The Director of Inventory Optimization will champion continuous improvement and guide his/her team across various functions to optimize sales and inventory levels. This will be achieved through implementing diverse inventory strategies throughout the supply chain, distribution centers, and stores. Optimization opportunities include, but are not limited to, store and distribution center safety stock parameters, vendor ordering quantities & strategy, store order multiples, and other aspects of inventory strategy. This role will support the Executive Director of Inventory Planning and Strategy, as well as other cross-functional leaders.

The Director will oversee all activities related to Inventory Optimization, which includes developing processes, driving advanced analytics, and creating methodologies to support business operations. This role requires balancing advanced analytical techniques and inventory strategy with strong collaboration and effective communication across multiple levels and functions.

The Director of Inventory Optimization will provide strategic support and innovative thought leadership to help the Inventory department and the supply chain achieve world-class results.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Optimization team by developing individual team members, achieving department goals, and maintaining strong engagement
• Ensure compliance with core company values and drive continuous improvement and best practices across the team
• Manage inventory targets, across safety stock, max targets, ordering quantities, and other elements, to achieve optimal levels of inventory across the supply chain and stores
• Provide independent guidance, recommendations, and support across the organization and Supply Chain so the inventory departments can achieve key objectives
• Deploy best business practices for optimizing sales through effective Inventory management of different assortments, inventory levels, and techniques on a sku/store and sku/DC basis
• Analyze large amounts of information to discover trends, patterns and opportunities, with the ability to summarize those key insights and propose actionable next steps to stakeholders
• Clearly present analytics and models to business leaders and cross-functional partners with articulated insights, business rationale, and future path/goal
• Learn about existing Inventory department processes to find opportunities to improve models, processes, or analytics; automate reporting; and highlight key insights
• Teach individuals how to best utilize new analytics / models in order to drive actionable insights and business results
• Develop, implement, and disseminate metrics/KPIs about performance, sales, and outcomes including dashboards and data visualization toolsets.
• Leverage predictive models and develop ROI tracking to measure results of business strategies
• Work closely and build relationships with the internal Supply Chain Operations, Store, Finance, Operations, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Information Technology teams.
• Function as a technical point of escalation, analytical problem solver and technical translator to internal teams and clients.
• Provide ongoing strategic direction/vision for advanced analytics, scoring and strategy insights.
• Highly team-oriented in nature, collaborate and work cross-functionally, presenting as an Inventory leader to partner with DC, Store Operations, Merchant, Forecasting, and Inv. Partners.

Scope

• Staff supervision and development: Yes
• Decision making:
  • Uses independent judgment and looks at the larger picture to manage company-wide initiatives that help achieve long-term goals; Provides strategic thought partnership with Sr Leadership to drive future business decisions; gathers and performs data analytics to develop findings and provide recommendations; manages and leads other people leaders just below them, serving as a mentor and ensuring their leaders implement company policies, procedures and initiatives correctly.
• Travel: Up to 5%
• Flex Designation: Anywhere

The anticipated salary range for this position is $172,960 – $216,200 depending on location, knowledge, skills, education and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits to Associates (and their families) such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability. Eligible Associates are able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan, as well as a deferred compensation plan. Associates will accrue paid time off up to 236 hours per year, (inclusive of PTO, floating holidays and paid holidays). Paid sick time up to 80 hours per year unless otherwise required by law.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering or Business
• Master's preferred
• 10+ years of progressive responsibility within Business Analytics, Inventory, Supply Chain or Retail Management
• 5+ years of experience as a people or project leader, successfully leading and guiding high-performance teams
• 3+ years of experience leading efforts to optimize and improve inventory strategies related to safety stock, ordering parameters, and other techniques

Skills

• This position is not strictly technical and will also require polished leadership skills, business acumen and deep analytical breadth which calls for a self-starter with genuine investigative talents to make analytical inquiries into all areas of our enterprise processes.
• Deep understanding of ERP systems and Inventory optimization techniques, including business analytics and statistical modeling experience
• Demonstrate strong and progressive team leadership skills with a proven track record as a decision maker
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to present ideas and new concepts clearly and concisely to various levels of management
• Possess an ability to successfully work with other team members across departments and multiple levels of authority
• Strong time management and project management skills with the ability to prioritize and focus on most critical tasks in a fast paced environment to achieving business needs
• Ability to handle, translate, and summarize the meaning of large amounts of data
• Ability to frame complex problems, apply creative analytics and formulate a pragmatic solution
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and proposing solutions to achieve business objectives in an ambiguous environment
• Possess an ability to successfully work with other team members across departments and multiple levels of authority
• Advanced knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint and modeling software

Physical Requirements
Corporate - Remote - General office environment requiring ability to:

• Stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time .
• Speak and listen to others in person and over the phone and video conferencing.
• Use keyboard and read from computer screen and reports.
• The ability to lift up to 15 lbs.

Safety
Must be able to perform this job safely in accordance with standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices, without endangering the health or safety of self or others.

We’re a 45 year-old, $8 billion national tool retailer with the energy, enthusiasm, and growth potential of a start-up. We have over 1,600 stores in 48 states across the country and are opening several new locations every week. We offer our customers more than 7,000 tools and accessories, from hand tools and generators to air and power tools, from shop equipment to automotive tools. We provide our customers with the right tool for the right job at the right price, always delivering quality and value.