Director of Inventory Planning and Optimization

Our partner is looking for a Director of Inventory Planning and Optimization in Barrington, NJ. This role leads the organization's global inventory strategy while remaining closely engaged in the analytical and planning work that drives decision-making. It requires a highly analytical leader who is comfortable working with data, exploring models, and guiding the development of insights in a hands-on and collaborative way. The Director partners closely with Operations, Finance, and Executive Leadership to balance service levels, cost, and risk across the supply chain while driving continuous improvement in inventory performance. As the organization continues to evolve its analytics capabilities, this individual will play a key role in shaping tools, processes, and team capabilities — balancing strategic leadership with a practical understanding of how the work gets done.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the global inventory strategy to support objectives for service levels, cost efficiency, and working capital.
• Direct the evolution of demand forecasting strategies, processes, and systems to ensure accurate planning and alignment with sales and operational requirements.
• Manage and optimize inventory planning tools, software platforms, and analytics systems used to forecast and manage inventory across the organization.
• Establish and monitor key performance metrics, including service levels, fill rates, inventory turns, and shipping reliability, to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Develop and manage annual inventory forecasts for finished goods across all sales plants.
• Collaborate with Finance and Supply Chain executives to establish and manage working capital targets, including total inventory value and days of inventory by sales plant.
• Drive data-driven decision-making through advanced analytics, reporting, and modeling to identify risks, opportunities, and inefficiencies within the inventory network.
• Work closely with Finance and Supply Chain executives on end-of-life, excess, and scrap inventory initiatives to minimize financial exposure.
• Identify and implement process improvements, system enhancements, and best practices to increase forecasting accuracy and inventory efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and inventory management policies.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with a solid understanding of statistical concepts and their application in forecasting and inventory optimization.
• Hands-on experience with inventory planning and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar platforms).
• Expert in advanced analytics tools and reporting systems (e.g., Excel modeling, BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau).
• Working knowledge of SQL or other advanced database programming preferred.
• Experience working with Snowflake or similar cloud-based data platforms a plus.
• Demonstrated success improving working capital, inventory turns, and service level KPIs.
• Strong understanding of supply chain processes, including S&OP, production planning, and demand/supply balancing.
• Ability to engage directly with data and analysis, guiding and validating outputs while supporting team execution.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to translate data into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Comfort operating in an environment where analytics capabilities are evolving, with a willingness to help build and mature processes over time.
• Optics and optical industry knowledge a plus.
• Comfortable in a multi-cultural/global environment.
• Strong customer focus.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Analytics, Finance, Operations, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, or operations.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven experience in demand planning, forecasting, and inventory optimization in a complex, multi-location environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to operate standard office equipment such as a copier.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
• Ability to work in an office setting.
• Ability to travel 10–20%.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life, AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match up to 3%
• Daycare and Gym Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave and New Mother Benefits
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Salary Range: $150,000–$165,000 per year

Availability of these benefits may depend on country and employment type.