VP - Inventory Planning & Management

Grocery Outlet Career•Emeryville, CA

17h

About The Position

As the VP of Inventory Planning & Management, you will lead the end-to-end inventory planning and allocation function across Grocery Outlet, ensuring our inventory position is optimized across all categories, channels, and nodes—from suppliers to warehouse to store—while balancing in-stock performance, cost, and capacity. This is a highly visible leadership role where you will serve as the architect of our inventory planning capability, building the strategies, processes, tools, and team needed to support Grocery Outlet’s opportunistic buying model at scale. You will operate in a complex environment defined by non-repeatable buys, variable lead times, and supply unpredictability, requiring deep expertise, strong cross-functional leadership, and a hands-on approach to driving performance and continuous improvement. The VP, Inventory Planning & Management, reports to the SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience in inventory planning, merchandise planning, or supply chain operations within retail grocery or a similar model
Ability to thrive in a fast paced, start-up like environment
Deep expertise in OTB management, demand forecasting, allocation, and replenishment
Proven ability to build, lead, and hold high-performing teams accountable
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights
Demonstrated strength in root cause problem solving and structured thinking
Clear and effective communicator with the ability to create executive-ready materials and drive alignment
Strong understanding of retail financial metrics (DOS, OTB, margin, shrink, aged inventory) and their impact on P&L
Experience with inventory planning and forecasting systems, with the ability to influence technology strategy
Strong executive presence and ability to partner effectively with senior leadership
Highly organized, process-oriented, and able to operate with urgency in a fast-paced environment
Bachelor’s degree required

Nice To Haves

Experience in opportunistic, off-price, or highly variable merchandise environments strongly preferred
Advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Own and evolve the Open-to-Buy (OTB) checkbook process, ensuring accurate and actionable financial guardrails for purchasing decisions
Establish and manage warehouse Days of Supply (DOS) targets by product type and category, balancing service levels with carrying costs and capacity constraints
Lead a disciplined weekly OTB review cadence with Purchasing leadership, translating inventory KPIs into clear buying guidance
Define and enforce need-by date discipline, ensuring proactive PO management and timely upstream execution
Lead and develop a team of inventory planners with clear accountability for DOS, in-stock performance, and aged inventory outcomes
Maintain a rigorous KPI reporting framework covering warehouse inventory, store in-stock rates, aged inventory, and open purchase commitments
Own and manage the OOS Issue Tracker and related store communication processes, ensuring timely resolution of service issues
Partner with Distribution Center operations to optimize inbound scheduling, storage utilization, and inventory flow
Partner with First Mile and Transportation to align inbound velocity, carrier capacity, and network throughput with inventory targets
Serve as the planning engine behind Grocery Outlet’s opportunistic buying strategy, enabling fast, confident decision-making
Develop planning protocols tailored to irregular deal flow, quantity variability, and compressed timelines
Provide rapid, accurate inventory assessments to support time-sensitive purchasing decisions
Build and lead a high-performing inventory planning team grounded in ownership, accountability, and a bias for action
Establish clear expectations and a strong feedback culture; address performance gaps with urgency
Hire, develop, and retain top talent while building scalable capabilities and career paths
Foster a culture where planners act as proactive business partners, not just order takers
Drive a data-first problem-solving culture, requiring clear problem definition and quantified impact
Lead root cause analysis on inventory performance gaps using structured methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Pareto)
Translate complex inventory challenges into clear, concise, data-driven narratives to support decision-making
Champion continuous improvement by challenging assumptions and identifying better ways to plan and manage inventory
Serve as the primary partner to Purchasing on all inventory-related topics, building strong relationships with Buying leadership
Partner with Finance to align inventory planning with financial goals and guardrails
Collaborate with Merchandising, Store Operations, and Distribution to align inventory strategy with business priorities
Represent the planning function in senior leadership forums, clearly communicating inventory position, risks, and opportunities