market visits to gather field feedback and reinforce category priorities
Manage the product lifecycle from evaluation and introduction through maturity and discontinuation
Evaluate new products, alternate materials, and vendor submissions against strategy, margin, and demand criteria
Coordinate new product setup, item data accuracy, and launch readiness with internal partners
Manage transitions, substitutions, and end-of-life plans to minimize obsolete and aged inventory
Partner with Purchasing and Replenishment on stocking strategies, min/max levels, and branch-level assortments
Support buy-ahead and forward-buy decisions against announced cost increases, balancing margin opportunity against inventory exposure
Support forecasting for seasonal demand, large project activity, and promotional programs
Monitor inventory health — turns, fill rate, excess, and aged stock — and recommend corrective action
Support resolution of supply disruptions, allocations, and vendor lead-time changes
Monitor commodity market trends, raw material movement, competitor assortments, and pricing dynamics
Analyze sales, margin, and share data to identify risks and opportunities by region and category
Maintain awareness of code, specification, and manufacturer changes affecting commodity product lines
Prepare category performance reporting and recommendations for leadership review
Partner across Marketing, Operations, and Finance to support company initiatives and shared best practices
Provide regular updates to leadership on category performance, cost position, and open items
Recommend process improvements that strengthen channel execution and field support
Perform other duties as required