Inventory Planning Analyst

About the role

The Inventory Planning Analyst is responsible for category inventory management across the enterprise. The role covers creating replenishment strategies, executing SKU transitions, maintaining network balance through parameters and collaborating with internal and external cross-functional partners.

Key responsibilities

• Use SAP and other systems for day-to-day inventory control, achieving high fill rates while minimizing inventory days on hand across the global supply chain.
• Identify and prioritize root causes of fill rate issues and excess inventory, and drive corrective actions across teams.
• Monitor exception reports and daily analytics to prevent stockouts, minimize days on hand and expedite delivery to fill backorders.
• Develop and run inventory strategy for new SKUs, discontinued SKUs, customer-specific positions, direct imports and seasonal needs, and audit product master data such as unit of measure, vendor SKU and case quantity.
• Partner with Inventory Analytics and Merchandising to fix fill rate and excess inventory issues, and with Demand Management to align EOQ, min/max, safety stock and velocity settings with business goals.
• Manage supplier relations on fill rate, lead time, damaged goods and returns, create import orders based on containerization requirements, and help incorporate new products, retirements, promotions and regulatory changes into demand planning.
• Support aged, obsolete and excess inventory reduction (RTV, fire sales, transfers, scrap, liquidation, donation) and analyze forward buys to limit excess inventory exposure.

Required profile

• Typically a BS/BA in a related discipline, or an MS/MA with 2-4 years of related experience.
• Generally 2-5 years of experience in a related field.
• Certification is required in some areas.
• Increasing independence, with periodic supervisor review of output; may guide or train junior staff.

Required skills

• SAP
• Data analysis and resolution of anomalies in complex data