Tara Grandin

ad1g0h@r.postjobfree.com

linkedin.com/in/tara-grandin-521359155

Summary

I am a supply chain professional with 30 years of experience managing international and domestic supplier development efforts, ensuring compliance within company specifications. As the director of import supply chain, I collaborated daily with the executive team and CFO to make sure that the company continued to meet or exceed profit margins set by majority owners. I led the restructuring and relocation of the company’s multimillion-dollar inventory and WMS system. I have exemplary negotiation skills when collaborating with vendors regarding pricing, contracts, policies and deadlines and I helped implement a service level agreement which all our vendors signed and for which we hold them accountable.

Experience

Director, Import supply chain

Charles Products, Inc.

May 1993 - Nov 2023 (30 years 7 months)

• Managed import purchasing department which is 65% of revenue for multimillion-dollar company and includes well known customers; example: Mars, Hershey, Universal, San Diego Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Mount Vernon, Monticello, Library of Congress.

• Ran the logistics and inventory departments.

• Creative product sourcing and development with international suppliers as well as domestic/ASI factories; attended Hong Kong and Canton tradeshows

• Negotiated yearly contracts, rates, policies, deadlines and service level agreements with suppliers, freight forwarders and 3PL

• Responsible for landing all items imported from international vendors

• Involved in presentations and pricing for potential new customers; recent examples: Mattel, SeaWorld

• Responsible for critical analysis of stock needs and maintaining sufficient inventory levels.

• Reviewed and authorized or denied Customs invoices for HTS codes, duties, and additional tariffs of imported products.

• Supervised staff members tasked with handling materials management, planning, purchasing and customer service duties.

• Hired and directed teams to achieve daily and long-term operations and business goals.

• Worked with Quality team to make sure items imported into the States are conforming to US regulations, especially products intended for children. (Example: ASTM and CPSIA).

• Managed domestic purchasing department and worked with ASI and domestic vendors.

• Attended domestic trade shows and introduced new product to company line Skills

Supplier Evaluation • Supplier Negotiation • Expense Reduction • Profit Maximization • Inventory Management • Third-Party Logistics (3PL) • Management • Strategic Planning • Strategic Sourcing • Procurement

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