Parts Manager

Forge Search; Pendergrass (GA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Forge Search partners with a global manufacturing and distribution organization to appoint a National Parts Manager. You will lead a ~15-person team across parts sales support, purchasing, and inventory management, driving customer-focused service and process improvements.

The role emphasizes forecasting, supplier management, ERP system use, and cross-function collaboration with North American operations and dealers to optimize availability and profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, operations management, or related field.
• 7+ years in parts, supply chain, inventory, or related operations with leadership.
• Experience with dealers, distributors, or external partners; ERP and inventory systems.
• Strong analytical skills using KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of ~15 across parts sales support, order processing, purchasing, inventory management, parts publishing, and parts call center functions.
• Oversee inventory planning and purchasing strategies to balance stock, demand, service, and investment.
• Develop and monitor inventory forecasts, reorder points, stocking levels, and demand projections.
• Minimize backorders and improve fill rates by managing supplier performance and lead times.
• Monitor vendor performance against service KPIs and address issues affecting availability.
• Lead regional parts support and address dealer and customer concerns quickly and professionally.
• Collaborate with North American ops, parent company, suppliers, dealers, and internal teams for timely resolution.
• Partner with Service to support warranty claims, campaigns, repairs, and field needs.
• Develop and analyze parts KPIs to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Manage stock vs. emergency orders and implement availability strategies.
• Develop and execute annual parts sales budget and go-to-market plans.
• Create parts sales programs and promotions to increase revenue and dealer engagement.
• Oversee dealer parts returns and ensure accurate processing.
• Review updates to parts manuals and online resources used by the dealer network.
• Evaluate and improve e-commerce and dealer portal systems for usability and efficiency.
• Lead projects to improve inventory accountability and warehouse processes.
• Cross-functionally partner to strengthen parts support across Supply Chain, Service, Sales, Ops, IT.
• Foster a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and exceptional customer service.

Skills

Leadership

Inventory management

Forecasting

Supplier management

ERP systems

KPIs

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, operations management, business, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Inventory management software

Job description

We are partnering with a global manufacturing and distribution organization seeking an experienced Parts Manager to lead its parts operations and support dealer and customer needs across North America.

This is a highly visible leadership role that sits at the intersection of parts operations, supply chain, inventory management, and customer support. The National Parts Manager will oversee a team of approximately 15 employees responsible for parts sales support, order processing, purchasing, inventory management, parts publishing, and call center operations.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong supply chain foundation with expertise in inventory planning, forecasting, purchasing, and demand management, along with great communication skills. This individual will also play an important role in improving processes, systems, and the overall customer experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of approximately 15 employees across parts sales support, order processing, purchasing, inventory management, parts publishing, and parts call center functions.
• Oversee inventory planning and purchasing strategies to maintain appropriate stock levels while balancing customer demand, service expectations, and inventory investment.
• Develop and monitor inventory forecasts, reorder points, stocking levels, consumption trends, and demand projections to ensure appropriate parts availability.
• Minimize backorders and improve fill rates by proactively managing supplier performance, lead times, inventory levels, and purchasing requirements.
• Monitor vendor and supplier performance against established service expectations and KPIs, addressing issues that could impact parts availability or customer support.
• Lead regional parts support activities and ensure dealer and customer concerns are addressed quickly, professionally, and effectively.
• Empower team members to resolve customer issues while providing appropriate escalation and leadership support for more complex situations.
• Serve as a key liaison between North American operations, the parent company, sister companies, suppliers, dealers, and internal departments to ensure timely communication and resolution of parts-related needs.
• Partner closely with the Service team to support parts requirements associated with warranty claims, service campaigns, repairs, and other field needs.
• Develop and analyze parts-related KPIs and reporting to identify trends, service gaps, inventory opportunities, and areas for continuous improvement.
• Monitor stock versus emergency-order activity and implement strategies to improve parts availability, dealer service, and profitability.
• Develop and execute the annual parts sales budget and associated go-to-market strategies to achieve or exceed revenue goals.
• Create parts sales programs, promotions, and other initiatives designed to increase parts revenue and dealer engagement.
• Oversee annual dealer parts returns and ensure accurate and timely processing.
• Review and recommend updates to parts manuals and online resources used internally and by the dealer network.
• Evaluate and improve e-commerce and dealer parts portal systems, identifying opportunities to enhance usability, efficiency, and the overall customer experience.
• Research, develop, budget, and implement projects designed to improve inventory accountability, warehouse processes, and parts-picking accuracy.
• Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Service, Sales, Operations, Finance, IT, and other departments to continually strengthen overall parts support.
• Establish a culture of accountability, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service throughout the parts organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Logistics, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive parts, supply chain, inventory, or related operations experience, ideally within an OEM, equipment, automotive, industrial, or manufacturing environment.
• Previous leadership experience managing parts, inventory, supply chain, purchasing, or customer support organization.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, demand planning, forecasting, purchasing, replenishment, and supplier management.
• Demonstrated ability to balance inventory availability and customer service requirements with working-capital and inventory-cost considerations.
• Experience working directly with dealers, distributors, customers, or other external business partners.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data and KPIs to identify problems, anticipate needs, and drive improvements.
• Experience developing and implementing processes within a structured, process-driven environment.
• Ability to navigate challenging customer, dealer, supplier, and internal situations and drive issues toward a positive resolution.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both domestic and international stakeholders.
• Experience with ERP, inventory management, e-commerce, or dealer portal systems strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel with strong overall Microsoft Office skills.