Senior Manager, Supply Inventory Strategy & Performance

Guest Supply; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Guest Supply in Rahway, NJ seeks a Senior Manager to lead inventory strategy and performance, driving health, service levels, and capacity planning through data-driven decision-making. This role guides a team and collaborates with field leadership and operations to optimize inventory flow and service.

The position emphasizes analytical leadership, cross-functional influence, and talent development across supply chain disciplines.

Qualifications

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Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership to Inventory Performance Managers.
• Monitor and improve service levels across customer segments and geographies.
• Direct analysis of inventory levels and aging to optimize stock and forecast alignment.
• Oversee capacity planning and demand forecasting collaboration with field teams.
• Lead monthly performance reporting to executive leadership and cross-functional partners.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

SAP

JDA

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Supply Inventory Strategy & Performance will lead the strategic direction, execution, and oversight of inventory health, customer service levels, capacity planning, and demand alignment. This leadership role is accountable for guiding and supporting a team focused on optimizing inventory performance and driving supply chain efficiency through data-driven decision-making.

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Supply Inventory Strategy & Performance will lead the strategic direction, execution, and oversight of inventory health, customer service levels, capacity planning, and demand alignment. This leadership role is accountable for guiding and supporting a team focused on optimizing inventory performance and driving supply chain efficiency through data-driven decision-making. Acting as a key liaison between field leadership, and operations, this individual will ensure alignment across functions, identify trends, and implement initiatives that improve service levels and inventory flow. This role requires a proactive leader with strong analytical and communication skills, capable of influencing cross-functional teams and mentoring talent.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Oversight

• Provide leadership and direction to the Inventory Performance Managers.
• Develop strategic initiatives to improve inventory performance and service reliability.
• Identify inventory performance gaps and create action plans for improvement.

Customer Service Level Management

• Monitor and analyze service levels across customer segments and geographies.
• Lead service level root cause analysis and corrective action planning.
• Guide the resolution of escalated customer inventory issues, including Red Alert Customers.

Inventory Level Optimization

• Direct analysis of Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) at both USBL and category levels.
• Serve at a leadership level to monitor inventory levels across customer groups to ensure stock aligns with forecasted demand and service expectations.
• Champion initiatives to reduce excess inventory while maintaining service targets.

Aged & Obsolete Inventory Management

• Supervise reporting and reduction strategies for aged and obsolete inventory.
• Ensure consistent review of inactive and slow-moving items with mitigation plans.
• Monitor and guide oversight of single-site items to reduce obsolescence risk.

Capacity Planning & Response

• Lead development and execution of reserve capacity strategies by temperature zone.
• Serve as the additional leadership point of contact for the PO Prioritization and Capacity Response process.

Demand Planning Support

• Partner with business stakeholders to advise on demand forecasting strategies.
• Validate and communicate forecast accuracy and local demand trends.
• Drive seasonal planning efforts in collaboration with local field teams.

Reporting & Collaboration

• Deliver monthly performance reports and insights to executive leadership.
• Foster strong cross-functional relationships with Sales and Operations.
• Support change management and continuous improvement through influence and collaboration.

List Of Additional Role Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Cross‑Functional Alignment

• Own end-to-end buying and material planning activities across multiple categories including raw materials, packaging materials, buying and planning.
• Align supply, inventory, and purchasing strategies with organizational goals, global initiatives, and the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop, implement, drive continuous improvement and coordinate with manufacturing operations to meet service levels and demand, inventory control, and planning policies, procedures, and work instructions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Distribution Centers to optimize service levels and working capital performance.
• Support the sourcing team to negotiate and manage purchase agreements and contracts, including pricing, payment terms, service levels, quality standards and risk mitigation.

Supply Planning, Buying & Inventory Management

• Lead demand forecasting and supply planning activities for assigned Business Units; ensure ERP system accuracy for purchasing status, lead times, and replenishment parameters.
• Monitor inventory levels, turns, and aged inventory; review 90+ day inventory and execute actions to reduce excess and obsolete inventory, including redistribution, return to vendor, or material destruction.
• Monitor cap variance on the P&L for all materials purchased.

Supplier Management & Procurement Excellence

• Develop, evaluate, and maintain a qualified supplier base; establish long-term partnerships with key suppliers and conduct regular supplier audits and performance evaluations.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers to support innovation, reduce costs, and improve supply chain resilience.
• Resolve procurement and supply issues such as delivery delays, quality concerns, back-orders, return-to-vendor activities, warehouse receiving discrepancies, and miss-picks to ensure continuity of operations.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs such as OTIF, defect rates, compliance, and cost performance.
• Negotiate and manage purchasing contracts to improve key terms including price, payment terms, delivery lead time, quality standards and after-sales service, ensure quality and mitigate risks.
• Authorize and oversee material disposition processes including Return to Vendor (RTV), Material Service Requests (MSR), and Material Destruction Authorizations in accordance with regulatory and internal controls.
• Identify and mitigate supply risks through dual sourcing, safety stock strategies, and supplier diversification.

Regulatory Compliance, Quality & Sustainability

• Maintain accurate and complete documentation for audits, quality checks, and regulatory submissions. Ensure all suppliers meet cosmetic industry standards (ISO 22716, GMP, FDA guidelines, EU regulations, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, FDA, and internal company policies across procurement, inventory, and supplier management processes.
• Manage certification and sustainability requirements (e.g., RSPO, FSC), including supplier certification validation, documentation maintenance, and audit readiness.

Master Data Governance & Reporting

• Maintain governance over master data related to current and launch materials, suppliers, pricing, lead times, and certifications to ensure data integrity and operational effectiveness.
• Develop and publish master data error and consistency reports to ensure operational accuracy.
• Deliver monthly performance reports and insights to executive leadership.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop teams across supply planning, purchasing, and inventory performance.
• Establish KPIs, performance goals, and training plans to build organizational capability.
• Oversee daily activities of the team, ensuring timely ordering, warehouse coordination, supplier communication, and responsive issue resolution across Business Units.
• Guide subordinates in supplier development, price inquiry and comparison, contract signing and other work, and improve the overall professional procurement capabilities of the team.

Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 5–7 years in supply chain operations, demand planning, or inventory management, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in interpreting complex data sets.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to influence at all levels.
• Proven ability to manage teams, prioritize tasks, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with inventory planning systems, demand forecasting tools, and data visualization platforms.

Skills

• Experience with supply chain platforms such as SAP, JDA, Oracle, or similar.
• Proficiency in Excel, Power BI, or other analytics tools.
• Knowledge of foodservice or distribution industry is a plus.