Planning & Inventory Manager

Bailey Nurseries • Newport, MN

47d • Onsite

About The Position

The Planning & Inventory Manager is accountable for companywide inventory management and allocation across Bailey Nurseries operations - from demand forecasting through production cycles to order fulfillment. This role impacts profitability by driving consistent philosophies, priorities, and practices to maximize overall inventory utilization and ship-through. The ideal candidate demonstrates analytical and strategic thinking, strong collaboration skills, and a continuous improvement mindset. This person connects production, sales, and operations through data, technology, and proactive communication to ensure product availability and alignment with business goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Horticulture, Agricultural Sciences, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in inventory, supply chain, or production planning across multi-site operations
• Proven leadership experience, including coaching teams and fostering accountability
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft 365 Suite
• Valid driver s license and ability to meet company insurability standards

Nice To Haves

• Experience in horticulture, agriculture, or other perishable goods industries
• Knowledge of inventory grading systems, crop readiness cycles, and retail standards
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement principles
• Understanding of costing, margins, and supply-demand economics
• Strong skills in: Forecasting, data analysis, and decision-making under ambiguity
• Cross-functional collaboration across production, operations, and sales
• Process improvement and standardization across diverse regions
• Strategic planning and detail management

Responsibilities

• Provide direct oversight of Planning and Inventory Administration departments, leading a positive workplace culture grounded in accountability, safety, excellence and growth, guided by our Core Values.
• Manage the inventory allocation process to achieve optimal sell-through and align supply with priority accounts.
• Monitor inventories and identify substitutions or solutions to maximize product movement and minimize waste.
• Establish and maintain strong communication channels between production fields, sales management, and internal teams for accurate crop visibility and forecasting.
• Assess departmental talent and resource needs in collaboration with Production Managers.
• Implement and maintain training programs and documented best practices for consistent timelines, processes, and decision-making. Coordinate technical Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) training and establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for system use.
• Ensure shared understanding of product standards, including grading, retail readiness, and sizing.
• Educate team members on costing and financial awareness.
• Align all sites on priorities and deadlines relevant to inventories.
• Oversee internal product transfers between sites to support order fulfillment and production efficiency.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to yields, forecasting accuracy, efficiency, and customer service goals.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging data and analytics to guide production planning, business forecasting, and supply alignment.
• Promote innovation and support technology adoption to strengthen planning accuracy and operational decision-making.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits (health, dental, vision, life insurance)
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount

What This Job Offers

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