Inventory Allocation Manager

BayWa r.e. Solar Systems LLC

35d • $70,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The Inventory & Allocation Manager is a critical operations leader responsible for ensuring constrained products are allocated fairly, consistently, and strategically to maximize service levels, revenue, and customer trust. This role serves as the neutral owner of the inventory allocation process—balancing demand, supply constraints, customer priority, and regional capacity—to place the right product in the right location at the right time.

This role partners closely with Sales Leadership, Regional Branch Managers (RBMs), Demand Planning, and Procurement to optimize inventory positioning across a multi-branch distribution network. The Inventory & Allocation Manager safeguards the integrity of the allocation process, protects the business from inconsistency or favoritism, and drives greater predictability, sell-through, and operational alignment across the organization. This position reports to the National General Manager.

Requirements

• Advanced analytical capability with the ability to translate data into accurate, timely decisions
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to maintain high data integrity
• Confidence enforcing rules neutrally and escalating issues professionally
• Strong communication and relationship-building across Sales, Ops, and branch teams
• Ability to influence without authority and lead through data rather than hierarchy
• Strong decision-making and prioritization skills in a fast-paced, constrained environment
• High resilience, calm under pressure, and comfortable navigating shortages or volatility
• Systems thinker with the ability to identify upstream/downstream impacts of allocation choices
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management, or related field preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in supply planning, inventory management, allocation, demand planning, or operations
• Experience in multi-branch distribution, warehouse operations, or logistics strongly preferred
• Proficiency with ERP systems, demand planning tools, and Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, modeling)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in solar, renewable energy, or a high-SKU, fast-moving distribution environment is a plus

Responsibilities

• Leads the complete allocation process for constrained SKUs in alignment with BayWa’s priority framework, revenue goals, and customer commitments. Pulls and analyzes demand plans, historical run-rate, multi-category buying patterns, deposits/pre-payments, credit capacity, and open orders to determine allocation at SKU, customer, and branch levels. Clearly communicates allocation decisions to Sales, monitors follow-through, and reallocates inventory when customers fail to collect products within defined timelines. Ensures allocation outcomes support strategic customer relationships and enterprise goals.
• Acts as the neutral owner of allocation integrity across the organization. Identifies when representatives attempt to bypass rules or influence outcomes inappropriately. Documents and escalates issues to Sales Leadership using clear data and recommendations. Ensures rules are applied consistently, transparently, and without bias to protect the business from misallocation, revenue erosion, and customer inequity.
• Partners with RBMs to align warehouse capacity, receiving schedules, and shipment planning with allocation decisions. Confirms that POs are assigned to the correct destination branches and coordinates transfer orders (TOs) when adjustments are required. Ensures inventory is strategically positioned to support regional demand, reduce out-of-service-area shipments, and minimize operational waste.
• Monitors performance of constrained inventory and oversees SKU-level sell-through analytics. Flags slow-moving, high-risk, or aging allocated inventory early and drives necessary corrective action across Sales, RBMs, and Procurement. Ensures allocated products sell in accordance with forecasted intent and that constrained SKUs do not stall in the network.
• Analyzes inventory placement, demand patterns, and fulfillment routes to proactively reduce split shipments. Facilitates regular planning sessions between Sales Leadership and RBMs to optimize product staging, rebalance at-risk SKUs, and close operational gaps. Tracks follow-through on all agreed actions (TOs, PO changes, branch rebalancing) to ensure execution and consistency.
• Maintains strong communication and visibility across Sales, Operations, S&OP, Demand Planning, and Procurement. Provides weekly updates on constrained SKUs, allocation status, service risks, and customer impact. Influences internal partners with data-driven recommendations and represents what is best for the business, balancing demand, supply, and operational realities.
• All Other Duties as Assigned

Benefits

• 401k with up to 5% Employer match
• Health Premium covered at 100% for individuals (for select plans)
• Dental, Vision, Accident, Critical Illness, Group & Voluntary Life Insurance and AD&D
• Unlimited PTO
• 100% Paid family leave up to 12 weeks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees