Supply & Demand Inventory Planner

Educators Resource; Semmes (AL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Professional development

Job summary

Educators Resource, Semmes, AL, is seeking a Supply & Demand Inventory Planner to ensure product availability across our warehouse network. You will forecast demand, manage purchase orders, and maintain stock levels to meet customer needs while optimizing inventory turns.

You will build strong vendor relationships, monitor supplier performance, analyze sales trends, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to prevent shortages and backorders.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field preferred.
• Three+ years in inventory planning, purchasing, or supply chain preferred.
• Experience in wholesale distribution, manufacturing, or inventory-driven environments is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and comfortable with ERP and purchasing systems.

Responsibilities

• Maintain inventory to support customer demand across multiple warehouses.
• Forecast inventory needs, place and manage purchase orders, monitor lead times.
• Communicate supply concerns and collaborate with teams to resolve shortages.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Vendor communication

Data-driven decision making

Excel

ERP software

Education

Associate degree in Business / Supply Chain

Tools

ERP software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Semmes Alabama - Semmes, AL 36575

Position Type: Full Time

Join Our Team

Educators Resource is a leading national wholesale distributor of educational, office, and fine art supplies serving schools, retailers, and institutions across the United States. For nearly 50 years, we have built our reputation on exceptional service, operational excellence, and strong relationships with our customers and vendor partners.

We are looking for a Supply & Demand Inventory Planner to help ensure we have the right products, in the right quantities, at the right time. This role combines inventory planning, forecasting, purchasing, and vendor management to support product availability while maintaining healthy inventory levels.

The ideal candidate enjoys working with data, solving problems, collaborating across teams, and making decisions that have a direct impact on customers and the business.

Location

Semmes

Schedule

Full-time | Non-Exempt | Day Shift

The Role

As a Supply & Demand Inventory Planner, you will manage inventory for assigned product lines and work closely with vendors and internal teams to anticipate demand, maintain appropriate stock levels, and address potential supply issues before they impact our customers.

What You’ll Do

• Your primary focus will be maintaining the inventory needed to support customer demand. This includes forecasting inventory requirements, placing and managing purchase orders, monitoring inventory across multiple warehouse locations, and maintaining planning parameters such as reorder points, lead times, safety stock, minimums, and maximums.
• You’ll develop strong vendor relationships and monitor supplier performance, following up on open orders and resolving shortages, back-orders, shipping delays, and other supply issues. You’ll also analyze sales, demand, and inventory trends, evaluate new product performance, and recommend adjustments when needed.
• Just as importantly, you’ll communicate potential supply concerns to the appropriate teams and work collaboratively to find solutions that support our customers and business objectives.

Qualifications

• We’re looking for someone who is analytical, organized, dependable, and comfortable making decisions using data. You should be able to manage multiple priorities, communicate effectively with vendors and coworkers, and follow through on details in a fast‑paced environment.
• An associate’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field is preferred, although relevant experience may be substituted for formal education. Three or more years of experience in inventory planning, purchasing, supply chain, or a related field is preferred. Experience in wholesale distribution, manufacturing, retail, or another inventory‑driven environment is a plus.
• Candidates should be proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and comfortable working with ERP, inventory, purchasing, or materials management systems. Familiarity with inventory planning concepts such as lead times, reorder points, safety stock, minimums, and maximums is preferred.
• Above all, we’re looking for someone with good judgment, a willingness to learn, strong attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to getting things done.

Compensation & Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions
• Company-paid Basic Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Life, Short-Term Disability, Accident, and Critical Illness Insurance
• Paid Time Off and company-paid holidays
• Professional development and training opportunities

Why Educators Resource?

At Educators Resource, your work has a direct impact on product availability, customer satisfaction, and the success of our business. You’ll have the opportunity to build strong vendor partnerships, collaborate with teams across the company, and help improve the way we plan and manage inventory.

We’re proud of our nearly 50-year history and excited about where we’re headed. We value integrity, teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and people who are willing to share ideas and solve problems.

If you’re looking for a stable, growing company where you can make an impact and continue developing your supply chain and inventory planning skills, we’d like to hear from you.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Educators Resource is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.