Fanatics

Manager, Inventory Readiness

Fanatics$90K — $110K *
Tampa, FL 33647In-Person
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in inventory management or related operations field
  • Strong expertise in inventory planning and supply chain operations
  • Proficient in analytical tools like MS Excel and MicroStrategy
  • Proven leadership skills with team management experience
  • Effective communication skills for presenting to management
  • Experience with external inventory distributors and VMI partners

Responsibilities

  • Lead and optimize blank inventory positioning strategy for production facilities
  • Collaborate with teams to align inventory strategy with demand and operational needs
  • Monitor inventory levels and rectify issues through strategic actions
  • Analyze positioning across internal and external networks to meet customer demand
  • Develop an understanding of company goals to inform inventory decisions
  • Drive process improvements for customer SLA enhancement
  • Manage end-to-end blank inventory readiness to support production needs

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model with in-office presence required 3 days per week
  • Opportunities for professional development and continuous improvement
  • Access to innovative tools and practices in a tech-forward environment
Full Job Description
As we continue to scale our global platform, the Inventory Readiness Manager (Blank Inventory) will play a critical role in ensuring the right blank inventory reaches the right domestic and nearshore production facility at the right time. ROLE OVERVIEW Fanatics Brands is seeking a Blank Inventory Readiness Manager to support domestic and nearshore manufacturing operations by driving blank inventory positioning strategy across internal and external production networks. This role will lead a team of 2-3 and partner closely with Inventory Supply Planning, Demand Forecasting, and Order Fulfillment teams to align inventory strategy with operational capacity, customer SLA commitments, and long-range business goals. The Inventory Readiness Manager (Blank Inventory) delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights. HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes. Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams) Cross-Functional Leadership: 30 Partner with Capacity, Order Allocations, and Manufacturing teams to optimize Fanatics Brands domestic and nearshore order fulfillment capabilities, aligning inventory positioning with network constraints and go-forward demand. 30 Collaborate with Inventory Supply Planning and Demand Forecasting teams to ensure long-range, mid-range, and short-range inventory strategy is proactively aligned with customer and operational needs. 30 Drive partnership and execution activities with external inventory distributors and VMI partners to ensure domestically available blanks are efficiently incorporated into the production inventory readiness strategy. People Leadership: 30 Lead, develop, and manage a team of 2-3 inventory readiness professionals, fostering a culture of analytical rigor, urgency, and continuous improvement. 30 Coach team members to shift focus from transactional execution toward strategic and analytical activities through automation and process improvement. Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans) 30 Monitor on-hand inventory levels across internal and external production partners to ensure positioning aligns with overall strategy, remediating issues by initiating transfer requests or additional inventory purchases as needed. 30 Analyze inventory positioning across internal and external networks - including distributor and VMI inventory not yet owned by Fanatics - to ensure alignment with current and upcoming customer demand. 30 Serve as a contributing member of the forecasting and planning process as it relates to inventory needed for domestic and nearshore replenishment production across internal and external partners. 30 Develop a broad understanding of the Fanatics Brands business beyond core responsibilities to ensure inventory decisions and strategy remain aligned with overall company goals and customer SLA targets. Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit) 30 Create and continuously improve current-state processes, systems, toolsets, and business rules to support Fanatics Brands' goal of improving customer SLA while operating profitably. 30 Establish data-driven processes and decision-making patterns by building a playbook for exception management and contributing to the development of a new virtual blanks housing system. 30 Apply a continuous improvement mindset to drive greater automation of executional and transactional activities, freeing capacity for higher-value analytical and strategic work. 30 Demonstrate strong problem-solving capabilities, providing accurate recaps of findings and solutions with timelines to upper management. Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset) 30 Own blank inventory positioning strategy end-to-end, proactively and reactively managing inventory readiness to meet domestic and nearshore production needs. 30 Exhibit a sense of urgency and constructive judgment in a fast-paced environment, meeting deadlines during peak demand periods with self-discipline and attention to detail. 30 Leverage analytical tools including MS Excel (including macros and advanced database functions), MicroStrategy, and MS Office to produce actionable insights and support inventory decision making. 30 Support the US Operations team in Tampa on special projects as needed, contributing cross-functional expertise beyond core inventory responsibilities. AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to: 30 Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes 30 Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance 30 Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working 30 Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING Required Qualifications: 30 5+ years of related professional experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, demand forecasting, or a related operations discipline. 30 Strong understanding of inventory planning, supply chain operations, and demand forecasting, with demonstrated ability to develop and execute inventory positioning strategies across internal and external networks. 30 Proficient in analytical tools including MS Excel (macros, advanced database functions), MicroStrategy, and MS Office Suite, with strong quantitative aptitude and attention to detail. 30 Proven ability to lead and manage a team, with strong collaboration and problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively across cross-functional partners including Capacity, Allocations, and Manufacturing teams. 30 Experience working with external inventory distributors and VMI partners, with the ability to drive execution and integrate third-party inventory into broader production readiness strategies. 30 Effective communication skills - written, oral, and presentation - with demonstrated ability to recap findings, solutions, and timelines clearly for upper management. 30 Willingness to travel up to 5-10% and to work additional hours during peak periods as required. Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Industrial/Systems Engineering, Logistics, or a related field required. WORK LOCATION Hybrid: The primary place of performance of this role is the Company's office located in Tampa, FL. subject to the Company's current hybrid work policy. This role currently requires in-office presence 3 days per week.

About Fanatics

Fanatics is a leading retailer of licensed sports merchandise. The company was founded in 1995 and has grown to become the largest online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise in the world. Fanatics offers a wide range of products, including jerseys, hats, and other apparel, as well as collectibles and memorabilia. The company has partnerships with all major sports leagues and teams, as well as with individual athletes. Fanatics is committed to providing a seamless shopping experience for its customers and has invested heavily in technology and logistics to ensure fast and reliable delivery.
Learn more about Fanatics
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1995

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