Senior Inventory Strategist

Purpose

This isn’t a traditional inventory role focused on simply managing replenishment. This is a strategic, high-visibility position where you’ll influence inventory decisions that directly impact sales, vendor performance, customer experience, and millions in working capital across a fast-growing retail organization.

As a Senior Inventory Strategist, you’ll partner closely with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Store Operations, and vendors to solve complex inventory challenges, improve in-stock performance, and build smarter forecasting and replenishment strategies. You’ll own categories, lead projects, analyze large data sets, and help drive the business forward through data-backed decision-making.

Your Day Consists Of

• Building and executing inventory and replenishment strategies that maximize in-stock levels while improving inventory productivity and turns
• Using forecasting, analytics, and inventory trends to proactively identify risks, opportunities, and operational gaps before they impact the business
• Partnering with merchants, vendors, logistics teams, and stores to manage inventory flow across distribution centers and retail locations
• Leveraging SQL, Excel, Power BI, and internal systems to analyze performance, uncover root causes, and tell clear business stories through data
• Managing purchase orders, allocations, vendor performance, and long lead-time inventory planning across high-SKU categories
• Leading strategic inventory projects and influencing assortment, forecasting, and replenishment decisions that support company growth

You’ll Be Successful With

• Experience in inventory strategy, replenishment, demand planning, forecasting, allocation, or supply chain analytics within a retail environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret raw data and turn it into actionable business recommendations
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with SQL, Power BI, Tableau, DFIO, SAP, or similar analytical tools
• Confidence partnering cross-functionally with merchants, vendors, and operational leaders in a fast-paced business environment
• The ability to communicate difficult business realities with clarity, confidence, and data-backed insights
• A proactive mindset with strong ownership, project management instincts, and the ability to operate independently without heavy oversight

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent preferred
• Critical thinking skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions
• Strong self-starter with ability to work with minimal supervision
• Must be detail-oriented and organized
• Action-oriented and accountable for responsibilities
• Ability to adapt well in a dynamic retail corporate environment
• Proficient in MS Office applications especially Excel
• DFIO forecasting and replenishment solution knowledge is a plus
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management
• Possess excellent customer service skills and work well under pressure
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills

Essential Functions

• Develop the inventory and replenishment strategy for assigned SKUs and locations
• Participate in product line reviews and partner with merchandising and stores teams to influence the product assortment to maximize in-stocks and inventory turns
• Recommend opportunities to both merchandising and regional merchandising to adjust visual presentation settings and job size parameters to maximize inventory turns and sales >>
• Focus on maintaining higher in stock for Top SKUs in area of responsibility
• Keep Running Line Program SKUs in stock at each store while minimizing inventory investment in order to maximize inventory productivity
• Generate sales forecasts for new and existing items, improving accuracy over time.
• Identify root cause drivers of poor in-stocks and turnover and provide actions steps to improve results
• Partner with stores on forecast and replenishment settings as well as manual order needs.
• Produce necessary allocations and own purchase order responsibility from domestic and import vendors to keep both the distribution centers and stores in stock
• Collaborate with vendors to improve on-time and complete shipments
• Reduce discontinued inventory investment to <10% for their area of responsibility through collaboration with both merchandising and regional merchandising
• Recommend strategies to minimize