Replenishment and Inventory Manager

  The position is responsible for forecasting, ordering and managing perishable inventory from ~28 beverage Suppliers. The position builds demand forecasts within the Company’s Route Accounting System (RAS) / ERP software, augmenting data modeling with Supplier and Sales team insights, and then works with Suppliers to submit orders and coordinate shipping dates. The position works closely with the internal Sales and Warehouse teams and Supplier personnel to maintain appropriate inventory levels that insure product sell-through prior to expiration. The position also arranges in-bound shipping, validates Supplier pricing, submits Supplier promotional allowances and assists with inventory research and transfers. The position works standard business hours in-office and reports to the General Manager. 

Role and Responsibilities

• Proactively communicate with Sales team and Chain Account team to understand brand trends, draft handle rotation, ad features and account activities that impact demand 
• Develop demand forecasts for all assigned Supplier SKUs utilizing the Company’s RAS / ERP and relevant data

             Historical and current sales trends

             Historical and scheduled price promotions

             Seasonal / limited offering windows

             Gain / loss of account SKU placements

• Build and submit orders for all assigned Suppliers according to Supplier-specific lead-time schedule and submission method
• Manage, consolidate and schedule in-bound shipments from designated Suppliers to optimize freight costs and product freshness
• Monitor rate of sale of assigned Supplier SKUs and work proactively to move inventory before expiration date
• Validate invoice pricing against system pricing for received products
• Own end-to-end setup of new SKU’s and SKU maintenance in the RAS
• Manage any transfers between the distributors
• Assist the warehouse team researching inventory variances 
• Submit Supplier promotional reimbursement requests; coordinate returns to Suppliers
• Establish and strengthen Supplier relationships
• Attend and participate in monthly sales meetings and weekly operations meetings
• Process monthly draft deal credit in coordination with customer service
• Complete Supplier inventory audits (infrequently, as requested)
• Occasional audit, inventory or product support needed outside normal hours

Required skills

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Strong mathematical, analytical and quantitative skills
• Experience with statistical modeling and analysis and AI models; Excel skills at an intermediate-to-advanced level
• Ability to regularly improve processes by adopting new technology and utilizing new tools
• Proactive – monitors key indicators, identifies potential issues, heads them off before they are problems 
• Strong communication skills - willing to engage partners and team members to develop product demand insights and resolve inventory issues
• Attention to detail (pennies and decimal points)
• Well organized - able to develop and follow a structured workflow process
• Self-disciplined and motivated – able to complete work with limited oversight
• Team player – works and interacts well with diverse personalities for overall Company success
• Beer knowledge and passion a plus