Inventory Planning Manager

Vita Coco•New York, NY

6d•$105,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vita Coco Company, created in 2004 by Co-CEO Michael Kirban and Ira Liran, produces the leading brand of coconut water in the United States with a growing presence around the world. In 2021, The Vita Coco Company became a publicly traded, Public Benefit Corporation. With a growing portfolio of natural products, The Vita Coco Company has identified its public benefit purpose as creating ethical, sustainable products that uplift communities and do right by our planet by harnessing and protecting nature’s resources. In 2022, The Vita Coco Company was certified as a B Corporation™ furthering the Company’s commitment toward operating its business as a force for good, while delivering better-for-you products. Vita Coco is headquartered in New York City with international offices in London and Singapore. The Company is Nasdaq-listed under ticker symbol COCO. Position Summary We are a growing beverage brand dedicated to high-quality, innovative products seeking an Inventory Planning Manager to oversee stock levels by analyzing shipment and coordinating orders to balance availability with costs, preventing stockouts/overstock, and ensuring efficient inventory flow. Key duties include developing inventory strategies, collaborating with customer ops and logistics, analyzing data, optimizing processes using planning system, and reporting to leadership, all while minimizing costs and meeting shipment demand. Due to the limited shelf life of our inventory and the complexities of managing multiple storage facilities, we are seeking a highly skilled and analytical candidate reporting to Director or Sales and Operations Planning. This role requires a professional with a growth mindset who is open to embracing and driving change as we continuously evolve our processes and scale our global operations. This position is critical in balancing product availability with inventory cost and spoilage risk. This is a hybrid role with minimum 3 days in HQ.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years’ experience in inventory planning, supply chain planning, or materials management, preferably within the beverage or CPG industry with limited-shelf-life products.
Proven experience managing complex inventory challenges involving both domestic and international production.
Demonstrated ability to manage and control logistics/transfer budgets and analyze associated variances.
Exhibit a strong growth mindset, thriving in a fast-paced environment and viewing challenges as opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Strong working knowledge of ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Anaplan, Pigment) and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field

Nice To Haves

CPIM/CSCP certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Inventory Management and Optimization Establish and monitor key inventory metrics, inventory turns, days of supply (DOS), and obsolescence/spoilage rates.
Define and optimize safety stock levels for finished goods across all storage facilities to ensure high service levels while mitigating the risk associated with limited product shelf life.
Ensure First-Expiration, First-Out (FEFO) strategy is followed across storage locations, paying special attention to inventory date codes and minimizing spoilage.
Generate and maintain a rolling future on-hand inventory projection (typically 12-24 months) for all finished goods, providing proactive visibility into potential stock-outs, excess positions, or spoilage risks.
Experience in generating and presenting inventory plans in monthly S&OP meetings.
Inter-Warehouse Transfer and Budget Management Manage and optimize the inter-warehouse transfer budget, ensuring cost-effective movement of goods between storage facilities to meet regional demand and manage inventory age.
Develop efficient transfer plans, considering freight costs, transit times, and the urgency of the transfer due to product shelf life constraints.
Regularly report on actual versus budgeted transfer expenditures, identifying opportunities for savings and efficiency improvements.
Supply Chain & Logistics Coordination Manage and monitor the flow of inventory between multiple warehousing sites.
Work with Logistics to help prioritize incoming stock needed for immediate fulfillment.
Coordinate with global supply team to action in market needs and avoid out of stock(OOS).
Communicate all domestic repack need to supply/co-manufacturing team to maintain optimal inventory level and avoid out of stock.
System and Process Improvement Utilize our planning system and other planning tools to maintain accurate inventory records and execute planning processes.
Identify opportunities to streamline and automate inventory planning processes for greater efficiency and accuracy.
Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for inventory control, counting, and spoilage management.
Team Leadership and Development Develop and mentor junior inventory planning team members, providing guidance on best practices, analytical tools, and strategic decision-making in a limited-shelf-life environment.
Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture focused on continuous improvement, accountability, and professional growth.
Identify resource needs and participate in the hiring and training of new team members as the company scales.