VP, Global Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning

The Blueprint (Role Profile)

The Vice President of Global Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) leads the global SIOP process for Apex Tool Group. The role is responsible for the regional delivery of the North America Hand Tools (NAHT) supply chain and provides functional leadership to the Weller and Cleco Supply Chain leads to ensure global consistency in processes and ways of working.

The focus of the role is to continually achieve synchronization across the Sales, Marketing, New Product Development, Finance, Operations, and Supply Chain functions ~$1.2B in annual sales. Within this scope, management of overall inventory levels across ATG ~$250M is an area of particular importance.

The Build (Responsibilities)

• Work closely with senior business leadership (up to and including the C-suite) to help shape and deliver the strategic objectives of the company through SIOP while partnering with functional leaders in Sales, Marketing, New Product Development, Finance, Operations and Supply Chain to improve the overall accuracy and efficiency of the SIOP process.


• Provide functional leadership to the Weller and Cleco Supply Chain leads, ensuring global consistency in supply chain processes and ways of working. Lead the rollout of standardized processes across both businesses while maintaining dotted-line alignment with their respective business leaders.


• Develop the long-term strategy for SIOP and lead short/medium-term tactical decision-making to balance demand and supply, manage inventory, align volume and mix with capacity and capability, and integrate global financial and operating plans with strategic objectives to deliver improved operating and financial results.


• Serve as a subject matter expert for the SIOP process for all business units, including a 24-month demand plan that translates into forecasts for plants and suppliers so that critical raw materials, components, and electronics can be secured for ATG.


• Lead monthly SIOP review cycles and provide analysis of major issues to senior leadership. Lead and/or attend monthly and quarterly reviews for the Executive Leadership team as needed.


• Lead Supply Chain planning activities related to New Product Development and introduction; manage the team of Supply Chain representatives for Strategic Business Units and attend SBU and Product Development Review meetings.


• Work collaboratively with senior partners in Finance and Manufacturing to forecast, manage, and optimize global inventory dollars, turns, days on hand, and reduction.


• Proactively assess financial risks related to service levels, out-of-stocks, inventory levels and related topics; develop and implement plans to mitigate those risks.


• Develop reports and monitor/communicate critical KPIs to show shipment trends, forecast performance, supply issues, and other information as dictated by the needs of the business.


• Ideate, lead, and/or support major projects as needed, acting as the company subject matter expert for SIOP and Supply Chain planning (e.g. process improvements, technology acquisition and deployment, customer-facing initiatives, etc.).


• Responsible for definition, execution, and continuous improvement of the Kinaxis supply planning software globally, holding accountability for the global Kinaxis Center of Excellence (COE), ensuring the software supports business requirements across the company; this includes all business units in North America, Latin America/EMEA and APAC.


• Lead the regional delivery of the NAHT supply chain, with responsibility for supply chain performance, service levels, inventory, and lead times.


• Lead a team consisting of senior-level direct reports who have their own multi-level teams; develop the team through formal processes such as annual objective setting, talent development, and performance review cycles.

The Toolbox (Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, with an MBA or relevant graduate degree.


• 15+ years of progressive experience in global leadership roles in Supply Chain planning, as well as direct, multi-year accountability for a SIOP process supporting at least $0.5B in annual revenue.


• Significant experience in at least one additional sub-discipline of Supply Chain (i.e. Distribution, Transportation, Sourcing, Manufacturing, or Customer Service).


• SAP experience as both a hands-on practitioner and business leader.


• Experience in advanced planning systems is required; Kinaxis experience is a plus.


• Experience with both consumer/retail and industrial channels, including previous experience supplying major global customers in both areas.


• Experience leading Supply Chain and SIOP activities in support of business-to-business eCommerce channels, including previous experience supplying major global customers.


• Ability to travel ~50% both domestic and international.