Full-Time

AI Product Owner - Quote & Order Management

Posted on 5/9/2026

Graybar

Graybar

5,001-10,000 employees

Electrical, communications, data networking product distributor

Compensation Overview

$118k/yr

+ Bonus

Clayton, MO, USA + 1 more

More locations: Chesterfield, MO, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role; 3 days on-site weekly in Clayton, MO with periodic travel to district offices.

Category
Product (1)
Required Skills
Microsoft Azure
Agile
Sales
Data Science
Customer Service
SCRUM
Requirements
  • 5+ years of experience in product ownership, business analysis, or product management
  • Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments with responsibility for backlog management and sprint ceremonies
  • Demonstrated ability to translate business processes into technical requirements and user stories
  • Experience managing products through pilot-to-scale transitions or multi-phase rollouts
  • Four-year degree in Business, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
  • Knowledge of Agile product development practices, including user story writing, backlog prioritization frameworks (WSJF, MoSCoW, RICE), and sprint planning
  • Knowledge of business processes in sales, order management, or customer service operations
  • Understanding of how AI/ML models work at a conceptual level – training data, accuracy metrics, confidence scores, and the iterative nature of model improvement
  • Knowledge of change management practices for deploying technology across distributed operations
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills – ability to decompose complex business workflows into discrete, buildable product increments
  • Excellent communication skills – ability to facilitate requirements workshops, present to stakeholders at all levels, and write clear documentation
  • Active listening and requirements elicitation skills – ability to probe beyond stated needs to uncover root problems and opportunities
  • Organizational and prioritization skills – managing competing demands from multiple districts, stakeholder groups, and technical constraints
  • Ability to work effectively at the intersection of business operations and technology – comfortable in a warehouse observing branch workflows one day and in a sprint planning session with engineers the next
  • Ability to manage stakeholder expectations around AI capabilities – explaining why AI is not 100% accurate, how it improves over time, and what “good enough” means for production use
  • Ability to make scope and prioritization decisions with incomplete information and adapt quickly as new data emerges
  • Ability to build strong working relationships across cross-functional teams, including remote engineering teams, SaaS vendor partners, and field operations staff
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment where the product is evolving rapidly and the playbook is being written in real time
Responsibilities
  • Own and prioritize the product backlog in Azure DevOps – write user stories, define acceptance criteria, and ensure the team always knows what to build next and why
  • Represent the voice of Graybar’s sales representatives, customer service agents, and district operations leaders; translate their workflows, pain points, and needs into actionable product requirements
  • Lead sprint planning, backlog refinement, and sprint reviews; accept completed work and make scope decisions within sprints
  • Define acceptance criteria for AI-powered features that account for model accuracy, confidence thresholds, and edge cases – understanding that AI outputs are probabilistic, not deterministic
  • Design and optimize human-in-the-loop review workflows – determining where human review is required, where it can be streamlined, and how to build user trust in AI-generated recommendations
  • Drive the scaling strategy from pilot to enterprise rollout: plan district onboarding, define readiness criteria, measure adoption metrics, and manage change across diverse branch operations
  • Collaborate with the data science team and SaaS provider to define data requirements, evaluate model performance, and prioritize model improvements based on business impact
  • Work with the UX Designer to ensure the review and confirmation interfaces are intuitive, efficient, and designed for the pace of a high-volume sales operation
  • Define and track product KPIs: order processing time, accuracy rates, user adoption, exception rates, and business value delivered
  • Manage stakeholder communication – regularly update district leaders, sales management, and executive sponsors on product progress, upcoming features, and rollout timelines
  • Participate in AI governance activities, ensuring responsible use of AI in customer-facing order processing and compliance with data privacy requirements
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with AI/ML-powered products or data-driven applications, particularly document intelligence, NLP, or order automation
  • Familiarity with Azure DevOps or similar Agile work management tools (Jira, Rally)
  • Experience in electrical distribution, wholesale distribution, supply chain, or B2B sales operations
  • Understanding of order management, quoting, or sales workflows in a high-volume environment
  • Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO), or equivalent certification
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Azure ecosystem or AI/ML concepts (LLMs, confidence scoring, human-in-the-loop patterns)

Graybar is a large distributor and supply chain manager in North America that provides electrical supplies, lighting, automation and control systems, and data networking products to industrial, commercial, and government customers. It buys products from manufacturers and resells them to end users, adding services such as inventory management, logistics, technical support, and consulting to help clients streamline operations and reduce energy use. The company differentiates itself through its employee-ownership culture, established relationships, and broad services that support customers across multiple sectors. Its goal is to help businesses run more efficiently by ensuring a steady supply of high-quality products and value-added services that optimize procurement and energy performance.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$1.5B

Headquarters

St. Louis, Missouri

Founded

1869

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q1 2026 sales hit $3.3 billion, up 12.4%, net income $141.9 million.
  • Broken Arrow Electric acquisition in March 2026 marks 20th in decade.
  • Data center and industrial automation expansions fuel 10.6% FY2025 growth.

What critics are saying

  • Wesco's 15 acquisitions in 2025 erode Graybar's electrical market share.
  • Rexel's AI pricing platform squeezes Graybar's automation margins by 2027.
  • DeSousa and Rebne retirements disrupt sales, causing 5-10% revenue drop in 2026.

What makes Graybar unique

  • Graybar's employee ownership drives 355 North American distribution facilities.
  • Graybar innovation lab launched at University of Illinois in 2017.
  • Graybar Connect transformation invests in AI and SAP S/4HANA ERP.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Options

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Profit Sharing

Employee Recognition Program

Company News

Distribution Strategy Group
Mar 17th, 2026
Graybar appoints pricing, shared services leaders.

Graybar appoints pricing, shared services leaders. Graybar has promoted a longtime executive to oversee pricing strategy and hired a new leader to head its shared services operations. March 17, 2026 Graybar has promoted a longtime executive to oversee pricing strategy and hired a new leader to head its shared services operations, the company said. Najam Chohan has been named vice president of strategic pricing. A 1998 hire, Chohan most recently served as director of finance for Graybar's California district. In his new role, he will lead the company's pricing strategy, with an emphasis on using data and technology to support profitability and align pricing with customer demand. Chohan holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Tulane University and a Master of Business Administration in finance from Bentley University. Graybar also appointed Paul Ferguson as vice president of shared services. Ferguson joins the company from Emerson, where he spent 15 years, most recently as vice president of global financial and business services. Ferguson will oversee Graybar's shared services organization, focusing on process standardization and the expanded use of automation and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and service delivery. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration from Carthage College and is a certified public accountant. CEO Kathleen Mazzarella said the appointments support the company's ongoing operational and technology initiatives. Graybar, a Fortune 500 company, distributes electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products and provides supply chain and logistics services. The employee-owned company operates more than 355 distribution facilities across North America.

PR Newswire
Mar 17th, 2026
Graybar appoints two VPs to drive pricing strategy and operational excellence

Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products, has announced two vice president appointments. Najam Chohan has been promoted to Vice President of Strategic Pricing, whilst Paul Ferguson has been named Vice President of Shared Services. Chohan joined Graybar in 1998 and most recently served as Director Finance in the company's California District. He will lead the company's pricing strategy using data-driven insights and advanced technology. Ferguson joins from Emerson, where he spent 15 years, most recently as Vice President of Global Financial and Business Services. He will oversee Graybar's Shared Services organisation, focusing on operational excellence and expanded use of AI and technology. The Fortune 500 company operates through over 355 North American distribution facilities.

Modern Distribution Management (MDM)
Mar 12th, 2026
Graybar 2025 Sales Near Record $13B with Healthy Growth

Graybar 2025 sales near record $13B with healthy growth. The St. Louis-based electrical and industrial supplies distributor highlighted its growth strategy alignment with key opportunties, including data centers and industrial automation. Electrical and industrial supplies distributor Graybar achieved record net sales in its fiscal year 2025 amid completion of an ERP system upgrade. On March 11, Graybar posted FY25 net sales of $12.9 billion, an increase of 10.6% compared to 2024, and $431.4 million in net income, a 2.0% increase over the prior year. "Achieving record net sales in the same year we completed an ERP system upgrade is a testament to our employees and their unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience. As we look to the future, our Graybar Connect business transformation program, which includes strategic investments in technology and AI, positions us to deliver even greater value to customers and carry Graybar's legacy of leadership and growth into our next century." Celebrating 100 years in business throughout 2025, the St. Louis-based company said its growth can be attributed to aligning its growth strategy with key opportunties, including data centers, industrial automation and connectivity and electrification; opening three distribution centers with plans for more in 2026; implementing its ERP system in SAP S/4HANA; acquisitions; and key leadership positions. In January, Graybar acquired Orbit Motion Systems through its Advantage Industrial Automation subsidiary. And in early July, Valin Corporation, a Graybar subsidiary since 2023, acquired Burns Controls Company with the goal of strengthening the motion control and automation product portfolio. Graybar is a mainstay on MDM's Top Distributors Lists and charted at No. 4 on its 2025 list for Electrical and No. 14 for Industrial Supplies. Recommended Reading

Industrial Distribution
Mar 11th, 2026
Graybar to Acquire Oklahoma Distributor

Broken Arrow Electric Supply operates seven locations in the state.

Modern Distribution Management (MDM)
Mar 10th, 2026
Graybar to Acquire Broken Arrow Electric, Adding 7 Oklahoma Locations

Graybar to acquire Broken Arrow Electric, adding 7 Oklahoma locations. Graybar plans to keep the Broken Arrow Electric Supply name, team and locations. St. Louis, MO-based Graybar, a distributor of electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services announced plans to acquire Oklahoma-based Broken Arrow Electric Supply, pending regulatory approval. Broken Arrow Electric Supply (BAES) is an electrical distributor that serves the residential, commercial, industrial and OEM markets. The company also offers automation and control solutions, power distribution centers, specialty wire and cable, light assembly, and LED lighting and design. BAES was founded in 1977 and operates seven locations in eastern Oklahoma. In a March 9 news release, Graybar stated its plans to operate Broken Arrow Electric Supply as a subsidiary of Graybar, using the Broken Arrow Electric Supply name with the same team, locations and suppliers. "Broken Arrow Electric Supply is a highly respected organization with a strong market position in Oklahoma," Graybar Chairman, President and CEO Kathy Mazzarella,said. "This acquisition complements Graybar's business and enhances our ability to serve customers and accelerate growth in the region. We are excited to welcome the Broken Arrow team to Graybar and look forward to achieving long-term success together." "Broken Arrow and Graybar share similar values, a people-focused culture and a long-term commitment to customers," added Bruce Garner, CEO of BAES. "Becoming part of Graybar allows us to preserve our distinctive culture while opening the door to new opportunities for growth, innovation and service." Graybar ranks No. 4 on MDM's Top Distributors List for electrical and No. 14 for Industrial Supplies. Recommended Reading