Vendor Funding & Trade Management Manager

coborns•Saint Cloud, MN

32d•$82,000 - $130,000

About The Position

Coborn’s is hiring a new strategic and detail-driven leader to own and elevate our companywide approach to vendor funding and trade spending. In this highly influential role, you’ll serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on all trade funding activities—ensuring negotiated allowances, bill-backs, rebates, and promotional investments are accurately captured and aligned with our merchandising strategy. You’ll manage the full lifecycle of vendor funding, from contract documentation and verification to reporting and discrepancy resolution, while collaborating closely with Category Management, Pricing, Promotions, Accounting, and IT. If you thrive in a role where process ownership, cross-functional partnership, and financial accuracy are key to driving business results, this is the opportunity to make a measurable impact.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or related field preferred.
5+ years of experience in retail merchandising, trade funding, finance, pricing, or vendor management
Experience with trade funding programs, bill-backs, and promotional funding required
Experience working with ERP, pricing systems, or retail analytics platforms strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Manage the tracking, validation, and reconciliation of all vendor funding across all categories and agreements.
Ensure funding received matches negotiated allowances, promotional commitments, and annual programs.
Maintain centralized, accurate documentation of all deals, contracts, and vendor commitments.
Lead responses to vendor discrepancies, underpayments, or billing issues, ensuring timely resolution.
Serve as the primary subject matter expert for trade funding processes, controls, and terminology.
Provide guidance to Category Managers on deal structures, funding expectations, and documentation standards.
Review promotional plans to ensure funding requirements are clearly defined and accurately reflected in systems.
Offer insights to strengthen vendor negotiations through historical data and funding performance analysis.
Develop and manage reporting tools, dashboards, and funding trackers that provide visibility to leadership, Merchandising, and Finance.
Analyze program effectiveness, funding accuracy, and promotional ROI.
Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual summaries of vendor funding performance by vendor, category, and program.
Establish and maintain consistent processes for documentation, deal setup, funding validation, and audit readiness.
Partner with Accounting to ensure accurate invoice processing, bill-backs, deductions, and financial accounting.
Ensure systems are set up accurately to reflect negotiated deals and support margin integrity.
Collaborate with Pricing, Promotions, Advertising, and Merchandising teams to ensure funding aligns with promotional execution.
Work with IT and Finance to identify and enhance systems, reporting capabilities, and workflow efficiency.
Communicate funding deadlines, expectations, and compliance requirements across the organization.
Lead process improvements that enhance funding accuracy, reduce risk, and improve visibility.

Benefits

10% employee discount on grocery items, with additional franchise-specific discounts available at company owned Ace Hardware, Caribou Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert’s, and Pet Supplies Plus locations.
Get Paid Daily with DailyPay – for employees who would like access to their pay before payday, we offer this great benefit!
Paid Time Off (PTO/Vacation)
Paid Floating Holidays & time and a half (1 ½) paid for hours worked on a company-recognized holiday!
Paid Military Leave
Employee recognition programs with monetary rewards including in-store vouchers, years of service, and employee of the month
Employee Health & Wellness Programs, Challenges and Resources – to assist our team members in living a life of wellbeing!
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – unlimited phone access to legal, financial, and work-life services and up to five free in-person counseling sessions, per situation/issue, per year
Access to a national discount marketplace for travel, electronics, auto/home insurance , entertainment and more!
Tools, resources and opportunities for career growth and development
401(k) plan options – we also match up to 20% of the first 5% contributed
Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) – yes, we’re employee-owned! Our team members benefit from the success of the company through this company-sponsored benefit!
Education benefits including tuition discount and scholarship programs
Additional Voluntary Benefits – such as vision, accident and critical illness insurances
Medical & Dental Insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Tuition Reimbursement
Adoption Reimbursement
Paid Family Caregiver Leave
company-sponsored Term Life Insurance
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance!