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
