Key Account Specialist (Costco) Job at Sports Research in California

Base pay range: $80,000.00/yr - $85,000.00/yr About Sports Research: Sports Research is one of the largest privately held dietary supplement and health and wellness brands in the U.S. Established in 1980 and made popular by our flagship product, Sweet Sweat, we remain a family‑owned company dedicated to providing the highest quality products. As a leader in this industry, we are searching for exceptional talent to join our team and be a part of The Sport of Life! Job Overview: We are seeking a strategic and execution‑focused Key Accounts Specialist - Costco as primary point of contact and operational owner for all Costco business. You will manage the full Costco order‑to‑cash process, ensure compliance with Costco’s requirements, and partner internally and externally to deliver exceptional execution. The focus is on operational precision, proactive issue resolution, and continuous improvement across our Costco fulfillment program. This is an individual contributor role with high visibility and cross‑functional impact. Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To: Direct Costco Relationship Management Serve as primary contact with Costco ICS team, managing communication, issue resolution, and strategic alignment. Build relationships with Costco buyers, replenishment managers, and depot contacts to position Sports Research as a preferred vendor. Proactively communicate forecasts, inventory positions, promotional plans, and potential service disruptions. Own the transition from broker‑managed to direct account management, establishing SOPs and communication cadences. Order Management & Execution Manage all Costco purchase orders from entry to invoice within NetSuite. Validate and process EDI transactions (850, 856, 810) in compliance with Costco standards. Monitor order status, ship windows, and delivery requirements daily to ensure uninterrupted product flow. Coordinate with Supply Chain on inventory allocation, production timing, and launch planning to maximize fill rates. Cross‑Functional Coordination Lead coordination across Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, and Sales to support Costco initiatives and launches. Align internal resources on new item setups, packaging changes, roadshows, special packs, and tradeshows. Facilitate weekly Costco operations meetings to review metrics, address issues, and align priorities. Partner with Sales on promotional planning, assortment strategy, and buyer presentations. Serve as primary escalation point for shortages, overages, damages, routing errors, ASN failures, and other exceptions. Coordinate with Costco Logistics (CLS) on cross‑dock delays, capacity constraints, and appointment changes. Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Maintain accurate item setup in Costco systems: GTIN/UPC, carton specs, pallet patterns, and documentation. Ensure adherence to Costco routing guidelines: pallet configuration, labeling, slip sheets, and scheduling. Maintain certifications, safety documents, product images, spec sheets, customer records, and pricing files. Partner with 3PLs on Costco‑specific prep, labeling, palletization, pick/pack accuracy, and timely shipping. Financial Performance & Reporting Lead root cause analysis on chargebacks and deductions; collaborate with Finance to dispute invalid charges. Track and report on chargeback trends, identifying systemic issues and driving accountability. Prepare weekly/monthly reporting on backlog, fill rate, OTIF, EDI pass rate, and Costco scorecard results. Develop dashboards for real‑time visibility into Costco account health. Communicate risks to ship windows or compliance metrics to internal teams promptly. Process Improvement Build and refine Costco‑specific SOPs for order processing, exception management, and IC&S communication. Drive continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service levels. Share best practices and provide training to peers engaged in Costco workflows. Skills and Qualifications 5 to 7 years wholesale operations, account management, or sales operations in CPG or dietary supplements. Direct Costco account management or IC&S communication experience strongly preferred. Track record managing $50M+ accounts with demonstrated OTIF/fill rate improvement and chargeback reduction. Experience transitioning from broker‑managed to direct account management a plus. NetSuite proficiency for order processing, invoicing, and exception management. Strong EDI knowledge, especially Costco requirements for 850, 856, 810. Advanced Excel/Google Sheets: lookups, pivot tables, large dataset analysis. Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence cross‑functional teams and external partners. Calm, solution‑oriented, and decisive under pressure. Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or Operations preferred. Physical Requirements Work primarily involves sitting most of the workday, with occasional walking, standing, and use of stairs in office or warehouse settings. Typing and applying pressure with the fingers and palm, with substantial repetitive movements of wrists, hands, and/or fingers required for document processing and data entry. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, such as files or office equipment. Clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less for analyzing data, reviewing documents, and extensive reading, primarily on a computer monitor. Ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech in person and on devices (e.g., computer, telephone), and to communicate effectively through spoken and written English. Why Join Us? High‑visibility role with direct executive interaction. Opportunity to shape the future of our largest retail partnership. Free Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and EAP Program for employee coverage. 401k with up to 4% company match. Accrued PTO, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays. Free company products. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Industries Wellness and Fitness Services #J-18808-Ljbffr