Director of Inventory Management

OVERVIEW:

The Director of Inventory Management (DIM) leads all inventory management functions, including product forecasting, materials planning and parts of supply chain management for Gardener’s Supply Company direct to consumer business. By effectively using GSC’s enterprise resource planning system and inventory forecast and materials planning system, the DIM will lead the Inventory Team to achieve a high level of customer order fill rate while delivering inventory ownership and turn rate objectives. The DIM collaborates and builds strong partnerships with internal departments. The DIM leads the inventory team, who direct GSC vendors and key supply chain providers, including inbound freight suppliers, U.S. customs and other relevant regulatory agencies. The DIM is a strong team leader and business manager, who is equally skilled and comfortable in developing business strategies to achieve superior inventory results, yet capable of hands on initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Inventory Forecasting and Analysis

• Responsible for the development and management of pre-season campaign forecasting from summary macro budget through product category and product/SKU level forecasts for all GSC direct and wholesale channels.
• Direct and manage in-season re-forecasting and inventory flow, to deliver service level objectives, inventory ownership and liquidation targets.
• Develop methodology to improve forecasting and minimizes forecast error, through the use of internal systems, to anticipate and service customer demand.
• Deliver superior business results, generated by analysis and business process improvement techniques.

Materials Management

• Develop and implement the Inventory Value Budget that balances financial planning while achieving customer service targets.
• Collaborate with GSC Distribution Center to coordinate warehouse capacity planning, in-bound traffic and seasonal changeover. Coordinates demand and material flow planning with GSC’s manufacturing division, Serac and all drop ship vendors.
• Provide weekly incoming materials report to Distribution Center Material Handling department for use in labor scheduling and planning.
• Initiate and coordinate timely handling of all RTV’s and disposition of defective inventory.

Logistics and Vendor Management

• In coordination with the Product Sourcing team, assist in managing relationships with product vendors, buying agencies, freight carriers, freight forwarders and assembly providers.
• Negotiate and manage global inbound freight provider contracts to deliver optimal service and value to GSC.
• Direct and update the Vendor Manual and enforce vendor compliance.
• Create, implement and maintain Vendor assessment tool report card report to provide feedback to Merchandising and vendors.
• GSC Subject Matter Expert in U.S. custom regulation and practice.

Team Leadership

• Lead and coach Inventory Management staff in strategies to achieve service levels and corporate profitability goals.
• Coach and mentor all personnel to assist and enhance their job performance. Conduct performance reviews in which individual goals are agreed upon to ensure that each staff member is supported and productive.
• Network within the direct industry peer group to learn and develop best practices that are implemented by the GSC Inventory team.
• Identify and develop reporting to provide analysis and information when needed by other departments

Financial Planning and Reporting

• As part of the GSC fiscal budgeting process, develop the Inventory Value budget and manage to a rolling 12 month Inventory Value reforecast.
• Routinely report key metrics and inventory performance to internal stakeholders.
• Develop Liquidation Strategies that address volume and channel requirements to deliver cost recovery targets. Lead and coordinate internal and external effort to deliver the strategy and directs/coordinates all liquidation efforts across channels.
• Maintain Cost of Goods Percentage metrics and setting the annual budget. Serve as a key member in driving the processes to achieve target.
• Maintain reporting for financial metrics including product margins.

Systems Expertise

• The Director of Inventory Management is the GSC Subject Matter Expert and Superuser of Systems. Partner with other departments to leverage tools to deliver product assortment planning and achieve a balance scorecard of inventory metrics: service level, in-stock level, backorder levels and inventory turn rate.
• Highly knowledgeable in using GSC’s reporting capability and collaborates with IT and other departments to establish standardized reporting and ad-hoc reporting and analysis.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Certification in Supply Chain management or Purchasing/Inventory Management is a plus.
• Ten years purchasing and inventory management experience, with 5-7 years of management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and work collaboratively across functions.
• Strong communication, negotiation, business analysis and management skills.
• Deep experience in Net Suite would be beneficial.
• Forecasting and analytical skills, utilizing both internal and web based external tools.
• Demonstrated experience managing global vendors, inclusive of manufacturing contracts, purchase orders and financial instruments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage supply chain, inclusive of global freight logistics and U.S. customs regulation.
• Strong skills and application of Microsoft Office Suite
• Demonstrated success in maintaining a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner leading to productive relationships with customers, clients, co-workers and management.