Global Inventory Leader/EMEA Supply Planner

Chemelex; Dzierżoniów; On-site; PLN 340,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Chemelex seeks a Global Inventory Manager to shape and govern the company’s worldwide inventory strategy. You will partner with Finance, Sales, Supply Chain, and Operations to set targets, monitor health, and lead improvement initiatives across manufacturing and distribution sites.

The role covers policy creation, demand planning impacts, and project-driven supply planning for Leuven and Poland. Strong analytics, leadership, and ERP experience are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, finance, operations management, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, materials management, or operations.
• 3+ years in a global or multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, Power BI, and SAP.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a global inventory management policy and governance framework.
• Establish standardized practices across regions, plants, and distribution centers.
• Drive global inventory optimization to support service, working capital, and profitability objectives.
• Monitor inventory performance against targets and implement corrective actions.
• Own supply planning for Leuven DC and Poland Panel Shop with project-related demand.
• Develop dashboards and executive reporting on inventory KPIs.

Skills

Inventory planning

Forecasting

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor in related field

MBA (preferred)

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Chemelex is a global leader in electric thermal and sensing solutions, protecting the world’s critical processes, places and people. With over 50 years of innovation and a commitment to excellence, we develop solutions that ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency in diverse environments – from industrial plants and data centers to people’s homes. We deliver future-ready technologies, advanced engineering capabilities and local expertise backed by global standards. Our offering includes a leading portfolio from our trusted brands: Raychem, Tracer, Nuheat and Pyrotenax.

The Global Inventory Manager is responsible for developing and executing the company's global inventory strategy to optimize working capital, improve inventory performance, maintain customer service levels, and support market lead-time requirements across all manufacturing and distribution locations. This role partners closely with Finance, Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, and Plant Leadership to establish global and site-level inventory targets, monitor inventory health, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

The Global Inventory Manager owns the creation, implementation, and governance of the company's Global Inventory Management Policy and leads analysis of inventory impacts resulting from forecast accuracy and demand planning performance. Additionally, this role is responsible for project-focused Supply Planning activities for the Leuven Distribution Center and Poland Panel Shop, ensuring material availability, adherence to customer delivery commitments, and support of project requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Global Inventory Strategy & Governance

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive Global Inventory Management Policy, including inventory classification, stocking strategies, target-setting methodologies, and governance processes.
• Establish standardized inventory management practices across all regions, plants, and distribution centers.
• Drive global inventory optimization initiatives that support service, working capital, and profitability objectives.
• Ensure alignment between inventory strategies and corporate financial goals.
• Define inventory governance standards and ensure compliance across all facilities.

Inventory Target Setting & Working Capital Management

• Partner with Finance to establish annual and quarterly inventory investment targets and working capital objectives.
• Collaborate with Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to determine global and plant-level inventory targets based on business requirements, forecasted demand, customer service expectations, and market lead-time commitments.
• Balance inventory investment against service level objectives and lead-time performance requirements.
• Monitor inventory performance against established targets and implement corrective actions where needed.

Forecast Accuracy & Inventory Impact Management

• Analyze the impact of forecast accuracy, forecast bias, and demand variability on inventory levels and working capital.
• Quantify and communicate the financial and operational inventory impacts caused by forecast inaccuracies.
• Develop and publish regular reports highlighting inventory exposure and opportunities resulting from forecast performance.
• Partner with Sales, Demand Planning, and Operations teams to identify root causes and corrective actions for forecast-related inventory issues.
• Drive accountability through KPI reporting and continuous improvement initiatives focused on forecast reliability.

Supply Planning Own Supply Planning activities for the Leuven Distribution Center and Poland Panel Shop with a primary focus on project-related demand.

• Own Supply Planning activities for the Leuven Distribution Center and Poland Panel Shop with a high focus on project-related demand.
• Develop and maintain supply plans that ensure material availability while meeting customer service level targets and market lead-time requirements.
• Coordinate with Procurement, Manufacturing, Project Management, and Operations teams to balance capacity, inventory investment, project delivery schedules, and customer commitments.
• Identify and mitigate supply and material risks that may negatively impact project execution, service levels, or lead-time performance.

Reporting & Performance Management

• Develop and maintain global inventory dashboards, KPIs, and executive reporting packages.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual inventory performance reviews for senior leadership.
• Monitor and report key metrics including:
  • Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)
  • Inventory Value
  • Working Capital Performance
  • Excess and Obsolete Inventory
  • Market Lead- Time Performance
  • Forecast Accuracy
  • Project Material Availability
• Present recommendations and business insights to executive and functional leadership teams.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison between Finance, Sales, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Operations, Procurement, and Manufacturing regarding inventory and supply planning performance.
• Facilitate inventory target reviews and business alignment discussions.
• Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes.
• Influence decision-making through data-driven analysis and strategic recommendations.
• Lead global inventory optimization and process improvement initiatives.
• Implement inventory management best practices and standard methodologies across the organization.
• Identify opportunities for system enhancements, improved planning processes, and better inventory visibility.
• Support ERP, planning system, and analytics improvements related to inventory management and supply planning.
• Strategic Inventory Management
• Working Capital Optimization
• Demand Planning & Forecast Analysis
• Data Analytics & Reporting
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Executive Communication
• Process Improvement
• Change Management
• Global Business Perspective

Success Measures:

• Achievement of global and plant-level inventory targets.
• Maintenance and improvement of customer service level performance.
• Improved DIOH, working capital performance, and inventory health metrics.
• Reduction in excess and obsolete inventory.
• Improved visibility and management of forecast-driven inventory impacts.
• Successful implementation and compliance with the Global Inventory Management Policy.
• Effective support of project execution through timely and accurate supply planning for Leuven Distribution and Poland Panel Shop.
• Enhanced collaboration between Finance, Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, and Project teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Finance, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, materials management, or operations.
• 3+ years of experience in a global or multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of inventory planning, forecasting, demand management, and working capital principles.
• Experience collaborating with Finance and commercial organizations on inventory and business planning initiatives.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and SAP
• Strong communication and executive presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or Master's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, or Business.
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) or equivalent.
• Experience with S&OP and Integrated Business Planning processes.
• Experience leading global inventory optimization programs.
• Knowledge of statistical forecasting and inventory modeling techniques.

At Chemelex:

We protect places of progress through electric excellence.

Pioneering plants, sprawling data centers, busy transport hubs, and your own home. These are the places that bring progress to the world, and the places that we protect with time-tested technologies, advanced engineering, and a suite of services. Because here, excellence is everything.

Our Dimensions of Excellence reflect the core values of Chemelex. Together, they inspire our decisions and guide our actions – defining excellence in our work for colleagues, customers and communities.

• Experts with empathy
• Example for others
• Exceptional impact

We are committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national, federal, state or local law.