Job DescriptionTitle: Director of Inventory Planning
Location: St. Louis, MO (On-Site)
Summary:The Director of Inventory Planning plays a key role in fueling business growth by aligning inventory strategy with customer demand and financial goals. Through strong partnership across Sales and cross-functional teams, this leader transforms insights into action-optimizing inventory, reducing risk, and maximizing service.
Minimum Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred)
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Supply Chain Planning, Inventory Management, and S&OP/IBP
- Executive presence with the ability to influence senior leaders and drive cross-functional alignment
- Proven success partnering with Sales on demand planning and inventory strategy
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Demonstrated success improving inventory performance (e.g., reducing excess/obsolete stock while improving service levels)
- Strong ERP and planning systems experience (LN preferred), with proficiency in Power BI and Salesforce
Physical Requirements:- Regular use of standard office equipment (computer, phone, copier, etc.)
- Ability to work at a computer for extended periods (up to 8 hours per day)
- Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds
- Travel up to 50% as needed
Essential Functions:Sales Partnership & Demand Alignment
- Partner with Sales leadership to proactively identifying risks and opportunities
- Support Sales in evaluating trade-offs between inventory availability, lead times, and customer commitments
- Serve as the primary liaison between Inventory Planning and Sales to align forecasts, trends, and demand
- Actively participate in S&OP and IBP processes, ensuring demand signals are clearly understood and incorporated
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Drive alignment across Supply Chain, Finance, Merchandising, and Operations with clear ownership, priorities, and timelines
- Lead initiatives to improve inventory health, reduce excess/obsolete stock, and increase inventory turns
- Partner with Finance to align inventory strategies with financial targets, including working capital and margin goals
Leadership
- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing inventory planning team
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Develop talent pipelines and succession plans within the organization
- Champion company safety and quality initiatives
Strategic Inventory Planning
- Own inventory health across Finished Goods, Purchased Finished Goods, and raw materials
- Develop and execute strategies that balance service levels, working capital efficiency, and risk mitigation
- Lead long-range and annual inventory planning aligned with business objectives and sales forecasts
- Establish frameworks for inventory segmentation, safety stock, and replenishment strategies
Reporting, Analytics & Continuous Improvement
- Define and track KPIs (forecast accuracy, inventory turns, service levels, inventory quality)
- Deliver insights and recommendations to executive leadership, highlighting risks and opportunities
- Advance planning maturity through digital tools, automation, and analytics
- Leverage systems and analytics to improve responsiveness and decision-making
- Standardize planning processes, metrics, and dashboards globally
- Implement governance structures that strengthen accountability across Sales and Planning teams
- Utilize analytics tools to provide real-time visibility into inventory performance
What We Offer:We offer a team atmosphere that fosters cooperation and creativity; a management team committed to employee development and an environment where people are empowered to make decisions. Our career opportunities offer unlimited earnings potential, and our comprehensive benefits package is among the best in the industry which includes affordable benefits, a company match 401K plan and a retirement pension plan.
