Inventory Planner

Job Summary: The Inventory Planner facilitates effective two-way communication between local branch sales and operations teams and centralized purchasing and demand planning teams with respect to demand forecasts, inventory availability, slow-move inventory reduction, and supplier performance. Provides inventory, demand planning, and purchasing consultation to branches and acts as a primary contact point within the assigned region. Provides oversight, analysis, and coordination of project inventory to ensure that inventory availability, inventory turnover, and profitability are maximized throughout project duration. Engages branch sales teams assigned to key open-market customers, reviews customer-specific inventory service and performance, and proactively addresses branch or customer concerns related to inventory or purchasing activities.

Essential Functions: Collaborates with branch leadership on aggregate demand forecasts and makes adjustments according to qualitative or anecdotal feedback. Identifies seasonal product families for each branch and schedules follow up reviews based on seasonal patterns. Collaborates with branch support inventory demand planners and purchasing specialist on inventory ramp-up/down. Facilitates communication between branch and the Branch Support Center regarding product and/or vendor conversion projects. Initiates communication with branch support and branch stakeholders, stocking parameter setup and purchasing activities to support various project phases. Provides oversight and analysis of project inventory availability, sales order date management, project status. Ensures stocking parameters and inventory are phased out to avoid overstock at each project's termination. Conducts regular reviews of consignment inventory levels and turnover by customer. Facilitates any changes to consigned inventory though applicable account managers. Reviews product stocking status with branch operations, counter, and inside sales staff with a focus on removing reorder points on unnecessary slow-moving products, adding reorder points on non-stocking products with sufficient sales history, and maintaining complete product offerings on key "service item" product families. Collaborates with branch leadership and sales and inventory teams to solicit and provide feedback regarding operational effectiveness, strategy, and updates to ensure effective inventory management. Communicates scorecard information, key findings, and inventory updates to inventory and purchasing team and the executive council. Non-Essential Functions: Presents updates, strategy changes, and other key information regarding inventory and purchasing at committee meetings. Coordinates and leads frequent inventory committee meetings with branch leadership, account managers, demand planners and buyers. Reviews regional hub and spoke settings. Participates in vendor and product training. Attends regional trade shows and sales planning events. Completes other duties as assigned by manager or other designate.

Qualifications: Four year business or technical degree or equivalent in work experience. 2+ years of experience in an inventory management, supply chain, or demand/supply planning role. Solid understanding of demand planning and forecasting concepts (trending, seasonality, etc.), inventory management, and stocking parameters such as order points, lead times and quantities, distribution networks, and hub-spoke replenishment. Strong data analysis and manipulation skills – MS Excel/Access. Experience in wholesale distribution, electrical manufacturing, or electrical wholesaling is preferred. Familiarity with the electrical wholesaling industry and electrical products is preferred.

Skills and Abilities: Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills. Ability to take a collaborative approach to solving problems. Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.