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