Inventory Specialist

As our  Inventory Specialist , you will be responsible for managing heavy SKU counts of assigned groups of items, in accordance to Open to Buy plans, to maintain appropriate stock levels necessary to fulfill customer demand. You will assist in forecasting unit needs, determine order quantities and needed receipt dates, and place purchase orders as needed to achieve annual inventory turn and fill rate goals. You will maintain an adequate supply of all business unit products to ensure sufficient inventory levels are maintained and products are not over or under stocked  and provide management with reports and requested information accurately and by times expected.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Achieves goal fill rate, inventory turn, and total inventory level on an assigned group of products offered for sale at any business unit
• Utilize established processes and tools, including but not limited to EBM Report and Forecast 21, to analyze inventory levels and place initial orders, reorders and revisions needed to fulfill anticipated customer demand
• Establishes consistent processes among Inventory Specialists
• Maintains knowledge of specific vendors regarding vendor lead time and minimum order quantities both in and out of product’s peak selling season
• Monitors inventory levels for Top 2500 items, places buys and / or expedite shipments with appropriate urgency to ensure “never out” status is maintained on Top 2500 items at all times; achieves budgeted fill rate on Top 2500 items
• Determines buy quantity and issues purchase orders as needed; approves buy quantity up to approval limits. $10M-$20M annually
• Manages open purchase order file to ensure inventory and receipts are in line with Open to Buy plans
• Identifies potential out of stock items and determines need to expedite upcoming shipments; executes request for air freight to ensure shipment receipt as needed
• Communicates issues, problems and opportunities to Inventory Supervisor and Inventory Manager in a timely manner
• Works closely with Fun Express personnel on their programs to ensure orders are placed in a timely manner
• Analyzes all requests for appropriateness
• Actively participates in weekly Inventory Specialist meetings with the Merchandise, Sourcing, Packaging / QC teams to ensure necessary topics and issues are discussed and resolved appropriately
• Solicits help from the Merchandising team as needed regarding service related issues, potential overstocks, quality related issues, or other merchandising issues as they arise.  Implements agreed upon course of action
• Ensures scarce product is allocated according to company guidelines
• Includes jobber safety and restriction
• Maintains consistent and professional communication with Merchandise team, Merchandise Planning, Imports, Sourcing, Packaging Q / C, vendors, and other areas to ensure appropriate actions are taken regarding merchandise topics and issues
• Works with other Inventory Specialists to ensure in-stock on components of all combos or kits
• Ensures all systems are flagged to handle correctly
• Abides by all policies and procedures of Oriental Trading Company
• Maintains regular, predictable attendance
• Must be able to attend face to face meetings on short or little advance notice
• Work requires in-person collaboration among colleagues and contractors

Marginal Functions

Here’s what you need to join the fun :

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Education

Experience

Join us at Oriental Trading, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, where fun means business!

Oriental Trading Company   ( ),   is the nation’s largest direct retailer of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts, toys and novelties, and a leading provider of teaching supplies and affordable home décor and giftware. Founded in 1932 by a Japanese American, the Oriental Trading history of fun spans the better part of the last century. Today, Oriental Trading offers more than 60,000 products to individuals, teachers, schools, churches, businesses and nonprofits. With a corporate vision to “Make Life More Fun,” Oriental Trading (a Berkshire Hathaway company) spreads joy and smiles to millions each year through a robust family of brands;           and  .

EOE