Global Inventory Sr. Planner
The Global Inventory Sr. Planner drives global inventory strategies and settings across dedicated business segments to ensure supply continuity, optimize working capital, and support revenue goals. Interacts with operational leaders and relevant stakeholders to assure supply continuity while effectively balancing inventory costs globally. Provides input to development of planning strategies for specific product categories and ensures alignment on the planning strategy. Serves as subject matter expert on inventory optimization system and other inventory planning and reporting tools.
Responsibilities
- Manages inventory planning activities in alignment with inventory strategies to meet agreed service levels and operational needs, ensuring optimal balance of service, cost, and cash through data-driven decision-making.
- Coordinates with operational leadership and stakeholders to understand the business needs and align inventory strategy.
- Aligns with Demand Planning and S&OP to analyze forecast accuracy (bias, MAPE) and segmentation strategies, translating insights into inventory policy adjustments.
- Coordinates with regional teams to ensure alignment on inventory targets, including key drivers of inventory composition (safety stock, min / max targets, business continuity stock, overstock and scrap), and seeks common understanding of regional needs.
- Provides input to development of planning strategies in alignment with both operational policies and revenue targets to optimize service, cost and cash.
- Facilitates inventory optimization process and quarterly inventory target reviews, driving actionable plans to reduce excess and improve inventory turns.
- Performs monthly and quarterly activities to support cycle counts and excess and obsolescence (E&O) processes to ensure SOX compliance.
- Partners with finance on inventory forecasting, E&O forecasting and receipts forecasting activities.
- Provides input to system design, enhancements and upgrades in partnership with the central business process analyst team and GIS.
- Acts as a subject matter expert for inventory planning tools and systems; support enhancements and troubleshoot issues in partnership with GIS, master data, and business process teams.
- Participates in various improvement projects.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, or Supply Chain Management and 5 years of experience in inventory planning, supply planning, forecasting and / or master production scheduling across multiple product lines (or 3 years experience with Master's degree)Direct experience with supply and demand processes including forecasts, receipt and delivery processes, inventory reports, accuracy validation procedures, cycle counts and audit procedures is preferredExperience with ERP and MRP systems, preferably SAPStrong analytical skills with the ability to interpret large datasets and drive actionable insightsKnowledge of MS Office with an emphasis on Excel and PowerPointStrong written and oral communication skills, including ability to craft messages and presentations for senior leadership.Ability to work with cross-cultural organizations and groups, remaining attentive to ideas, recognizing responsibilities, and actively participating with others to accomplish assignments and achieve desired goals.Experience leveraging advanced analytics and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to generate actionable insights and influence inventory strategy is a plus.Experience with IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 or other financial applications is a plusAPICS CPIM, CSCP or other professional certifications preferred