VP - Inventory Planning & Management

Grocery Outlet Career; Emeryville (CA); In loco; USD 200.000 - 225.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Annual Bonus Program

Equity

401(k) Profit Sharing

Descrizione del lavoro

Grocery Outlet seeks a VP of Inventory Planning & Management to lead end-to-end inventory across suppliers, warehouse, and store, balancing in-stock performance with cost and capacity.

You will architect the planning capability, build the strategies, processes, tools, and team needed to support Grocery Outlet’s opportunistic buying model at scale in a complex environment with non-repeatable buys and variable lead times. You will report to the SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer.

Competenze

• 10+ years of progressive experience in inventory planning, merchandise planning, or supply chain operations within retail grocery or a similar model.
• Deep expertise in OTB management, demand forecasting, allocation, and replenishment.
• Experience with opportunistic, off-price, or highly variable merchandise environments is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and hold high-performing teams accountable.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate data into actionable insights.

Mansioni

• Lead end-to-end inventory planning and allocation across suppliers, warehouse, and stores.
• Own and evolve OTB processes and guardrails for purchasing decisions.
• Set DOS targets and manage KPI reporting for inventory performance.
• Build and develop a high-performing inventory planning team and culture.
• Partner with Distribution Center, First Mile, and Transportation to optimize flow and capacity.
• Represent planning in senior leadership forums with clear position, risks, and opportunities.

Conoscenze

Leadership

OTB management

Demand forecasting

Allocation & replenishment

Analytical skills

Root-cause problem solving

Executive communication

Retail financial metrics

Inventory planning systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Formazione

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Descrizione del lavoro

As the VP of Inventory Planning & Management, you will lead the end-to-end inventory planning and allocation function across Grocery Outlet, ensuring our inventory position is optimized across all categories, channels, and nodes—from suppliers to warehouse to store—while balancing in-stock performance, cost, and capacity.

This is a highly visible leadership role where you will serve as the architect of our inventory planning capability, building the strategies, processes, tools, and team needed to support Grocery Outlet’s opportunistic buying model at scale. You willoperatein a complex environment defined by non-repeatable buys, variable lead times, and supply unpredictability, requiring deepexpertise, strong cross-functional leadership, and a hands‑on approach to driving performance and continuous improvement.The VP, Inventory Planning & Management,reports to the SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer.

Responsibilities Include:

Inventory Strategy & Open-to-Buy (OTB)

• Own and evolve the Open-to-Buy (OTB) checkbook process, ensuringaccurateand actionable financial guardrails forpurchasingdecisions
• Establish and manage warehouse Days of Supply (DOS) targets by product type and category, balancing service levels with carrying costs and capacity constraints
• Lead a disciplined weekly OTB review cadence with Purchasing leadership, translating inventory KPIs into clear buying guidance
• Define and enforce need-by date discipline, ensuring proactive PO management andtimelyupstream execution

Inventory Execution & Performance Management

• Lead and develop a team of inventory planners with clear accountability for DOS, in-stock performance, and aged inventory outcomes
• Maintain a rigorous KPI reporting framework covering warehouse inventory, store in-stock rates, aged inventory, and open purchase commitments
• Own and manage the OOS Issue Tracker and related store communication processes, ensuringtimelyresolution of service issues
• Partner with Distribution Center operations tooptimizeinbound scheduling, storageutilization, and inventory flow
• Partner with First Mile and Transportation to align inbound velocity, carrier capacity, and network throughput with inventory targets

Opportunistic Buying Enablement

• Serve as the planning engine behind Grocery Outlet’s opportunistic buying strategy, enabling fast, confident decision-making
• Develop planning protocols tailored to irregular deal flow, quantity variability, and compressed timelines
• Provide rapid,accurateinventory assessments to support time-sensitive purchasing decisions
• Build and lead a high-performing inventory planning team grounded in ownership, accountability, and a bias for action
• Establish clear expectations and a strong feedback culture; address performance gaps with urgency
• Hire, develop, andretaintop talent while building scalable capabilities and career paths
• Foster a culture where planners act as proactive business partners, not just order takers

Problem Solving & Analytical Rigor

• Drive a data-first problem-solving culture, requiring clear problem definition and quantified impact
• Lead root cause analysis on inventory performance gaps using structured methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Pareto)
• Translate complex inventory challenges into clear, concise, data-driven narratives to support decision-making
• Champion continuous improvement by challenging assumptions andidentifyingbetter ways to plan and manage inventory

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as the primary partner to Purchasing on all inventory-related topics, building strong relationships with Buying leadership
• Partner with Finance to align inventory planning with financial goals and guardrails
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Store Operations, and Distribution to align inventory strategy with business priorities
• Represent the planning function in senior leadership forums, clearly communicating inventory position, risks, and opportunities

About The Pay:

• Base Salary Range: $200,000 - $225,000 Annually
• Annual Bonus Program
• Equity
• 401(k) Profit Sharing
• Final compensation will be determined based upon experience and skills

About You:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in inventory planning, merchandise planning, or supply chain operations within retail grocery or a similar model
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced, start-up like environment
• Deepexpertisein OTB management, demand forecasting, allocation, and replenishment
• Experience in opportunistic, off-price, or highly variable merchandise environments strongly preferred
• Proven ability to build, lead, and hold high-performing teams accountable
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights
• Demonstrated strength in root cause problem solving and structured thinking
• Clear and effective communicator with the ability to create executive-ready materials and drive alignment
• Strong understanding of retail financial metrics (DOS, OTB, margin, shrink, aged inventory) and their impact on P&L
• Experience with inventory planning and forecasting systems, with the ability to influence technology strategy
• Strong executive presence and ability to partner effectively with senior leadership
• Highly organized, process-oriented, and able tooperatewith urgency in a fast-paced environment
• Bachelor’s degreerequired; advanced degree preferred

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.