Inventory Planner

Job Summary:

In this role, this position will be responsible for short-term inventory management and execution to ensure product availability and optimal service across a multi-location distribution network. The role involves monitoring inventory health, resolving time-sensitive issues, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to maintain alignment with supply and demand plans.

Job Description

• Inventory policy management: Ensure availability of finished goods within 0-2month time horizon by managing inventory at the item level, including select customization items, across mixed RDC network with the focus to maximize shipments at optimal service
• Inventory policy gaps: Proactively leverage alert system in Rapid to manage inventory gaps
• Inventory rebuilding: Recast near-term inventory rebuild plans for finished goods as needed due to fluctuations on supply or demand vs. S&OE plan, in alignment with the S&OE Mgr.
• Time-sensitive Issue resolution: Monitors forecast consumption, case fill, and inventory health metrics at an item / customer level to identify time-sensitive gaps and develop a solution to address
• Item transitions: Execute item transitions and new item introductions, managing pipe fill of distribution network, end-of-life inventory run-out plans, and customer inventory resets
• Inventory data: Stewards item location level inventory settings / master data to enable systemic management of inventory
• Inventory risk escalation: Identifies and escalates risks in meeting anticipated inventory needs at an item / customer level to S&OE Manager and helps identify specific mitigation tactics for consideration
• Production plan adherence: Works closely with Manufacturing to ensure timely execution of production plans
• Customer ops: Primary POC for the Customer Ops team in managing customer / item level issues associated with customer orders and in managing systemic transitions of items through lifecycle
• Deployment coordination: Works with Deployment / Logistics team to monitor and sense check whether inventory is being distributed properly across the network
• Capacity input provider: Acts as main interface with Manufacturing Mgrs., Network Planning Mgr, Distribution, and Transportation teams on required short-term capacity
• Allocation: Collaboration with Sales team as needed on customer allocation

Key Skills, Abilities, And Experience Required

• Critical thinking: Ability to manage across multiple different inventory mgmt. variables to maximize service levels
• Strong problem solving: Ability to proactively recognize gaps and develop and implement creative solutions to address
• Analytics / data proficiency: Ability to analyze data and trends and the relationship among different variables and to understand their implications on inventory policy management
• Customer operations : Exposure to customer operations with capacity to be able to understand and respond to changes in demand drivers and order patterns
• Supply chain operations: Strong understanding of E2E supply chain, potential tradeoffs, and impact on short term execution
• Attention to detail: Strong attention to detail
• Ability to act fast paced environment
• Ability to rapidly prioritize and adapt to change
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to network cross-functionally
• Ability to influence without authority