IMD Manager

AWG Enterprises•Kansas City, KS

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Inventory Management is a key leader within HGS and Grocery Procurement, responsible for driving service levels, inventory control, inventory turns, and inventory planning. The role leads managers and buyers overseeing purchases for more than $6 billion in Dry Grocery, Frozen, Ice Cream, Dairy, Health Beauty & Wellness, General Merchandise, and Specialty Foods. The Senior Manager partners with cross-functional teams to support operational excellence and company objectives. The position oversees daily operations for assigned Inventory Management focus areas, supports service-level, inventory, and availability targets, and turns organizational goals into priorities and improvements across Grocery, Dairy, Frozen, and HGS. It leads and develops staff, monitors inventory performance and profitability, oversees open-market procurement through trading partners, and analyzes sales trends to update forecasts for promotional and seasonal demand. The role also collaborates with the IMD Director, Merchandising, Traffic, division teams, vendors, and internal teams to improve inventory performance, vendor relationships, inbound compliance, and overall supply chain performance. The Senior Manager is expected to champion AWG Ways and the HATS core principles.

Requirements

5–8 years of buying or inventory management experience.
2–4 years of leadership or supervisory experience.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Retail experience.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong strategic and tactical thinking, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Effective communication across all organizational levels.
Understanding of analytics, forecasting, and inventory planning.
Ability to anticipate supply chain challenges and proactively implement solutions.
Strong problem-solving and prioritization skills.
Ability to develop and mentor talent.

Nice To Haves

Grocery industry experience.
Knowledge of AWG systems.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily operations within assigned Inventory Management focus areas and foster collaboration, integrity, and accountability.
Support service-level, inventory, and availability targets; translate organizational goals into priorities, monitor trends, and implement improvements across Grocery, Dairy, Frozen, and HGS.
Lead, coach, and develop staff, including buying managers and turn buyers; participate in hiring, performance management, and succession planning.
Monitor inventory performance metrics, including turns, salvage, gains, and Days on Hand (DOH), to support profitability and financial goals.
Oversee procurement of open-market purchases through trading partners and ensure effective execution of sourcing strategies.
Analyze sales trends and update forecasts to support promotional activity and seasonal demand.
Partner with the IMD Director, Merchandising, Traffic, and division teams to optimize inventory performance and strengthen vendor relationships.
Support vendor and internal initiatives to improve inbound compliance and overall supply chain performance.
Champion AWG Ways and the HATS core principles.