Inventory Planner — Equity + Fast-Paced Retail Impact

Grocery Outlet Inc.; Emeryville (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Bonus Program

Equity

401(k) Profit Sharing

Job summary

Grocery Outlet Inc. seeks an Inventory Planning professional to manage the health of inventory across stores and warehouses.

This hands-on role requires quick decision making, strong analytical skills, and close collaboration with store operators, buyers and distribution centers to optimize code life and turns. You will forecast demand, monitor OTB plans, and support new store openings while maintaining profitable merchandise allocation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and/or minimum of 2 years of relevant experience
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Proficient in MS Office and advanced level in Excel preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide analysis (units, sales, and margin) for SKU’s, programs, categories, and recommend corresponding strategies to maximize revenue and turn goals
• Manage departmental financial plans, Open-to-Buy, and analysis at the department, category and SKU level
• Assures the most appropriate inventory levels through careful planning and analysis of demand, usage, forecasts, industry trends
• Responsible for forecast accuracy on sales dollars, ads and case projections
• Present analytics and reports to various levels of management
• Manage inventory at warehouse level and make decisions on inner warehouse product transfers as needed
• Creates and generates daily/weekly/monthly aging reports for all buyers as needed
• Forecast and review Made-to-Order items and manage in-stock levels with buyers
• Assist buyers with updates on potential inventory or code date issues on all products
• Understanding of general transportation modes, pricing, and business practices
• Implement through allocation, the company’s Treasures Hunt philosophy and merchandise assortment strategy through effective execution of product allocation
• Execute category/sub-class trends regionally and identify specific merchandise needs through knowledge of regional and climatic characteristics
• Understands impact of seasonality and in/out items and develops control/allocation process
• Responsible for building an appropriate inventory mix to support new store openings
• Responsible for assisting and educating operators in achieving profitable results in sales, merchandising and inventory management
• Responsible for continuing to raise the level of standards of performance insuring proper representation of inventory
• Manage order flow quantities to support sales, inventory, margin, DC space plans, etc.
• Understand and execute appropriate distribution of products and maintain proper turn
• Act as an integral partner and maintain relationships with Store Operators, Sales & Merchandising, Vendors, and Distribution Centers
• Develop profitable plans and entrance and exit strategies with merchandising for seasonal and transition seasonal programs
• Develop in season pricing strategies with appropriate margin for discontinued inventories

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Multitasking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Excel

MS Office

Job description

Our Planning team’s mission is to constantly push the status quo to deliver the best service to our buying team and store operators. Our team is highly intelligent and engaged with the business- allowing us to operate in a fast-paced environment and form cross-functional partnerships. Successful members of our team maximize profitability and productivity within their department and motivate their team and cross functional partners with their energy.

About The Role:

Responsible for managing the inventory health of a segment of the Grocery Outlet business, both in store and in warehouse. This role is extremely “hands-on” and detail-oriented, requiring a person that can make quick decisions, manage key warehouse and buying relationships, and provide inventory actions for their department(s) of responsibility. Responsible for assisting the Purchasing Team in ensuring proper product inventories at all warehouses to facilitate optimum code life and turns according to G.O.I. standards. Responsible for managing the distribution of merchandise to support company plan. Recommend and execute changes as needed to ensure profitability and productivity. This position reports to the Manager, Inventory Planning.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide analysis (units, sales, and margin) for SKU’s, programs, categories, and recommend corresponding strategies to maximize revenue and turn goals
• Manage departmental financial plans, Open-to-Buy, and analysis at the department, category and SKU level
• Assures the most appropriate inventory levels through careful planning and analysis of demand, usage, forecasts, industry trends
• Responsible for forecast accuracy on sales dollars, ads and case projections
• Present analytics and reports to various levels of management
• Manage inventory at warehouse level and make decisions on inner warehouse product transfers as needed
• Creates and generates daily/weekly/monthly aging reports for all buyers as needed
• Forecast and review Made-to-Order items and manage in-stock levels with buyers
• Assist buyers with updates on potential inventory or code date issues on all products
• Understanding of general transportation modes, pricing, and business practices
• Implement through allocation, the company’s "Treasure Hunt" philosophy and merchandise assortment strategy through effective execution of product allocation
• Execute category/sub-class trends regionally and identify specific merchandise needs through knowledge of regional and climatic characteristics
• Understands impact of seasonality and “in and out” items and develops control/allocation process
• Responsible for building an appropriate inventory mix to support new store openings
• Responsible for assisting and educating operators in achieving profitable results in sales, merchandising and inventory management
• Responsible for continuing to raise the level of standards of performance insuring proper representation of inventory
• Manage order flow quantities to support sales, inventory, margin, DC space plans, etc.
• Understand and execute appropriate distribution of products and maintain proper turn
• Act as an integral partner and maintain relationships with Store Operators, Sales & Merchandising, Vendors, and Distribution Centers
• Develop profitable plans and entrance and exit strategies with merchandising for seasonal and transition seasonal programs
• Develop in season pricing strategies with appropriate margin for discontinued inventories

About The Pay:

• Base Salary Range: $75,000 - $85,000 Annually
• Annual Bonus Program
• Equity
• 401(k) Profit Sharing
• Final compensation will be determined based upon experience and skills and may vary based on location.

About You:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and/or minimum of 2 years of relevant experience
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Can successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts and margins
• Ability to deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; can make solid decisions quickly based on limited information
• Proficient in MS Office and advanced level in Excel preferred
• Strong communication skills, customer service, organization and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.