Position Summary:
TCL North America is seeking a Home Comfort and HVAC Operations Manager to support operational execution, supply planning, inventory management, and process improvement across TCL's Comfort & HVAC business and its HVAC and Retail AC distribution channels. This role is responsible for coordinating end-to-end business operations, managing Production, Sales, and Inventory (PSI) planning, supporting order fulfillment, maintaining accurate customer and system data, and improving operational processes to ensure alignment with business objectives, customer requirements, service levels, and cost targets.
The ideal candidate brings strong supply chain and operational experience, a solid understanding of demand planning and inventory management, and a demonstrated ability to coordinate complex workflows across multiple functions. This individual will work closely with Sales, Product, Finance, Logistics, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and global factory teams to support accurate forecasting, effective inventory flow, timely order execution, and operational performance. Reporting to the GM, Comfort & HVAC, the Manager will serve as a key operational partner, driving process consistency, cross-functional coordination, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced, seasonal business environment.
Duties may include but are not limited to:
S&OP, PSI & Demand Planning
- S&OP Coordination: Coordinate Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) across Comfort & HVAC categories, aligning sales forecasts, production schedules, supply plans, and inventory targets.
- PSI Management: Maintain Production, Sales, and Inventory (PSI) plans and reports to provide visibility into demand, supply availability, and projected inventory positions.
- Forecast Planning: Consolidate monthly and quarterly sales forecasts, validate assumptions, identify variances, and coordinate adjustments with Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, Product, and global factory teams.
- Supply Planning & Risk Management: Assess demand changes, production constraints, and supply gaps; coordinate mitigation plans and escalate risks affecting inventory availability, customer commitments, or business performance.
- Planning Process Improvement: Improve forecasting accuracy, PSI reporting, and coordination across commercial, supply chain, and factory teams.
Inventory Management & Supply Chain Coordination
- Inventory Optimization: Monitor inventory across distribution channels and warehouses to maintain service levels while minimizing excess, aging, and obsolete inventory and improving inventory turns and working capital efficiency.
- Production & Factory Coordination: Partner with global factory teams to track production schedules, supply commitments, product availability, and inbound shipments, proactively addressing potential delays.
- Inventory Allocation & Replenishment: Evaluate inventory against sales demand, customer orders, and target stock levels to support replenishment, allocation decisions, and stockout prevention.
- Product Lifecycle Transitions: Coordinate inventory planning for new product introductions, assortment changes, product transitions, and end-of-life activities to minimize disruption and inventory exposure.
- Cross-Functional Supply Alignment: Collaborate with Sales, Logistics, Supply Chain, and global manufacturing partners to resolve supply constraints and adjust operational plans to changing business needs.
Order Management & Fulfillment Execution
- End-to-End Order Management: Coordinate order processing from receipt through shipment, ensuring accuracy, timely fulfillment, and alignment with customer requirements.
- Fulfillment Coordination: Partner with Logistics, warehouse teams, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customer Service to monitor order status, coordinate shipments, and resolve order discrepancies, product availability issues, and delivery delays.
- Customer Service & Issue Resolution: Address customer order inquiries and fulfillment issues through timely communication, cross-functional coordination, and structured follow-up.
- Service Level Management: Monitor fulfillment performance against customer commitments, identify service risks, and implement corrective actions to improve order accuracy and on-time delivery.
- Operational Efficiency & Cost Control: Identify opportunities to reduce processing errors, streamline workflows, and balance customer service requirements with margin and operational cost objectives.
Operational Reporting, Performance & Business Analysis
- KPI Monitoring: Track and analyze forecast accuracy, order fill rates, on-time shipments, inventory turns, inventory aging, and other operational performance indicators.
- Performance Reporting: Prepare operational reports, dashboards, and management updates highlighting performance trends, variances, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Forecast & Inventory Analysis: Evaluate demand trends, forecast variances, inventory positions, and supply availability to support planning decisions and identify operational or financial impacts.
- Root Cause Analysis: Investigate recurring order issues, inventory imbalances, reporting discrepancies, and process inefficiencies; recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Data-Driven Recommendations: Translate operational performance insights into actionable recommendations to improve planning accuracy, inventory efficiency, service levels, and cost control.
Customer Master Data, Systems & Process Management
- Customer & Pricing Data Management: Ensure accurate setup and maintenance of customer master records, pricing structures, and account information to support order processing and invoicing.
- ERP & Data Integrity: Maintain accurate and consistent information across ERP and other operational systems, resolving data gaps and system discrepancies that affect business execution.
- Order-to-Invoice Coordination: Partner with Sales, Finance, and Customer Service to resolve system or process issues affecting order accuracy, invoicing, and transaction flow.
- Process Documentation & Standardization: Develop and maintain operational procedures, reporting templates, and workflow documentation to improve consistency, accuracy, and accountability.
- Systems & Process Improvement: Coordinate with internal stakeholders and system support teams to resolve operational system issues and improve order management and reporting processes.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Continuous Improvement
- Operational Process Ownership: Lead coordination and execution of assigned operational workflows, ensuring clear responsibilities, timely follow-up, and consistent delivery across teams.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement improvements to supply planning, order processing, inventory management, reporting, and overall operational efficiency.
- Project Coordination: Manage operational initiatives, timelines, deliverables, and action items to ensure completion according to business priorities and deadlines.
- Stakeholder Communication: Maintain clear communication across Sales, Product, Finance, Logistics, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and global factory teams regarding operational priorities, execution status, and risks.
- Issue Resolution & Escalation: Drive cross-functional resolution of operational challenges and escalate significant risks or decisions requiring management attention.
- Operational Alignment & Scalability: Ensure processes support revenue growth, customer satisfaction, inventory efficiency, and cost control while establishing standardized workflows that can scale with the Comfort & HVAC business.
- Additional Responsibilities: Support other operational initiatives, business projects, process improvement activities, and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualification/Requirements:
Required/Must Haves
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business Administration, Logistics, or a related field preferred; equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.
- 5+ years of experience in supply chain, operations, demand planning, inventory management, or order fulfillment, preferably within durable goods, appliances, HVAC, or related industries.
- Strong understanding of S&OP, PSI planning, demand forecasting, inventory management, supply planning, and order fulfillment processes.
- Experience coordinating forecasts, aligning demand with supply availability, managing order processing, and maintaining customer master data, pricing, and ERP system records.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to develop and interpret operational reports, dashboards, and key performance metrics.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines, and operational workflows.
- Demonstrated ability to identify operational risks, investigate discrepancies, resolve issues, and implement corrective actions across cross-functional teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across domestic and international stakeholders and escalate issues appropriately.
- Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to take ownership of operational processes, drive continuous improvement, and deliver initiatives through completion.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, seasonal business environment while balancing customer requirements, service levels, inventory availability, and cost objectives.
- Ability to work in a hybrid office environment in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% as needed.
Nice to Haves
- Experience in HVAC, air conditioning, home appliances, consumer electronics, or other durable goods industries, particularly with a manufacturer or distributor.
- Experience supporting both retail and distribution channel operations.
- Experience coordinating S&OP cycles, PSI reporting, production schedules, and inventory allocation across multiple product categories.
- Experience working with global factories, international headquarters, overseas suppliers, or manufacturing partners.
- Familiarity with ERP, order management, supply planning, inventory management, and business intelligence systems.
- Experience monitoring forecast accuracy, order fill rates, on-time shipments, inventory turns, inventory aging, and other operational KPIs.
- Experience managing order-to-invoice processes, customer master data, pricing structures, and related system controls.
- Experience leading cross-functional process improvements, workflow optimization, process standardization, or reporting automation.
- Experience optimizing working capital, inventory levels, customer service, and operational costs in a seasonal business environment.
Working Conditions:- This is an in-person position based in TCL's Minnesota office area, supporting supply planning, inventory management, order fulfillment, and operational execution for TCL North America's Comfort & HVAC business.
- Travel of up to 10% may be required for operational reviews, business meetings, and supplier or factory coordination.
- The role involves regular collaboration with domestic and international stakeholders across commercial, finance, logistics, supply chain, customer service, and global factory teams.
- Work includes operational planning, reporting, inventory and order management, system maintenance, and process improvement in a fast-paced, seasonal business environment.
Cognitive and Physical Demands:- Daily: Extended computer use, spreadsheet analysis, operational reporting, inventory tracking, order management, and stakeholder communication.
- Frequent: Analysis of forecasts, PSI reports, inventory levels, shipment schedules, and operational KPIs to support planning and execution decisions.
- Frequent: Coordination of multiple workflows, management of deadlines, resolution of operational discrepancies, and follow-up with domestic and international stakeholders.
- Frequent: Evaluation of process inefficiencies, root cause analysis, and development of recommendations to improve accuracy, service levels, and cost control.
- Periodic: Domestic travel, supplier or factory visits, and in-person business meetings; walking and standing may be required during facility visits.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, maintain attention to detail, adapt to changing operational needs, and drive processes and improvement initiatives through completion.
Benefits:- Vacation: Starting at 10 days per year
- Health & Wellness Days: 10 days per year (prorated based on start date)
- Paid Holidays: 12 days per year
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 401(k) & Retirement Plan
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary Range: $85,000 - $120,000
