Inventory & Operational Forecasting Manager in Manufacturing

JOB DESCRIPTION

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

The Inventory & Operational Forecasting Manager within Manufacturing is responsible for developing and translating operational and inventory data into forward-looking insights that support business performance. This role will 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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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…