What are the responsibilities and job description for the Inventory Planner position at Wine Enthusiast?
Who We Are
Wine Enthusiast Companies is a Certified B Corporation and the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, the family-owned company is composed of Wine Enthusiast Commerce and Wine Enthusiast Media. Wine Enthusiast Shop provides premium wine-lifestyle products, reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, an e-commerce site, and a business-to-business division. Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine news, food trends, and more than 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Wine Enthusiast events include the annual premier Wine Star Awards gala. In 2024, the company launched a travel division, which includes the Tasting Room Directory and Cork Compass Travel. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. We bring wine to life.
Your Role in Our Journey
Wine Enthusiast is looking for an Inventory Planner. We value imagination, diversity and giving people the opportunity to explore, grow and shape our future. We look for innovative, smart, hardworking individuals who enjoy creative thinking and ingenuity. The inventory planner is focused on driving sales and profit for the company by optimizing inventory levels by SKU across our distribution network. Developing, monitoring, and adjusting minimum inventory levels as well as purchases are the primary responsibility of this role. The inventory planner will work closely with the Sr. Director of Inventory Planning and Merchandise managers to develop a product/sales point of view which will inform inventory direction. Additionally, this person would be accountable for ensuring that life cycle analysis of inventory is managed, and recommendations made for liquidations either through reduced price sale or write-off.
Key Responsibilities
What You'll Be Uncorking
The Perfect Blend (What You Bring to the Table)
Our Commitment to You
Unlimited PTO, Full Medical, Dental and Vision benefits, 401(K) Match, FSA & Dependent Care FSA, Flexible Work Environment, Pet Discount Plans, Employee Discount, Onsite Gym, optional Wine Tasting Class participation, Flexible Schedule, Dynamic and Collaborative work culture.
Our Core Values
PASSION
We’re not just a company; we’re a community. Our job is to enhance the lives of others, making the wine industry and all its offerings accessible and enjoyable. Delighting and educating our consumers is at the core of everything we do.
COLLABORATION
We believe in the power of working together, sharing ideas, and leveraging our collective talents to achieve our goals. We mentor those we lead and surround ourselves with people who drive us to do more than our personal best.
INNOVATION
We value those who think outside the box to elevate the company. We celebrate change, appreciating that a nimble culture attracts talent and motivates team members to push the envelope and build our business for the future.
TRANSPARENCY
Communication and integrity are the cornerstones of our relationships with each other and our customers. We speak openly about our achievements and challenges, with the goal of helping each other grow.
EMPATHY
We support our employees with patience and understanding, recognizing that work hours represent a substantial percentage of one’s time. We encourage a diverse mindset that helps us better reflect the evolving wine culture.
JOY
We recognize that our business is not just about numbers, but also about people. As a family business, we honor the importance of our employees’ home lives. We encourage fun, discovery, adventure and health for our teams.
Our Commitment to Inclusion & Equity
At Wine Enthusiast, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. As part of our commitment to fair hiring practices, we have adopted "ban the box" policies to provide individuals with criminal records a fair chance at employment. We consider all applicants on their merits and qualifications, considering their ability to perform the job.
Our family-owned company was born from a passion to bring a fine wine experience to the everyday. We believe wine is best shared with others and brings people together. In 2021, Adam and Sybil's daughters Erika Strum Silberstein and Jacqueline Strum were named co-presidents and continue to lead the mission of bringing wine to life. The second generation works together with the collective team to create new and better ways for everyone to explore and enjoy the exciting world of wine, including low-alcohol wines, non-alcohol wines, spirits, and beyond! We hope you’ll join us with a glass in hand.
The Pay Range For This Role Is
60,000 - 70,000 USD per year(200 Summit)
Wine Enthusiast Companies is a Certified B Corporation and the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, the family-owned company is composed of Wine Enthusiast Commerce and Wine Enthusiast Media. Wine Enthusiast Shop provides premium wine-lifestyle products, reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, an e-commerce site, and a business-to-business division. Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine news, food trends, and more than 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Wine Enthusiast events include the annual premier Wine Star Awards gala. In 2024, the company launched a travel division, which includes the Tasting Room Directory and Cork Compass Travel. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. We bring wine to life.
Your Role in Our Journey
Wine Enthusiast is looking for an Inventory Planner. We value imagination, diversity and giving people the opportunity to explore, grow and shape our future. We look for innovative, smart, hardworking individuals who enjoy creative thinking and ingenuity. The inventory planner is focused on driving sales and profit for the company by optimizing inventory levels by SKU across our distribution network. Developing, monitoring, and adjusting minimum inventory levels as well as purchases are the primary responsibility of this role. The inventory planner will work closely with the Sr. Director of Inventory Planning and Merchandise managers to develop a product/sales point of view which will inform inventory direction. Additionally, this person would be accountable for ensuring that life cycle analysis of inventory is managed, and recommendations made for liquidations either through reduced price sale or write-off.
Key Responsibilities
What You'll Be Uncorking
- Inventory Management
- Forecast SKU level demand for stocked products.
- Set, monitor and adjust minimum inventory levels by SKU to achieve sales, inventory turn and fill rate objectives.
- Collaborate cross functionally with merchandise and sourcing partners to develop SKU plans, review currents trends and meet seasonal calendar due dates.
- Initiate replenishment and initial stock purchase orders.
- Ensure accuracy of inventory and forecasting data.
- Monitor and act on (stocking) backorders, late orders, and other inventory issues.
- Analyze historical data and current trends to identify sales and inventory opportunities and risks for assigned categories and SKUs.
- Recommend actions to optimize inventory turn and margin based on current trends, and report open to buy status to B2B partners each month.
- Propose inventory investments in key brands to improve customer experience, drive sales and profit.
- Identify underperforming inventory and partner with merchandisers and marketing to drive liquidation strategies.
- Communicate with vendors as necessary.
- Owns item creation and purchase order process for Wine Express.
- Collaborate across the organization to ensure inventoried products are prepared and available for sale.
- Communicate cross functionally to ensure seamless receipt of goods, including communicating with suppliers, freight forwarders and customs brokers.
- Manages inventory and web posting portion of outlet process, helping to drive success of program.
The Perfect Blend (What You Bring to the Table)
- 2 years’ experience in retail inventory management.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with planning systems.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Strong quantitative analytical skills with a technical understanding of retail math and inventory management concepts.
- The ability to summarize data logically and communicate information and recommendations clearly to all appropriate contacts.
- Team player, comfortable in building effective cross functional relationships with business partners.
- Problem solving and critical thinking skills to strategically manage and drive positive financial results for assigned categories.
- Flexibility to work in a fast paced, changing environment with multiple priorities.
- Passionate and accountable for delivering a high standard of results, competitive.
- The perspective to think globally and strategically and make objective decisions in the best interests of the business and customer.
- Proactive and persistent in addressing challenges and in developing innovative processes and solutions.
- Comfortable presenting to executive management.
- A working knowledge of world class supply chain practices, strong analytical capabilities, and business savvy.
- Inventory planning: 2 years preferred.
Our Commitment to You
Unlimited PTO, Full Medical, Dental and Vision benefits, 401(K) Match, FSA & Dependent Care FSA, Flexible Work Environment, Pet Discount Plans, Employee Discount, Onsite Gym, optional Wine Tasting Class participation, Flexible Schedule, Dynamic and Collaborative work culture.
Our Core Values
PASSION
We’re not just a company; we’re a community. Our job is to enhance the lives of others, making the wine industry and all its offerings accessible and enjoyable. Delighting and educating our consumers is at the core of everything we do.
COLLABORATION
We believe in the power of working together, sharing ideas, and leveraging our collective talents to achieve our goals. We mentor those we lead and surround ourselves with people who drive us to do more than our personal best.
INNOVATION
We value those who think outside the box to elevate the company. We celebrate change, appreciating that a nimble culture attracts talent and motivates team members to push the envelope and build our business for the future.
TRANSPARENCY
Communication and integrity are the cornerstones of our relationships with each other and our customers. We speak openly about our achievements and challenges, with the goal of helping each other grow.
EMPATHY
We support our employees with patience and understanding, recognizing that work hours represent a substantial percentage of one’s time. We encourage a diverse mindset that helps us better reflect the evolving wine culture.
JOY
We recognize that our business is not just about numbers, but also about people. As a family business, we honor the importance of our employees’ home lives. We encourage fun, discovery, adventure and health for our teams.
Our Commitment to Inclusion & Equity
At Wine Enthusiast, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. As part of our commitment to fair hiring practices, we have adopted "ban the box" policies to provide individuals with criminal records a fair chance at employment. We consider all applicants on their merits and qualifications, considering their ability to perform the job.
Our family-owned company was born from a passion to bring a fine wine experience to the everyday. We believe wine is best shared with others and brings people together. In 2021, Adam and Sybil's daughters Erika Strum Silberstein and Jacqueline Strum were named co-presidents and continue to lead the mission of bringing wine to life. The second generation works together with the collective team to create new and better ways for everyone to explore and enjoy the exciting world of wine, including low-alcohol wines, non-alcohol wines, spirits, and beyond! We hope you’ll join us with a glass in hand.
The Pay Range For This Role Is
60,000 - 70,000 USD per year(200 Summit)