Regional Inventory Specialist

Gordon Food Service•Michigan, MI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Regional Inventory Specialist strengthens internal relationships and serves as a supply chain expert and direct liaison between Gordon Food Service Supply Chain and divisional leadership across all segments. The role creates, implements, and maintains accountability for supply chain plans affecting product distribution and inventory, supporting product flow from suppliers to customer units. It develops best practices, systems, and processes for inventory, spoilage, liquidation, and slot management within an assigned division. The specialist works with divisional, sales, marketing, supply chain, warehouse, merchandising, and other stakeholders to communicate demand changes, provide analytics and recommendations, resolve supply chain issues, improve customer in-stock performance, and manage at-risk, discontinued, and slow-moving inventory. The position also supports inventory assumption for divisional customers and contributes to service-level improvement efforts. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a hybrid arrangement of four days in the office and one day from home. Gordon Food Service locations are tobacco-free, and the workplace is drug-free with pre-employment drug testing. Candidates who work for a Gordon Food Service customer must provide a letter of support from their management if selected for the interview process.

Requirements

At least three years of experience in marketing, sales, buying or purchasing, inventory management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the job; equivalent relevant education, training, and experience may be considered in lieu of specified education and experience requirements.
Ability to lead conversations, work in teams, interact across departments and roles, and develop relationships.
Self-directed approach and ability to handle distractions, make decisions, manage repetitive work, prioritize, adapt to workload fluctuations, and work with ambiguity.
Knowledge of basic math, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentages.
Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to multitask, prioritize, and execute efficient work processes.
Knowledge of demand and replenishment principles, supplier relations, and methods of moving goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including relative costs and benefits.
Knowledge of customer-service principles and processes, including assessing customer needs, meeting service quality standards, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
Actively looks for ways to help people.
Ability to solve problems and develop solutions to complex problems using skills such as comparison, classification, innovation, analysis, and coordination; may use established precedents and policies.
Knowledge of Google Applications, Microsoft Excel, and internet software applications.
Ability to use basic office equipment, a laptop, a PC, a copier, and videoconferencing tools.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, Business, or a related field is preferred.
Knowledge of supply chain software and business analytic reporting tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage conversations about divisional inventory needs with Supply Chain, communicating customer-level demand changes.
Coordinate market intelligence for stakeholders and demand planning to improve customer in-stock performance, days on hand, and product loss.
Educate and influence customers on the importance of supply chain planning and foster internal and external customer relationships.
Provide analytics, strategy recommendations, and communications related to inventory management.
Provide item-level recommendations and coordinate inventory, liquidation, and slot-management activities with relevant owners, teams, and departments.
Identify and resolve supply chain issues using available resources.
Communicate information and activities that influence stock levels between Supply Chain and divisional sales and marketing teams.
Facilitate cross-functional communication among divisions, Sales, Receiving, Supply Chain, the Internal Freight Team, and Regional Merchandising Teams.
Drive promotional activity for at-risk or discontinued inventory, including discount flyers, customer opportunities, and vendor returns.
Review and follow up on purchase order receipts and late purchase orders to maintain adequate inventory of high-need divisional items.
Collaborate with other Divisional Inventory Specialists, Division Sales and Marketing, and Supply Chain on network solutions involving liquidation, out-of-stocks, and customer service profiles.
Assist Supply Chain and Sales with inventory assumption for divisional customers as needed.
Participate in cross-functional service-level action calls with divisional senior leadership, Operations, and Supply Chain leadership.
Facilitate clearance of slow-moving discontinued inventory and report this activity quarterly to the General Manager.
Gather and provide market intelligence using experience and industry knowledge.
Perform other duties as assigned.