Inventory and Products Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION
The Inventory and Products Specialist is a key member of the SIOP team, acting as a cross-functional project manager responsible for consolidating and coordinating inventory-related actions across short, mid, and long-term planning horizons. This role bridges execution (S&OE) and strategic planning (SIOP), ensuring inventory decisions are aligned with business strategy, supply plans, and financial objectives.
Position Summary
The Inventory and Products Specialist is a key member of the SIOP team, acting as a cross-functional project manager responsible for consolidating and coordinating inventory-related actions across short, mid, and long-term planning horizons. This role bridges execution (S&OE) and strategic planning (SIOP), ensuring inventory decisions are aligned with business strategy, supply plans, and financial objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Project Management & Coordination
Act as project manager for inventory-related initiatives, consolidating and coordinating actions with specific owners across short, mid, and long-term horizons
Track progress, manage timelines, and ensure accountability across all planning horizons
Serve as the primary liaison between S&OE, SIOP Supply Planning, Procurement, and Finance on inventory matters
Inventory Forecasting & Planning
Support the inventory forecasting process, while ensuring final validation and accountability remains with S&OE
Work to extend the inventory plan to 36+ months, incorporating NPDI (New Product Development and Implementation), business strategy, and data-driven methodologies
Connect SIOP plan variations to inventory implications in the mid-term (6–12 months)
NPDI & Portfolio Management
Integrate NPDI and portfolio management into the SIOP cycle
Connect E&O (Excess & Obsolescence) risk planning to mid- and long-term SIOP plans, with E&O ownership remaining on S&OE
Short-Term Execution Support
Ensure SIOP participation in weekly S&OE forums to check progress and consolidate results
Support short-term execution activities, recognizing that full accountability and responsibility remain with S&OE and the plants
Mid-Term Strategic Planning (6–12 Months)
Build and lead business cases around investment requests, addressing current capability gaps (e.g., increasing stock levels to shorten lead-time-to-customer or drive sales growth)
Collaborate with the SIOP Supply Planning team to translate SIOP plan variations into actionable inventory strategies
Work with Procurement in a structured manner to plan actions within the 6–12 month horizon
Long-Term Strategic Planning (36+ Months)
Own the long-term inventory planning process within the SIOP team
Connect "Big Bets" (what-if scenarios) to inventory planning to generate working capital (TWC) scenarios
Establish and strengthen dialogue with Finance to support scenario-based planning and TWC analysis
Drive the transition to a purely data-driven inventory planning approach
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
3–5 years of experience in inventory management, supply planning, or S&OP/SIOP processes
Strong understanding of inventory forecasting, demand-supply balancing, and working capital management
Experience building business cases and investment requests
Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and advanced Excel / data analytics tools
Excellent project management and cross-functional coordination skills
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree or MBA with a focus on Supply Chain or Operations
APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent)
Experience with NPDI processes and portfolio management
Familiarity with financial planning concepts (TWC, E&O risk management)
Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial environment
Strong data analytics capabilities and experience driving data-driven planning transformations
Competencies
Cross-Functional Leadership – Ability to influence and coordinate across multiple teams without direct authority
Analytical Thinking – Strong capability to translate data into actionable inventory strategies and business cases
Strategic Mindset – Ability to balance short-term execution needs with long-term strategic planning
Communication – Clear and effective communication with stakeholders at all levels, from plant operations to Finance and senior leadership
Process Orientation – Drive for structured, data-driven planning processes and continuous improvement
The anticipated salary range for this role Slovakia is between €25 200 to €31 500 gross per and reflects the range applicable in that jurisdiction. Certain roles may be eligible for variable compensation and benefits. Where applicable, a comprehensive overview of the full benefits package and any additional compensation will be provided during the recruitment p