VP, Inventory Planning and Optimization

About Us:

Rent the Runway (RTR)  is transforming the way we get dressed by pioneering the world’s first Closet in the Cloud. Founded in 2009, RTR has disrupted the $2.4 trillion fashion industry by inspiring women with a more joyful, sustainable and financially-savvy way to feel their best every day. As the ultimate destination for circular fashion, the brand now offers infinite points of access to its shared closet via a fully customizable subscription to fashion, one-time rental or ownership. RTR offers designer apparel, accessories and home decor from 700+ brand partners and has built in-house proprietary technology and a one-of-a-kind reverse logistics operation. Under CEO and Co-Founder Jennifer Hyman’s leadership, RTR has been named to CNBC’s “Disruptor 50” five times in ten years, and has been placed on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list multiple times, while Hyman herself has been named to the “TIME 100” most influential people in the world and as one of People magazine’s “Women Changing the World.”

About the Job: 

The VP of Inventory Performance and Optimization will be responsible for all operational aspects of Rent the Runway’s inventory. The VP is results-driven and has prime responsibilities in overall accuracy and integrity of our inventory and has an extensive background in strategic/tactical logistics including inventory management, process innovation, benchmarking and KPIs, lead-time and cost reduction strategies. The candidate should champion continuous improvement efforts that meet the Company’s short and long-term growth efforts as it acquires more consumers.

Simply stated, the candidate we are looking for loves connecting customers and fashion, loves analytical work, has an incredible curiosity and bias for action that has been demonstrated throughout their career, and is inspired by our vision to democratize women’s fashion globally. 

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the development and implementation of inventory operations strategy to support corporate goals to optimize inventory life and utilization, and to maximize returns on inventory investments. 
• Oversee strategy for full cycle of inventory supply chain processes, including new receipts, inventory holding and storage, inventory performance over life of inventory, attribution and distribution of inventory across the network, quality assurance and repairs, end-of life strategy and execution, and inventory controls.
• Act as key business partner for strategic cross-functional collaboration with Inventory Planning and Buying, Continuous Improvement, Quality Assurance, Customer Experience and Finance to ensure team alignment and that operational processes are optimized and throughput is maximized.
• Oversee the inventory-related operations budget and operating performance, along with key service, quality and cost metrics and focus on continuous improvement programs
• Lead senior management routines to monitor core inventory performance, including delivering against product and service level agreements and cost objectives
• Benchmark and work to understand similar environments in order to implement best practices and properly staff inventory management processes to maintain service level despite business fluctuations
• Develop capabilities and inventory initiatives to support inventory performance over a multi-year horizon
• Manage quality, delivery and cost saving initiatives with inventory-related raw material and finished goods suppliers, both domestic and international 
• Meet or exceed all customer expectations as they relate to the quality of the inventory 
• Design and execute strategy to manage and mitigate ongoing inventory holding costs across the network
• Ensure that relevant and aligned performance criteria exist for each position (hourly and salary) within each department in the inventory management process
• Educate, inspire and instill RTR core values within the daily operation across all interactions and decisions
• Ensure that we attract, develop, retain and engage high performing teams in each department

Additional Responsibilities:

• Oversee the Dry-Cleaning aspect of the operation by managing the budget and operating performance, along with key service, quality and cost metrics and focus on continuous improvement programs
• Manage Quality, Delivery and Cost Saving Initiatives with Cleaning Chemical Suppliers, both Domestic and International
• Lead team performance and execution of supplier visits and city auditors, including new supplier identification and vetting
• Lead all aspects of procurement including org structure, metrics, order tracking, supplies etc.
• Lead Procurement team performance and execution of supplier visits and audits, including new supp