DC MANAGER - INVENTORY PLANNER

East Penn is a stable, essential employer, and has been voted one of the Best Places to Work in PA for 20 years!

At East Penn, our employees are our culture; our employees will always be the heart of the company.  We are a private, family-owned enterprise committed to cultivating an atmosphere that honors the contributions of everyone.  We want our employees to have long-term careers, and many do.  More than 38% of our workforce has over a decade of service.  Our open-door management policy, comprehensive benefits package, employee appreciation and recognition events, and career advancement opportunities are just some of the ways we show our employees how incredibly valued they are.

East Penn is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  

EOE/VEVRAA

East Penn is currently seeking an Inventory Planning Manager to oversee the day-to-day functions of East Penn Manufacturing’s Inventory Planning operations by identifying current and future inventory challenges/opportunities; making recommendations to address those challenges; assisting with development and maintenance of company-wide standards and policies; supporting problem solving and continuous improvements efforts; as well as, the day-to-day supervision of Inventory Planners. 

Department Management

• Manage the daily activities and performance of the Inventory Planning Department to ensure stable, achievable, and effective inventory replenishment at multiple EPM distribution points.
• Oversee and manage Inventory Planners, providing guidance and training, as required. In this leadership role, the Inventory Planning Supervisor has responsibilities that include resource allocation, employee development, project prioritization, and performance evaluation.
• Create, communicate, and monitor department metrics that support the goals of the department.
• Ensure that all settings and tables remain up to date in the Mainframe and Demand Solutions Systems

Inventory Planning

• Lead or participate in cross functional teams including Sales, Manufacturing and Logistics department leadership to coordinate the inventory planning requirements for new customer, new part number or new strategy introductions.
• Participate in a cross functional team including Sales, Fulfillment Planning, and Logistics department leadership to coordinate the inventory planning requirements of Purchased Batteries.
• Manage ongoing execution of finished goods inventory and WIP inventory optimization plans at different inventory points to achieve desired customer service levels at the lowest cost.
• Work with the Inventory Planning Coordinator to develop recommends changes, due to seasonality, product lifecycle or other factors, to baseline inventory levels by part numbers across Inventory locations to maintain balance & effectivity of customer service.
• Provide a monthly update to the Sales Group VPs concerning the state of the inventory supply chain.
• Monitor the progress of demand and supply plans during the month and coordinate appropriate responses to shifts in demand or supply as needed for inventory planning.

Communication

• Collaborate with Forecasting department leadership to ensure alignment and improve the Inventory planning and replenishment.
• Collaborate with Fulfillment Planning and Distribution Operations to improve the communication of information and the flow of product to service customers.

Process Improvement

• Ensure continuous improvement efforts in the areas of inventory planning and related processes.
• Perform other duties as required.

Experience & Qualifications

• 3-5 years of work experience at a supervisory, management, or senior professional level role with at least 2-3 years of experience in Inventory planning or related activity
• Experience using Inventory Planning /APS/ERP software, preferred.

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or other related field; equivalent level of education, training and experience may be considered.
• APICS/ASCM certification or equivalent is required.  If not currently certified, incumbent must be willing to obtain certification within the first three years on the job.

Skills & Competencies

• Aptitude for identifying business problems.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to analyze problems and strategize for better solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable working at both tactical and strategic levels.
• Ability to effectively coach and mentor staff members.
• Self-motivated and self-directed; can effectively cope with ambiguity.
• Proficient in multi-tasking, prioritizing, and managing time effectively.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advocate of company culture.
• Open to coaching with the ability to apply feedback.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, a team player with proven ability to work across functional areas and all levels of the organization.

East Penn offers excellent benefits:

• Competitive compensation
• Group health insurance that includes high quality medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage with a low employee premium
• Retirement Savings Plan with company match and a 3% employer contribution
• 9 paid company holidays, 2 paid personal holidays, and 10 paid vacation days annually
• Employee assistance program
• Fitness Discounts
• Promotional opportunities