Summary: The Inventory Planner is responsible for maintaining optimum inventory levels across manufacturing facilities and distribution centers within North America. The ideal candidate is an analytical, skilled individual with strong attention to detail. Possessing acute commercial awareness to be able to interpret and implement data to maintain and improve the company’s inventory levels by analyzing inventory statistics. This role will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure inventory accuracy and availability to meet customer demand.

Salary is $67,000 to $87,000 depending on experience.

Location: Carlsbad, CA (Hybrid Schedule 2 days from home 3 days in office)

Primary Responsibilities:

• Achieve aggressive inventory reduction targets by establishing effective processes, tools, and controls capable of sustaining year over year objectives.
• Allocate inventory to the correct departments to establish ownership and cross-functional tasks associated with company’s inventory reduction strategy.
• Lead weekly and monthly reports to organization detailing weekly progress trends, areas of opportunity and drive action plans to achieve targets. 
• Analyze market response to new products and use this to develop forecasts for new items not yet introduced.
• Create and maintain inventory databases and systems for accurately managing inventory.
• Communicate inventory concerns and develop action plans to solve them including development of presentations to senior leadership.
• Lead inventory segmentation and discontinuation discussions and follow established guidelines to implement changes.
• Monitor inventory levels, perform root cause analysis and adjust requirements based on findings.
• Contribute to the inventory challenge process (excess and obsolescence) analyzing buying patterns of key customers and how they react to incentives, looking for alternatives to reduce such inventory on hand.
• Support demand cutover strategy when dealing with new technologies and how they affect the transitional demand plan and inventories tied to phase outs and material liability.
• Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications:

• 3 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; with experience in Business, Statistics, Supply Chain or Materials/Operations Management; or equivalent work experience in an Inventory Planning environment.
• Experience analyzing large amounts of information/data and developing fact-based conclusions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of SIOP, Demand planning, and Distribution Center operations. Experience tracking and monitoring KPIs with a track record of achievement in deploying inventory optimization methods to reduce inventory days on hand.

• Ability to analyze and process inventory obsolescence.
• Able to solve problems using various analytical tools, including root cause analysis.
• Knowledge of NetSuite, Agile and/or other ERP, MRP solutions is preferred.
• Demonstrated sense of energy/urgency and ability to learn on the fly.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with all levels of the organization. Build strong relationships with sales, product management, marketing, finance, and other cross-functional groups to drive collaborative Inventory planning strategies.
• Proactive, organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to work independently.
• Strong overall understanding of the supply chain function and how internal customers utilize the demand planning information.
• Strong written communication and verbal skills.
• Proven ability to multi-task, set project priorities, establish department/discipline goals and objectives for self.
• Computer literacy required; including advanced skills in Microsoft applications (i.e. Excel, Word, PPT, etc.) 
• Strong attention to detail
• Positive attitude, self-motivated and eager to succeed.

Physical Requirements:

Essential functions of this job require the following minimal physical demands. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use hands to grip or feel; and occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Vision and depth perception suitable for use of utilizing a computer, printer, phone, and keyboard. 
• Manual dexterity suitable for use of utilizing a computer.
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes which permits the employee to work in an office setting.
• Ability to walk and/or climb 5% of the time comfortably, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to sit at a computer for 90% of the time comfortably, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Light to moderate lifting. 

Working Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be comfortable working in an office environment to include moderate noise levels.
• The working area is primarily in an open office setting with reasonable lighting and controlled temperatures.

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Disclaimer:

The above statements reflect the general details considered necessary to decide the principal functions of the job identified and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the job. Job incumbents are expected to perform other duties necessary for the effective operation of the position, department, or the business.