Senior Inventory Analyst - Full-time / Part-time

Description

We collaborate and innovate…

Our North American Supply Chain network brings technology and people together in innovative ways to deliver state–of–the–art products, services, and expertise. Our extensive portfolio of opportunities span from traditional inventory, fulfillment and delivery to specialized strategy, automation, engineering, analytics, leadership, and logistics. Our diverse network paired with a continued commitment to and investment in our people, process, platforms and the communities in which we live and serve are the foundation on which we build our bright future.

If you are interested in leveraging your talents to drive innovation, customer satisfaction, market growth, personal development and industry change in a dynamic team work environment---please explore the opportunities within our world class Supply Chain team!

The Senior Inventory Analyst is responsible for providing leadership within the department through mentoring other associates and effectively managing their product lines (or vendors) to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction while achieving or exceeding sales, inventory, turn, and service level objectives.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage Foundational Instock
• Utilize forecasting/planning/allocation tools to order product and ensure smooth flow to stores, warehouses and fulfillment centers
• Improve forecasting using exception management tools and reporting.
• Track, expedite and maintain open purchase orders
• Communicate vendor and product issues, accurately and timely with the Merchandising team, Supply Chain and other impacted groups
• Manage the flow of information to the Merchandising team, Supply chain, and other impacted groups and set priorities for action. Pull team reports and coordinate and consolidates reporting for team.
• Manage days of supply though leadership of cross-functional Inventory Productivity initiatives (stock balancing, working inactive inventory, service levels and vendor minimums etc.)
• Take lead when teaming with Planners to help maximize sales, service levels, inventory and turn and meet objectives
• Manage more complex product lines (e.g. shorter life span, higher dollar value, highly promotional, longer planning cycles, etc).
• Partner with Replenishment Systems User Development Team to enable improvements and accuracy
• Oversee store requests and communicate for team

Ads/Promotions

• Maintain high levels of in-stock on promotions, seasonal and new customer programs
• Execute timely placement of orders. Track and expedite to meet set-up timelines and service level goals
• Proactively maintain levels of in-stock on promotional, seasonal and customer items
• Escalate Promo, Seasonal, and customer in-stock concerns to Planners and offer recommendations
• Work with Planners to proactively address Promo, Seasonal, and Customer inventory residuals

Product Transition Management

• Work with the Merchandising, Planning Network Project Teams to successfully plan and execute a variety of product and vendor transitions including New Catalog, Seasonal buys, New Items, Vendor of Record Changes etc.
• Execute against timelines to ensure seamless transitions and timely placement of orders. Provides updates to team.
• Track and expedite to meet set-up timelines and achieve service level goals
• Minimize obsolescence and balance days of supply by aggressively managing the end-to-end process including proactively updating forecasts and escalating issues and risks
• Actively partner with Network Project Teams and cross functional project teams to help define timelines and risk identification.
• With minimal direction execute inactive inventory strategy
• Take lead with POG transitions for team and vendor

Supply Chain/Vendor Relations

• Partner with Supplier Optimizers and S&OP to assist in minimizing key supplier lead times to warehouses and fulfillment centers with improved reliability
• Develop and maintain positive and effective relations with vendors to facilitate timely and accurate processing of orders and delivered product
• Work with SRM to improve vendor reliability in meeting on time standards.
• Alert Merchandising, Planning, and S&OP teams to vendor performance issues
• Demonstrates understanding of total Supply Chain implications of Inventory Management decisions
• Take lead on vendor conference calls and meetings
• Coordinate large buys with vendor community and the collect freight transportation Analyst (where appropriate).
• Take lead in new vendor set up, partnering with Merchandising team, E3 set up and EDI testing

Utilize strong knowledge of Inventory Management to mentor and assist in the development of IA's

• Foster a productive, professional work environment, supporting department initiatives and processes.
• Mentor, train, and act as positive role model for Inventory Analysts.
• Proactively seek improvements to enhance the Inventory Management process.
• Actively participate as needed on process improvement teams.
• Be recognized as "the" expert for assigned categories by Inventory Management and cross- functional teams.
• Fosters awareness among others of the total Supply Chain implications of Inventory Management and Merchandising decisions.
• Teach and participate in OVI and team training classes
• Oversee new hire training including compiling training topics and setting up training schedule

Qualifications

Basic skills:

• Bachelors Degree or related work experience
• 3-5 years of relevant work experience in Retail, .Com, or Catalog experience in Inventory Management required
• Proficient with working on a PC
• Proficient with Excel and Access skills a plus
• Ability to recognize and make recommendations for system and process customization and enhancements
• Mentor, train, and act as role model for Inventory Analysts

Preferred skills:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Self-motivation a must
• Flexible, detail-oriented with strong organizational and information-gathering skills
• Required to Pass E3 Certification exam after 90 days
• Advanced knowledge of both Replenishment and supporting systems

Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Staples