Inventory & Operational Forecasting Manager

Location: Westerville

POSITION SUMMARY

The Inventory & Operational Forecasting Manager is responsible for developing and translating operational and inventory data into forward-looking insights that support business performance. This role wills support analysis and reconciliation of forecasts across demand, supply, and inventory, connecting business strategy, execution, and financial outcomes.

This position plays a critical role in identifying drivers of performance, diagnosing root causes of variances, and delivering clear, data-driven recommendations to support decision-making. The role operates in a cross-functional environment and influences outcomes through analysis, insight, and collaboration.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Partner with plant and planning teams to support and improve operational and inventory forecasting processes

* Analyze and reconcile forecast inputs across demand, supply, and execution to identify gaps, misalignment, and improvement opportunities

* Evaluate forecast accuracy and performance, identifying root causes of variation and systemic drivers

* Assess forecast assumptions, risks, and confidence levels, and clearly communicate implications to stakeholders

Data Analysis & Business Insight

* Analyze large and complex datasets to evaluate operational and inventory performance

* Identify root causes of inventory imbalances, service issues, and execution gaps

* Reconcile inconsistencies across systems, plans, and data sources

Decision Support & Recommendations

* Translate analysis into clear, actionable recommendations with defined risks and tradeoffs

* Proactively identify and communicate performance risks, constraints, and improvement opportunities

* Support leadership decision-making by connecting operational performance to financial outcomes

Inventory Performance Management

* Monitor key inventory metrics, including days inventory on hand (DIO), excess and obsolete inventory, and supply-demand alignment

* Explain drivers of inventory performance across sites, product segments, and planning assumptions

* Support inventory optimization initiatives and track results of corrective actions

Cross-Functional Collaboration

* Partner with demand planning, supply planning, materials, procurement, operations, and finance teams

* Facilitate alignment across functions by providing a consistent, fact-based view of performance

* Support coordination and follow-through of planning and inventory-related initiatives

REQUIRED

* 7+ years of experience in forecasting, inventory management, supply chain analytics, or related disciplines

* Strong analytical skills with the ability to work with large, complex datasets

* Demonstrated ability to translate data into insights and actionable recommendations

* Experience operating in fast-paced environments with evolving or incomplete information

* Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel

* Experience with ERP or planning systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar)

* Strong written and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED

* Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, or related field

* Experience in retail merchandise planning, demand forecasting, or inventory planning

* Experience reconciling data across multiple systems (forecasting, financial planning, and operational systems)

* Understanding of the relationship between sales, margin, supply chain, and inventory performance

* Experience with reporting and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI or similar)

COMPETENCIES

* Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

* Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and rapidly changing environments

* Sound judgment and ability to make recommendations based on incomplete information

* Attention to detail with a focus on accuracy and data integrity

* Ability to collaborate and influence across cross-functional teams

WORK ENVIRONMENT

* This role operates in a cross-functional, matrixed environment and requires collaboration across multiple business functions and levels of the organization.

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv's Core Principals & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities.

OUR CORE PRINCIPALS:
Safety. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork. Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

* High-Performance Culture

* Customer Focus

* Operational Excellence

* Innovation

* Financial Strength

VERTIV BEHAVIORS

* Own it

* Act with urgency

* Foster a customer-first mindset

* Think big and execute

* Lead by example

* Drive continuous improvement

* Learn and seek out development

* Promote transparent & open communication

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers' vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today's data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extend from the cloud to the edge of the network.

Headquartered in Westerville,…