Sr. Inventory Planner

LyondellBasell North America•Houston, TX

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Inventory Planner supports LyondellBasell’s IST&O Olefins business and is based in the Galleria area at the company’s North American headquarters. The role manages product movements from supply to delivery, coordinating shipment execution and maintaining accurate, strategic, real-time inventory positions. Working closely with product traders in a fast-paced environment, the planner supports commercial value creation and business optimization and serves as an internal business partner to traders. The role may provide a foundation for future trading and commercial positions. The position requires working in the office four days per week, Monday through Thursday. It also includes 24/7 on-call support outside regular business hours, routine coverage for peers’ vacation and leave, and leadership of weekly tactical meetings. The company describes itself as a global chemical industry leader focused on developing innovative products and advancing sustainability, including addressing plastic waste, climate action, and societal needs. It emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and equal opportunity.

Requirements

At least 6 years of relevant, industry-related experience.
Product and/or inventory planning or scheduling experience.
Experience working in SAP, including material management, data accuracy, and system utilization.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly to stakeholders.
A high school diploma and at least 8 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.
Advanced SAP material movement and inventory reconciliation experience.
Proficiency in a Commercial Trading & Risk Management System.
Experience in order fulfillment, direct order management, or logistics coordination.
Advanced analytical skills, including consolidating and interpreting data with Excel and statistical forecasting tools to make cost-effective, service-driven decisions.
Ability to prepare and present complex reports, including financial and statistical data, clearly and concisely.

Responsibilities

Proactively manage inventory using medium- to long-term demand forecasts, aligning inventory with customer expectations and business strategy.
Oversee third-party storage, exchange agreements, and in-transit inventory to maintain optimal stock levels and reliable service.
Schedule and coordinate activities required to execute planned commercial and operational obligations from business-confirmed deals.
Coordinate daily activities with third-party and tolling facilities.
Serve as a liaison between the business, operations planning, suppliers, and customers.
Work with traders to understand business mandates for product movements and relevant commercial and market conditions.
Act as the focal point for operations related to contracted deals and execute commercial and logistical solutions to create value.
Serve as the primary point of contact for inbound and outbound product movements across multiple locations and transportation modes.
Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and develop an understanding of the network, transportation, and operations.
Communicate updates and resolve issues across internal and external teams.
Lead problem-solving for time-sensitive needs and service incidents, including root-cause analysis and resolution.
Partner with inventory accounting to ensure accurate monthly inventory reconciliation.
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost, quality, and service performance at terminals and plants.
Manage inventory planning costs and budgets while optimizing service levels.
Analyze data to identify trends, anomalies, and process optimization opportunities, and communicate findings to support decisions and improvement initiatives.
Document and update processes, procedures, benchmarks, and analyses.
Use the Enterprise system (SAP) and extended system tools; assist team members and third-party logistics providers with their use.
Maintain accurate material and master data in SAP and extended systems.
Support process improvements and change implementation for extended-system improvements and customer-fulfillment projects.
Support system-related questions and access requests, and participate in KPI meetings.
Model LyondellBasell’s core competencies in interactions with internal and external customers.
Provide 24/7 on-call support outside regular business hours and routine coverage for peers’ vacation and leave.
Lead weekly tactical meetings and gather communications and notes.