Inventory Planner- Boise, ID

Summary

The Inventory Planner is responsible for managing inventory across specific product families, ensuring optimal supply chain performance for key National Account customers. This role oversees inventory movement from production centers to forward distribution/customer centers, proactively identifying replenishment needs while accounting for production capacity constraints. The planner collaborates closely with demand and supply planning teams to meet both customer expectations and internal service targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Inventory Level Optimization:
  Ensure system-wide inventory levels meet customer demand by assessing customer orders, demand forecasts, and production attainment.  Calculate time-phased inventory build requirements and coordinate with Scheduling to ensure appropriate production volumes are scheduled.
• Production & Sales Monitoring:
  Continuously monitor actual and scheduled production alongside sales performance. Adjust plans as needed to align with changing conditions.
• National Account Planning:
  Develop and publish National Account planning sheets that outline time-phased inventory needs, considering supply planning constraints (e.g., planned downtimes). Review weekly with the Manufacturing Planning Analyst to ensure alignment with monthly production plans and weekly finite schedules across Simplot production sites and external co-packers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  Collaborate with the Demand Planning, Deployment, and Production Scheduling teams, as well as other key stakeholders, to present clear and accurate inventory positions. Maintain visibility into SKU-level inventory status on any given day, and effectively communicate the narrative behind each SKU’s performance—highlighting drivers, constraints, and opportunities to support informed decision-making.

Typical Education

• Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.) from 4-year college or university

Other Information

Experience in food industry preferred. Possesses and applies a broad knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures in Sales and Operations Planning. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Very strong planning and analytical skills. Self-starter. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. Ability to communicate to multiple levels within the organization. Usually works with minimal supervision, conferring with Manager on unusual matters.