Director - Inventory

CSS; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

CSS seeks a Director of Inventory to develop and execute an integrated inventory management strategy that optimizes investment while delivering high service levels. You will lead best-practice development, forecasts, and cross-functional programs across leadership, stakeholders and partners.

The role emphasizes driving inventory optimization, establishing KPIs, coaching teams, and aligning plans with business goals while traveling up to 25% as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred.
• 10+ years in inventory management including negotiations and contract language.
• 10+ years collaborating with business operations and functional groups.
• 8+ years in management/supervisory roles.
• 8+ years leading change management initiatives.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence individuals and teams even without direct reporting lines.
• 10+ years leadership experience with vision and direction.
• 10+ years facilitating multidisciplinary workshops (Kaizens, problem solving).
• 10+ years change management leadership experience and coaching abilities.
• Travel up to 25% willingness.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders to identify opportunities to improve inventory.
• Lead team to create and execute inventory optimization plans and forecasts.
• Develop standards, metrics, and procedures to maximize efficiency.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to optimize inventory capabilities.
• Collaborate with business units on strategic plans aligned with goals.
• Carry out process improvements and standardize best practices.
• Define standardized KPIs based on industry best practices and deploy them.
• Coordinate with internal/external teams to resolve vendor issues.
• Coach and mentor staff to support career development.
• Recruit and develop talent for future leadership.

Skills

Inventory management

Forecasting

Vendor negotiations

Change management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Strategic planning

Staff mentorship

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

Job description

As the Director – Inventory, you will be responsible for developing and executing the Inventory Management strategy to optimize investment while providing high-level service to customers. You will develop and drive inventory best practices, collaborating with leadership, stakeholders and business partners.

Responsibilities

• Partner with other leaders across the supply chain and business to identify new opportunities to drive inventory improvements
• Lead Inventory team to create, implement, and execute inventory optimization plans and programs, developing forecasts for future demand
• Develop standards, metrics, and procedures that maximizes inventory management efficiencies
• Drive cross-functional teams and stakeholder to optimize inventory capabilities and develop best inventory management practices
• Collaborate with business units to build strategic plan that aligns with business goals
• Develop and carry out process improvement initiatives and collaborates with functional areas to identify best practices and process standardization.
• Define standardized KPI's based on industry best practices and ensures that these KPI's are successfully deployed
• Partner with internal/external teams to solve vendor issues, manage vendor changes and plan for product additions
• Act as coach and mentor to support career development plans
• Recruit and develop term, focusing on future leadership potential and succession planning

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred
• 10 years of experience of inventory management, including negotiations and knowledge of key contractual language
• 10 years demonstrated experience collaborating with business operations and functional groups
• 8 years management/supervisory experience
• 8 years of experience leading change management
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to influence individuals and teams with or without reporting relationships
• 10+ years leadership experience with proven ability to formulate and communicate clear vision and sense of direction and mobilize people preferred
• 10+ years of experience organizing and facilitating multidisciplinary teams through structured workshops (strategic session, Kaizens, problem solving sessions)preferred
• 10+ years change management leadership experience including ability to communicate a need for change, create all necessary conditions for successful change and overcome different forms of resistance preferred
• 10+ years proven coaching and training experience including the ability to facilitate team members to develop their skills and abilities to achieve agreed upon objectives preferred
• Ability to travel up to 25%