Strategic Inventory Manager II

KGPCo is the go-to partner to Communications Service Providers. Our customers rely on our extensive range of network solutions and services to help them build, maintain, and transform networks that connect the world.

The communications industry is evolving every day and we are at the frontline of these innovations. From ground to cloud, the work we do is transforming networks and impacting communities nationwide. It's work that happens because of our motivated teams of doers and problem solvers.

Our Core Values define how we do business:
* The Customer is Everything.
* Relationships Matter. All of Them.
* Question Things. Take Action.
* Work Hard. Work Smart. Enjoy the Experience.
* Growth Mindset.

It's not just a job - it's a step in your career!

SUMMARY:

Inventory is the largest single financial asset of KGPCo Logistics and directly contributes to the success of the company's financial metrics. Successful inventory management is the largest driver of several other key company financial objectives including minimization of overstock, top-level inventory turns and industry leading fill rates and service levels. This position is also responsible for determining and implementing stocking strategies for strategic customers and products to improve service levels. The position is responsible for ensuring that impacts by customers to these metrics are identified, tracked and communicated back through the customer-facing & logistics organizations thereby helping to ensure the maximum opportunity for these metrics to be achieved. This position will be involved in all aspects of inventory management including forecasting, planning/purchasing, manufacturing, expediting, vendor returns, product re-configurations and will help develop strategies that affect all aspects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage inventory for the company's largest customer accounts with material management service contracts.
• Represent Procurement on new customer implementations or short-term projects for customer accounts. Work with cross-functional teams and customer-facing organizations to facilitate achievement of customer inventory & service level requirements back through the Procurement organization. Achieve and maintain a balance between service level objectives of strategic customers and KGP Logistics' inventory turns, overstock and fill rate objectives.
• Routinely analyze, develop recommendations, and implement stocking strategies for customers and/or strategic suppliers that determine whether their orders products will be fulfilled on a stock replenish, stock non-replenish, and/or drop ship basis, as well as, for the stock replenish items which locations and quantities should be maintained to achieve the targeted customer service levels with the optimal inventory investment that minimizes inventory risk and operational expenses.
• Implement customer focused processes as necessary to provide value-added services for assigned customers such as backorder management, forecast and inventory collaboration, inventory visibility, and excess and overstock risk mitigation.
• Ensure that relevant inventory and service level metrics are measured, monitored and communicated back through the customer-facing & operational organizations, including root cause analysis and action plans, thereby helping to ensure the maximum opportunity for these metrics to be achieved.
• Develop pro-active communication strategies that facilitate end-to-end customer, distributor, and manufacturer collaboration.
• Identify and facilitate root-cause analysis and recommend process improvements to bring efficiency and error reduction to all procurement and inventory-related tasks.
• Direct changes to systematic item maintenance in support of changing product life cycles, manufactured discontinued products, changes in stocking strategies, etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Safety Duties & Responsibilities:

• Adhere to, promote, and accept responsibility for compliance to:
• Federal and Local Occupational Safety and Health Regulations,
• Industry Consensus Standards, and
• KGP Injury and Illness Prevention Program Manual
• Participate in job site safety/hazard analysis.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Level of knowledge typically gained through a combination of a Bachelors Degree (B.A.) and/or relevant experience, totaling 12 years post high school.
• 8 years relevant supply chain management professional experience
• 1-3 years progressive project/program management experience required
• Strong cross-functional/matrix management skills.
• Expert analytical, problem solving, and decision making skills.
• Ability to interact and communicate clearly and concisely with all levels of associates and management, as well as customer and supplier organizations.
• Working knowledge of the demand planning, inventory planning and supply planning.
• Experience setting inventory and customer service level targets to meet specific customer requirements.
• Strong data manipulation skills via Excel, Access or other comparable applications.
• Understanding of inventory turn implication

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos; ability to write simple correspondence; ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the Company.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to add and subtract 10-digit numbers, to multiply and divide with tens and hundreds; ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume and distance.

REASONING ABILITY:

• No major critical thinking required. Work follows established job aids and business rules. Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form; ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

BENEFITS:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Supplemental insurance plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with Company match
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick/safe time
• Pet insurance for our non-human family members

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law