Inventory Planner

Border States•Fargo, ND

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Inventory Planner facilitates two-way communication between local branch sales and operations teams and centralized purchasing and demand-planning teams about demand forecasts, inventory availability, slow-moving inventory reduction, and supplier performance. The role provides inventory, demand-planning, and purchasing consultation to branches and serves as a primary contact for the assigned region. The Inventory Planner oversees, analyzes, and coordinates project inventory to help maximize availability, turnover, and profitability throughout each project. The role engages branch sales teams serving key open-market customers, reviews customer-specific inventory service and performance, and proactively addresses branch or customer concerns related to inventory and purchasing activities. This position is based in Fargo, North Dakota. Border States is an employee-owned electrical supply distributor with approximately 130 locations in 31 states.

Requirements

Four-year business or technical degree, or equivalent work experience.
At least 2 years of experience in inventory management, supply chain, or demand/supply planning.
Solid understanding of demand planning and forecasting concepts, including trending and seasonality; inventory management; stocking parameters such as order points, lead times, and quantities; distribution networks; and hub-spoke replenishment.
Strong data analysis and manipulation skills, including MS Excel and Access.
Excellent conflict-resolution and negotiation skills.
Ability to take a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Excellent customer-service skills, including being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.

Nice To Haves

Experience in wholesale distribution, electrical manufacturing, or electrical wholesaling is preferred.
Familiarity with the electrical wholesaling industry and electrical products is preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with branch leadership on aggregate demand forecasts and adjust forecasts based on qualitative or anecdotal feedback.
Identify seasonal product families for each branch and schedule follow-up reviews based on seasonal patterns.
Collaborate with branch support inventory demand planners and purchasing specialists on inventory ramp-up and ramp-down.
Facilitate communication between branches and the Branch Support Center regarding product or vendor conversion projects.
Initiate communication with branch support and branch stakeholders to establish stocking parameters and purchasing activities for project phases.
Oversee and analyze project inventory availability, sales order date management, and project status.
Phase out stocking parameters and inventory to avoid overstock when projects end.
Regularly review consignment inventory levels and turnover by customer.
Facilitate changes to consigned inventory through applicable account managers.
Review product stocking status with branch operations, counter, and inside sales staff; remove reorder points for unnecessary slow-moving products, add reorder points for non-stocking products with sufficient sales history, and maintain complete offerings in key service-item product families.
Collaborate with branch leadership and sales and inventory teams to exchange feedback and updates on operational effectiveness, strategy, and inventory management.
Communicate scorecard information, key findings, and inventory updates to the inventory and purchasing team and executive council.
Present inventory and purchasing updates, strategy changes, and other key information at committee meetings.
Coordinate and lead frequent inventory committee meetings with branch leadership, account managers, demand planners, and buyers.
Review regional hub-and-spoke settings.
Participate in vendor and product training.
Attend regional trade shows and sales planning events.
Complete other duties as assigned by a manager or other designate.