Manager, Supplier Strategy and Management - Direct Mail Execution

Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week 

When you join New York Life, you’re joining a company that values career development, collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness. We want employees to feel proud about being part of a company that is committed to doing the right thing. You’ll have the opportunity to grow your career while developing personally and professionally through various resources and programs. New York Life is a relationship-based company and appreciates how both virtual and in-person interactions support our culture.

This position primarily involves a hybrid work schedule - working remotely: Monday & Friday / on site: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

This position within the Marketing Services team will require the individual to bring leadership abilities, decisive decision-making skills and strategic acumen to contribute to the success and shaping of the our organization. As a key player in this dynamic role you will be entrusted with the responsibility of driving strategic initiatives, making impactful decisions and negotiating internally and externally to achieve organizational goals.

The Manager will oversee supplier strategy for the Print Management, Estimating and Pricing team. Working in conjunction with team members to source the appropriate suppliers based on direct mail requirements and formulate a strategy to provide best-in-class suppliers that will be most efficient in manufacturing of mail products. The Manager will be a key contributor for identifying, vetting and testing new print suppliers, and ensure appropriate redundancy in the print supplier pool. The Manger will work directly with Corporate Procurement, partnering on negotiations and abide by NYL procurement guidelines. 

The Manager will also be responsible for maintaining the direct mail format library strategy that will allow for creative options and flexiblity,  and maintain a limited number of formats that are compelling, cost efficient and can be produced by multiple printers. The Manager will be one of the individuals responsible for communicating format library requirements and ensuring that new creative concepts fall within the approved format library. 

The Manager will also oversee all postal affair matters including mail tracking and postal incentives, as well as work with suppliers for postal optimization.

The Manager will be the main contact for all Third-Party Risk Management and supplier onboarding and maintenance. 

The Manager will need to be a critical thinker who can solve print and mail manufacturing issues and participate in negotiations with external suppliers. The Manager will be a key advisor to internal Creative and Strategy partners on print and mail projects. 

• Manage relationships with suppliers; staying up-to-date with supplier capabilities and vetting new suppliers to always assure the best technology and processes are being utilized for efficient print production. Benchmark pricing within industry. Provide leadership and recommendations in supplier pricing and selection. Review and approve invoices, as needed.
• Keeping format library up-to-date with formats that will achieve most efficient production while providing competitiveness and redundancy with suppliers. Consult with outside creative agencies on format specifications.
• Seek out efficiencies for process and manufacturing that contribute to better costs and reduced cycle times.
• Coordinate uniform processes, instructions and deliverables across the team.
• Promote postal promotions where applicable. Consult on all matters related to postage and mail delivery. Manage Sr. Associate to submit postal promotions and conduct mail tracking.
• Manage all Third Party Risk Assessments and Risk Management issues. Raise supplier issues to supervisor and participate in resolution as needed. 
• Communicate opportunities or challenges to management. 

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Communications, Procurement preferred.
• 5+ years' related experience required.
• Must be proficient in direct mail and print production.
• Experience in print buying, budgeting and expense management.
• Experience with USPS postal management.
• Must be experienced with print manfacturing suppliers and techniques, print and lettershop specifications, data processing instructions, mailing formats, paper, USPS rates and services.
• Must have broad knowledge of business processes.
• Must be able to identify business opportunities that align with NYL Direct's core competencies.
• Experience in a fast-paced, continously changing environment.
• Ability to influence partners on best overall options for the buisness. Ability to direct suppliers and support strategic projects.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities. Manage manufacturing and supplier issues as they arise. Provide alternative solutions due to cost and or timing issues.
• Ability to prioritize daily conflicting schedules, with internal partners and outside suppliers.
• Ability to give direction to advertising agencies on formats that keep costs in budget but lend themselves to creative testing. Review and approve processes for print and mail production that impact NYL revenue.
• Strong communication skills required to present forecast and explain budget analysis. Communicates to management print and mail issues and options to solve. Provide production team with learning on industry trend and supplier capabilities.

This position primarily involves a hybrid work schedule - working remotely: Monday & Friday / on site: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

#LI-KH1
#LI-HYBRID 
 

Salary range: $82,500-$115,000 

Overtime eligible: Exempt 

Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes 

Sales bonus eligible: No 

Click here to learn more about our benefits. Starting salary is dependent upon several factors including previous work experience, specific industry experience, and/or skills required.

Recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. We invite you to bring your talents to New York Life, so we can continue to help families and businesses “Be Good At Life.” To learn more, please visit LinkedIn, our Newsroom and the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.

Job Requisition ID: 90144