Senior Manager Inventory Controlling Europe

PUMA SE; Herzogenaurach; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

PUMA is seeking a seasoned Inventory Controller to drive stock visibility and optimization across Europe. You will monitor stock, forecast demand, and collaborate with Merchandising, Sales, and Supply Chain to align plans with budgets and working capital targets.

You will develop dashboards in Excel/Power BI, analyze turnover and DSI, and present actionable recommendations to senior leadership in Europe. Fluency in English; German a plus.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in inventory controlling, demand planning, supply chain finance, or merchandising operations.
• Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI; SAP S4HANA and planning tools are a plus.
• Understanding of seasonal retail/wholesale flow and financial working capital drivers.
• Excellent cross-functional communication to translate stock reporting into actionable decisions.

Responsibilities

• Monitor stock levels, turnover, and coverage across channels to maintain optimal availability.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Sales, and Supply Chain to align purchasing plans with forecasts and budgets.
• Develop and maintain dashboards tracking stock turnover and Days Sales of Inventory (DSI).
• Project future inventory levels and ageing; highlight critical stock positions.
• Identify slow-moving inventory and coordinate clearance or alternative strategies.
• Advise European Management on improving stock levels and ageing in Europe.
• Prepare and facilitate monthly inventory meetings with European Senior Leadership.
• Provide free stock overviews and liquidation-ready article lists.

Skills

Demand planning

Inventory management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Supply Chain

Tools

Excel

Power BI

SAP S4HANA

Anaplan

O9 Solutions

Job description

SPEED & SPIRIT is what we look for in our candidates, defined by some simple values that inspire us to BE DRIVEN in our performance, BE VIBRANT in our sporting legacy, BE TOGETHER in our team spirit, and BE YOU to let our individual talent and experience shine. Applying for a job at PUMA is easy and all genders are welcome.

YOUR MISSION:

• Monitor and analyse stock levels, stock turnover, and coverage across all distribution channels to maintain optimal product availability while minimizing excess or obsolete inventory.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Sales, and Supply Chain teams to align purchasing plans with demand forecasts, Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, and working capital targets.
• Develop and maintain dashboards tracking key metrics, including stock turnover and Days Sales of Inventory (DSI)
• Project future inventory levels and ageing structure of the inventory. Highlight critical stock positions, such as license articles or stock that is not up to date anymore
• Identify slow-moving inventory early. Collaborate with Sales and Merchandising to execute timely clearance, outlet, or other alternative strategies.
• Recommend a detailed action plan to the European Management on how to improve PUMAs stock levels and ageing structure in Europe
• Prepare and facilitate a monthly inventory meeting with the European Senior Leadership Team
• Provide free stock overviews and dedicated article lists for liquidation purposes on a regular basis

YOUR TALENT:

• Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in inventory controlling, demand planning, supply chain finance, or merchandising operations within the sporting goods, athletic footwear, outdoor, or apparel industries.
• Education: Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related commercial field.
• System knowledge: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power-BI. Experience with SAP S4 Hana and planning solutions such as Anaplan, O9 solutions, etc considered as a plus.
• Commercial & Analytical Mindset: Strong understanding of seasonal retail/wholesale flow, pre-order vs. re-order dynamics, and financial working capital drivers.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Strong communication skills to effectively translate complex stock reporting into actionable decisions for Merchandising, Sales, and Senior Leadership.

PUMA provides equal opportunities for all job applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Equality for all is one of the core principles at PUMA and we do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination.

At PUMA, every application is reviewed by real people who are committed to fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity - no matter your background, identity, or experience. To ensure our process stays true to these values, no automated systems or AI tools are used to make hiring decisions. Every decision is made by real people -with real judgment and accountability. We may use functions supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to carry out isolated organizational steps, such as scheduling interviews. These functions have no influence on decisions in the application process. We believe in creating spaces where everyone is welcome, celebrated, and empowered to contribute authentically. Because at PUMA, whoever wants to play, can play.

PUMA is a global sports brand creating footwear, apparel, and accessories that inspire athletes and everyday movers. The PUMA Group owns PUMA, Cobra Golf, and stichd, operates in 120+ countries, and has around 22,000 employees worldwide.