Inventory Planner Principal at Solstice Advanced Materials in Morris Plains, NJ

Job description

About the Role The Inventory Planning Principal is responsible for developing and leading the inventory strategy across the business to ensure optimal inventory levels that support customer demand, on-time delivery performance, and working capital targets. This role provides deep subject-matter expertise in demand and supply planning, inventory optimization, and a Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) processes. The Inventory Planning Principal partners with Planning, Procurement, Commercial, and Finance to balance service, cost, and risk while driving continuous improvement in planning performance and inventory health. Key Responsibilities Inventory Strategy & Optimization Develop and govern inventory policies, safety stock strategies, and planning parameters to ensure the right inventory in the right location at the right time. This includes periodic refresh of inventory Entitlement Models Optimize inventory targets across raw materials, Work in Progress (WIP), and finished goods aligned with current Entitlement Models target levels by product and region Lead segmentation methodologies (e.g., ABC/XYZ analysis, demand variability profiles) to inform differentiated inventory strategies Conduct root-cause analyses of inventory drivers (excess, obsolete, slow-moving) and lead corrective actions Planning Excellence Partner with Demand Planning and Supply Planning teams to ensure accurate forecasting and alignment of inventory targets across the global network Lead inventory scenario modeling to evaluate supply constraints, forecast volatility, and customer priorities Support SIOP by providing forward-looking inventory insights, risk and opportunity analysis, and recommended actions Performance Management Own inventory key performance indicators (KPIs), including inventory $, inventory Days of Supply (DOS),On Time to First Promise (OTFP) - related inventory performance, forecast accuracy impact, and slow-moving inventory metrics Develop dashboards, reporting, and analytics to support data-driven decision-making Cross-Functional Leadership Collaborate with Commercial teams to align inventory strategies with customer requirements, product lifecycle changes, and demand shifts Partner with Operations and Procurement to optimize replenishment, lot sizing, production cycles, and supply reliability Influence senior leadership with clear, actionable insights on inventory risk, trade-offs, and improvement opportunities Continuous Improvement Drive adoption of best practices in inventory planning, such as statistical modeling, parameter governance, and automation Lead process improvements that reduce variability, enhance planning accuracy, and improve working capital efficiency Mentor planners and analysts, elevating capability across the planning organization YOU MUST HAVE Bachelors' degree required Minimum 8 years of experience in inventory planning, materials management, production planning, or supply chain management, including lead or project leadership roles Strong knowledge of inventory optimization, safety stock strategies, ABC segmentation, and excess and obsolete inventory management Strong analytical skills including advanced Excel skills and experience using visualization tools like Power BI Ability to coach and guide supply planner peers, influence across functional boundaries, and inform senior leaders Organized, proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable in face-paced environment Ability to travel up to 15% as needed WE VALUE Bachelors' Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field APICS certification, Lean Six Sigma certification Experience with balance sheet and inventory accounts Proficiency with SAP ERP system and APO SNP advanced planning system Demonstrated results driving Inventory KPIs like DOS, IOS, inventory accuracy, inventory health The annual base salary range for this position is $128,000 - $160,000. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideli