Senior Manager Inventory Management

AWG Enterprises•Kansas City, KS

1d•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. This role leads a team of managers and buyers overseeing the purchasing of inventory supporting $6+ billion in Dry Grocery, Frozen, Ice Cream, Dairy, Health Beauty & Wellness, General Merchandise, and Specialty Foods products. The Senior Manager partners closely with cross-functional teams to ensure operational excellence and alignment with company objectives.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

AWG system knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily operations within IMD for assigned focus areas ensuring responsibilities are executed effectively while fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, and accountability.
Support achievement of service level, inventory, and availability targets. Translate organizational goals into actionable 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 efforts.
Monitor inventory performance metrics including turns, salvage, gains, and Days on Hand (DOH) to ensure profitability and alignment with financial goals.
Oversee procurement of open market purchases through trading partners, ensuring effective execution of sourcing strategies.
Analyze sales trends and update forecasts to support promotional activity and seasonal demand.
Partner with IMD Director, Merchandising, Traffic, and division teams to optimize inventory performance and strengthen vendor relationships.
Support initiatives with vendors and internal teams to improve inbound compliance and overall supply chain performance.
Champion AWG Ways (Be Kind, Be Collaborative, Be Proactive, Be Innovative, Be Exceptional) and core principles HATS (Humility, Accountability, Transparency, Serving).