Senior Supply Leader, Supply Chain
Position Summary
The primary role of the Senior Supply Leader, Supply Chain is developing and executing a strategy to enhance the value of the working capital spend (inventory) across categories and key products to support company goals driven by commercial/brand strategies and go-to-market initiatives. This position is responsible for developing and implementing strategies and tactics to optimize inventory by balancing procurement decisions against overall inventory and cost to serve, customer demand, marketing and sales initiatives, financial targets, market trends and supply-base constraints while maintaining customer service levels and ensuring fulfillment of customer demand.
This position is also responsible for the approval and/or acceptance of all inventory and/or supply decisions needed to support the execution of the consensus demand plan for the global SIOP process. This is a strategic leadership role that requires a forward-thinking mindset and the ability to translate business objectives into supply chain strategy. The Senior Supply Leader is expected to lead the adoption of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to strengthen demand forecasting, optimize working capital, and elevate customer service and overall inventory health.
Success in this role is measured by the disciplined management of working capital, sustained improvement in inventory health, and consistently high levels of customer service and demand fulfillment. The Senior Supply Leader, Supply Chain is responsible for overseeing the activities and resources required to execute the management of material flow from suppliers to distribution centers, and to provide oversight and approval for exceptions and supply delays from the supply base. The ability to maintain a consistent and accurate projection of inventory, planned and firm purchase orders from suppliers are key requirements of this position. This position is responsible for fulfillment to the end customer through multiple sales channels. Close communication with the supply base and key suppliers on product delivery and projected material availability is essential to alignment with marketing and sales strategies.
Essential Functions
- Manage tasks and data for supply and inventory balancing for projected demand plans.
- Provide oversight of tactical supply planner actions and decisions.
- Develop strategies and initiatives to reduce inventory while maintaining consistent customer service levels.
- Collaborate with and support the Global Supply Chain teams.
- Optimize inventory spend through analytics and supplier data analysis.
- Review purchase order exceptions and inventory risks to support demand plans.
- Communicate and manage changes in supplier delivery schedules and adjust inventory plans accordingly.
- Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales, Engineering, Product Management, Channels, and Finance to obtain and ensure current and accurate information is used for supply plans and inventory management.
- Review and manage inventory, PO recommendations, MRP, order fulfillment, and other planning functions.
- Lead the preparation and presentation of supply and inventory data as part of the monthly SIOP process.
- Represent high-level ethical, intellectual, professional, and personal values that complement the team.
- Model 'what-if' scenarios and other data analysis to improve inventory effectiveness.
- Promote cooperation within the team and between teams.
- Set and drive the long-term strategic vision for supply and inventory management, translating commercial, brand, and go-to-market strategies into actionable multi-year supply chain roadmaps.
- Champion and lead the adoption of AI and advanced analytics tools (including AI-powered demand forecasting and machine-learning models) to improve forecast accuracy, automate planning tasks, and generate data-driven insights that inform supply decisions.
- Actively manage and optimize working capital by balancing inventory investment against cash flow objectives, targeting improvements in inventory turns, days of supply, and return on working capital.
- Improve customer service levels by proactively managing fill rates, on-time delivery, and demand fulfillment across multiple sales channels, ensuring supply plans consistently meet or exceed customer expectations.
- Drive inventory health across the portfolio by reducing excess and obsolete stock, improving inventory accuracy and aging, and aligning safety stock and reorder policies with demand variability and service targets.
- Leverage AI-generated scenarios and predictive analytics to anticipate supply risks, evaluate trade-offs, and recommend proactive strategies that protect service levels while minimizing working capital.
- Other responsibilities and projects as may be assigned.
Position Qualifications
- Education, Certifications and Licenses:
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field, required.
- APICS, CPIM, or CSCP certification, a plus.
- Experience And Competencies:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in Supply Planning and the SIOP process.
- Self-motivated with strong analytical skills, report creation, attention to detail, and the ability to manipulate large volumes of data, extracting key information.
- Working knowledge of planning systems and MRP; SAP preferred.
- Advanced knowledge of Excel.
- Proficiency in MS Power BI and SQL are a plus.
- Able to data mine and extract key analysis.
- Passionate and high-energy team player who possesses the diplomacy and cooperative style necessary to positively influence others.
- Strategic thinker able to connect supply chain decisions to broader business, financial, and commercial objectives and to lead long-range planning.
- Demonstrated ability to apply AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics tools to demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and planning workflows.
- Proven track record of managing working capital and improving inventory health, including inventory turns, aging, and excess/obsolete reduction.
- Strong focus on customer service, with experience improving fill rates, on-time delivery, and demand fulfillment across multiple channels.
- A change agent with a proven track record.
- Self-motivated to troubleshoot and suggest improvements in current reporting, analysis, and process.
- Strong report-creation skillset.
- Able to communicate effectively across functions, cultures, and levels of the organization, securing positive outcomes despite conflicting objectives.
- Able to implement strategic policies when selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
- Demonstrates the ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance from, others without damaging the relationship.
Physical Demands And Work Environment
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods; use hands to handle or feel and talk or hear.
- The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Substantial time is spent working on a computer and may be performed primarily in an office setting.
- Working extended and flexible hours may be requested occasionally.