Manager of Planning & Inventory Management

Responsibilities

Job Summary: As a Manager I, Planning and Inventory Management (PIM), you'll partner with Procurement leadership, Retail Store Partners, Supply Chain, Planning & Analysis, Digital Technology, Advertising, etc., to develop and execute financial, merchandise, and inventory plans to support department financial objectives. You'll lead and manage PIM team Partners and contribute to their development.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Sales / Strategy:
• Drives sales and profitability by managing development of pre-season strategic plans with a Director of Buying and other leaders; sets stretch goals to grow, create, and innovate to support H-E-B overall financial goals and GM merchandising strategy
• Manages weekly in-season forecasting of sales and full gross revenue balance set for a GM Division
• Manages end-to-end merchandising cycle from pre-season planning through in-season execution, clearance, and post seasonal analysis
• Builds pre-season financial sales, gross revenue, and inventory plans by season, at a commodity, week, Store level; monitors performance in season
• Leads a team of Planners through period business review meetings; manages strategies to maximize sales and profitability for a GM Merchandise Division
• Manages a team of Planners in developing commodity / item plans for each assortment to align key goals, metrics (sales, units, inventory, receipts, turn and profit expectations); collaborates with Director of Buying to ensure assortment plans meet financial, space, and Store objectives
• Directs efforts to maximize merchandise buys across a GM Division within budget parameters
• Partners with Director of Buying to prepare promotional and markdown strategy; analyzes impact / effectiveness in season; recommends future growth, and promotional and markdown, exit strategies
• Develops weekly forecasts of sales and inventory for every-day, seasonal, and promotional activities; develops strategies to meet division financial goals and forecasts
• Coordinates various information sources to create a comprehensive understanding of issues to align people, systems, processes, plans to achieve greatest impact
• Ensures recommendations for most profitable use of inventory via sales, markdown, and stock strategies for assigned Procurement team
• Analytics:
• Analyzes data and trends to identify risks and opportunities by commodity, Store, Region, activity, and season; identifies best sellers, re-buys, and slow sellers; recommends profitable strategies to exit product in a timely manner
• Analyzes merchandise performance at the commodity level, including sales and stock, to identify problems and opportunities
• Management:
• Manages / develops a team of Planners, Associate Planners, Inventory Analysts as assigned; coaches / trains to enhance skills for growth and development
• Manages / delivers effective performance appraisals; ensures clear understanding of expectations
• Ensures ongoing training / development of direct reports
• Serves as subject matter expert on business planning, inventory management, and analysis systems / processes
• Champions changes needed to achieve goals in area of responsibility
• Manages PIM team special projects and new initiatives from concept to implementation; provides training to PIM team on implementation
  

The responsibilities and essential functions outlined above describe the general nature and level of work assigned to this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Duties and responsibilities may be modified at any time based on business needs. Employees may be required to perform other job-related tasks as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodations.

Work Experience

Qualifications & Key Requirements:

• of related experience in inventory management -
• supply chain -
• retail business planning -
• financial analysis -
• Experience managing large-scale projects from conception to implementation -
• Experience leading peer groups to develop new workflow processes to reduce workload and improve efficiencies -
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of planning / replenishment systems and store / space planning -
• Understanding of retail accounting methods -
• Advanced skills in MS PowerPoint, Word, and Excel (pivot tables, v- and h-lookups, conditional formatting) -
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills -
• Strong communication skills -
• Strong analytical and math skills -
• Organization and time management skills; attention to detail -
• Management / leadership skills -
• Ability to communicate persuasively / influence across cross-functional teams -
• Ability to work under pressure with flexibility and adaptability; strong sense of urgency -
• Ability to excel in a team environment -
  
  

Education

• A related degree or comparable formal training, certification, or work experience -
  
  

Licenses/Certifications

Physical Demands & Working Conditions:

• Function in a fast-paced, retail, office environment
• Travel globally with extended stays and by car or plane with overnight stays
• Work extended hours; work rotating schedules; sit for extended periods
• Regularly lift 20 lbs or more
  
  

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

Last revised: 10/01/2022