Title: ASSOCIATE INVENTORY PLANNER / INVENTORY PLANNER (Essentials) Location: United States-Virginia-Virginia Beach Job Number: 220000XL Job Summary: Assist higher level Inventory Planner with coordinating inventory flow to support merchandise and financial goals. May assist with analyzing business recommendations and strategies and actions proposed to drive sales productivity and profitability. Duties and Responsibilities: Performs the following in the capacity of an assistant. INVENTORY FLOW/SUPPLY CHAIN: - Directs the distribution of goods to sales, profitability, inventory turnover and customer satisfaction across areas of responsibility. - Determines proper ratio of DC, Store and pipeline inventory for all items; develops and modifies replenishment parameters as needed on all basic reorder items; ensures basic stock levels are consistent with approved planograms and store sizes. - Partners with Forecast Analyst to review and adjust forecast parameters for seasonal and/or advertised items. - Ensures featured product is in-stock at locations participating in advertising events. - Considers overall health of the supply chain when making business decisions; Identifies and implements supply chain efficiencies; - Actively participates in Supplier/Merchant meetings by communicating supply chain opportunities, concerns and successes, including collaboration on forecasted need. - Proactively identifies cost saving opportunities with product distribution and partners with distribution and merchant teams to implement. - Effectively communicates with internal and external customers to address in-stock and supply chain concerns or/and opportunities. - Monitors aged inventory and identifies opportunities to mitigate risk, providing recommendations to the merchants for action. - Ongoing review and maintenance of replenishment snapshot metrics to include POG Accuracy, NIS Causes and other related metrics. - Uses Allocate System to purchase seasonal, fashion and promotional one time buys; ensuring accurate quantities and inventory levels meet sales demand at an item location level. BUSINESS ANALYSIS: - Monitors and evaluates Open-to-Buy on a weekly basis; assesses risk and recommends action accordingly; prepares reports and actionable business analysis as needed. - Identifies and challenges items that could have a negative impact on inventory and turn due to their low performance; Makes preventative recommendations and takes action to reduce aged inventory and ensure exit strategy is adhered to. ADDITIONAL: - Conducts store visits as appropriate to evaluate merchandise presentation, stock assortments and inventory levels. Works closely with store management to address and maximize business opportunities. Performs other related duties as assigned. Works under general supervision of a Inventory Planner or Divisional Merchandise Manager of Planning. Operates independently within the framework of NEXCOM policies, procedures and regulations. Exercises independent judgment and approach in routine and non-routine situations. Consults with supervisor on such issues as policy matters, deviations from normal procedures or unusual circumstances. Performance is evaluated on operational performance, skills evaluations, customer service, collaboration and teamwork, leadership, work quality and established individual performance metrics. Incumbent may progress non-competitively to an Inventory Planner position, NF-04 (SC 417) upon the completion of qualification requirements and training within a 2 year timeframe; advancement is not permitted with
