Director of Inventory Planning and Optimization

Edmund Optics•Barrington, NJ

4h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Inventory Planning & Optimization leads the company’s global inventory strategy while remaining closely engaged in the analytical and planning work that drives decision-making. This role requires a highly analytical leader who is comfortable working with data, exploring models, and guiding the development of insights in a hands-on and collaborative way. The Director partners closely with Operations, Finance, and Executive Leadership to balance service levels, cost, and risk across the supply chain while driving continuous improvement in inventory performance. As the organization continues to evolve its analytics capabilities, this individual will play a key role in shaping tools, processes, and team capabilities—balancing strategic leadership with a practical understanding of how the work gets done.

Requirements

Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with a solid understanding of statistical concepts and their application in forecasting and inventory optimization
Hands-on experience with inventory planning and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar platforms)
Expert in advanced analytics tools and reporting systems (e.g., Excel modeling, BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau)
Demonstrated success improving working capital, inventory turns, and service level KPIs
Strong understanding of supply chain processes, including S&OP, production planning, and demand/supply balancing
Ability to engage directly with data and analysis, guiding and validating outputs while supporting team execution
Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to translate data into clear, actionable business recommendations
Comfort operating in an environment where analytics capabilities are evolving, with a willingness to help build and mature processes over time
Comfortable in a multi-cultural/global environment
Strong customer focus
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Analytics, Finance, Operations, or a related field
10+ years of experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, or operations
5+ years of leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional initiatives
Proven experience in demand planning, forecasting, and inventory optimization in a complex, multi-location environment

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of SQL or other advanced database programming preferred
Experience working with Snowflake or similar cloud-based data platforms a plus
Master’s degree preferred
Optics and optical industry knowledge a plus

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of the global inventory strategy to support company objectives for service levels, cost efficiency, and working capital objectives
Direct the evolution of demand forecasting strategies, processes, and systems to ensure accurate planning and alignment with sales and operational requirements
Manage and optimize inventory planning tools, software platforms, and analytics systems used to forecast and manage inventory across the organization
Establish and monitor key performance metrics, including service levels, fill rates, inventory turns, and shipping reliability, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction
Develop and manage annual inventory forecasts for finished goods across all sales plants
Collaborate with Finance and Supply Chain executives to establish and manage working capital targets, including total inventory value and days of inventory by Sales Plant
Drive data-driven decision-making through advanced analytics, reporting, and modeling to identify risks, opportunities, and inefficiencies within the inventory network
Work closely with Finance and Supply Chain executives on end-of-life, excess, and scrap inventory initiatives to minimize financial exposure
Identify and implement process improvements, system enhancements, and best practices to increase forecasting accuracy and inventory efficiency
Ensure compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and inventory management policies