Full Job Description
We are seeking a strategic and transformational Vice President of Inventory to lead the development and execution of enterprise-wide inventory strategies that maximize product availability, optimize working capital, and support profitable growth across retail, eCommerce, and wholesale channels. This executive will serve as a critical bridge between Finance, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Replenishment, and Product teams, ensuring inventory investments align with customer demand, financial objectives, and business priorities.
The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with deep expertise in merchandise planning, inventory management, and supply chain optimization. They possess a strong analytical mindset, a proven track record of building high-performing teams, and experience leading large-scale business transformation initiatives, including the implementation of advanced planning systems and AI-enabled forecasting solutions. This individual thrives in a collaborative environment, influences cross-functional stakeholders at all levels, and excels at balancing strategic thinking with operational execution.
If you are passionate about leveraging data, technology, and leadership to drive inventory excellence, improve customer experience, and shape the future of a growing omnichannel business, we invite you to join GNC and make a lasting impact.
What You'll Do:
This is a Full-Time Salary Position
• Develop enterprise inventory and allocation strategies that align brand priorities, customer demand, and overall financial goals across all business channels.
• Lead the evolution of inventory and supply chain capabilities, including advanced platform implementation and transformation toward AI-enabled planning and decision-making.
• Oversee assortment planning for merchandise buy periods, ensuring appropriate breadth, depth, timing, and alignment to product and annual financial targets
• Build, lead, and scale a high-performing inventory organization with a strong focus on talent development, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop team capabilities to leverage historical data, current trends, and forward-looking insights to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and optimize business performance.
• Partner cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders (vendors), providing clear communication, strategic guidance, and alignment across Finance, Merchandising, PD, Sourcing, Replenishment, and Supply Chain.
• Manage inventory liabilities, delivery performance, and risk exposure to support profitability, service levels, and operational execution.
• Own inventory strategy, allocation, and performance, optimizing working capital, inventory turns, and service levels.
• Lead buy reviews with Merchants, Planners, Replenishment, and Supply Chain to ensure informed decisions, balanced assortments, and flawless execution.
• Participate in the cross-functional Open-to-Buy process, driving alignment, accountability, and disciplined decision-making across teams.
• Gain cross-functional consensus on assortment plans, inventory investments, and execution priorities.
• Ensure all planning activities support annual business plans, financial objectives, and long-term strategic priorities.
• Additional duties as assigned.
Environmental Factors & Working Schedule:
• Hybrid work environment, 3-4 days in-office in Pittsburgh, PA
• Regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands or fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear
• Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
• Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include long periods of computer screen usage, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low/moderate
*To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the key accountabilities of the job required
• Advanced degree (MBA, Master's) preferred
• 15+ years progressive Merchandise Planning experience required
• 10+ years in a leadership role (direct or indirect)
• Prior managerial/supervisory experience preferred
• High degree of proficiency MS Office Suite, Outlook & Internet applications
• Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem-solving, presentation, budgeting, project management (from conception to completion), & planning skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (including analysis, interpretation, & reasoning)
• Solid understanding and application of mathematical concepts
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues across the organization, as well as internal and external clients
• Ability to work well autonomously and within a team in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability to work with and influence peers and senior management
• Self-motivated with critical attention to detail, deadlines and reporting