Global Supply Chain Analyst

Ashley Furniture Industries

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we are driven by innovation, competitiveness and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

The Supply Chain Analyst is responsible for executing the purchasing of finished goods and component materials from global manufacturers and suppliers to meet organizational requirements. This role manages supplier relationships, optimises inventory levels, and ensures product availability to fulfil customer demands while balancing cost and service levels across the global supply chain.

• Execute Global Purchasing: purchase finished goods and component materials from global manufacturers and suppliers based on organisational requirements and demand forecasts.
• Negotiate & Manage Purchase Orders: negotiate with suppliers on purchase order status, expediting, deferring or cancelling orders as necessary to maintain proper inventory levels and fulfil customer demands.
• Production Scheduling Coordination: provide direction to global manufacturers and suppliers regarding required dates and quantities for production scheduling to meet customer demand.

• Inventory Analysis & Decision‑Making: generate and analyse inventory reports; make data‑driven decisions to optimise inventory levels based on cost efficiency and service level requirements.
• Product Transfer & Buying Decisions: make strategic decisions on purchasing or transferring product based on knowledge of product performance, supplier capabilities and market conditions.
• Issue Identification & Escalation: identify severe inventory shortages or capacity constraints that could adversely affect customer satisfaction; communicate issues to management and recommend solutions.

• Supply Chain Reliability Evaluation: evaluate the reliability of supply chain flow to ensure product availability; make recommendations for vendor warehousing strategies and align supplier capacity with demand forecasting.
• Business Planning Contribution: contribute to the planning of long‑ and short‑term business objectives by providing supply chain insights and analysis.
• Process Measurement & Analysis: chart, analyse and interpret key process measures to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.

• Supplier Training & Support: train suppliers on the company’s supplier websites and systems; ensure understanding of key elements and provide ongoing support as needed.
• Professional Supplier Representation: positively and professionally represent Ashley to suppliers, communicating company needs and gathering critical information regarding production schedules and capabilities.
• Relationship Building: initiate, build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external customers, especially those impacting the supply chain function’s effectiveness.

• Demonstrate Core Values: exemplify Ashley’s core and growth values in the performance of all job functions, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Operations Management or related field required.
• Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

• 2+ years of experience in supply chain planning, procurement, inventory management or related field required.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with ability to interpret data and make sound business decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, data analysis).
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and supply chain management software.
• Knowledge of inventory optimisation, demand planning and procurement processes.
• Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for cross‑functional collaboration.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Understanding of global supply chain dynamics and international supplier coordination.
• Detail‑oriented with strong organisational and time‑management abilities.