Inventory Manager

Purpose Of Role
The primary objective of this role is to develop, execute, measure, and improve the inventory strategy across Baxter's North America. Additionally, this role will drive development of business processes, tools, and analytics to support inventory planning activities leading to best-in-class performance. This role requires independent thought leadership and influencing skills to facilitate change and align on cohesive strategies, processes, and execution elements to ensure all functional areas adhere to the policies. Some of which are outlined below:

• Works closely with site inventory support teams maintaining inventory dashboards that create visibility to inventory aging for finished goods, raw materials and obsolescence in line with pre-determined inventory level goals.
• Create, monitor, and improve a rigorous cycle counting processes that supports the overall inventory management strategy through pre-determined count frequencies based on cost and or use of materials.
• Reviews new product commercialization to ensure that the entire BOM adheres to the inventory standards developed by each LOB and in line with the overall inventory strategy.
• Directs investigation into any inventory inconsistencies working with each plant to effectively resolve them.
• Creation and execution of plant level goals and reporting that supports the overall BNA objectives.
• Evaluating deliveries, shipments, and product levels to improve inventory control procedures
• Ensuring that any third-party inventory is reconciled by site on a monthly basis

Specifically, The Position Will

• Work with procurement, value stream support managers, support staff and upper management to ensure that all obsolete materials are returned or destroyed in a timely manner
• Ensure that all shipments/production records created at third party providers (LaGrou, Prime, etc.) are completed in a timely manner
• Investigate, recommend and implement inventory improvement strategies for BNA
• Manage the recruitment and training of any new inventory support staff
• Oversee a team of inventory coordinators/cycle counters
• Maintain all required documentation and records which are required for inventory reporting
• Work with "recall" personnel to ensure that mock recalls are performed as required
• Work with Business Development, finance, procurement department and value stream support managers to create inventory KPI's that may include cycle count goals, days on hand for finished goods, raw materials and obsolescence.
• Work with the finance team to ensure documentation is provided to them so that we will get reimbursed for any inventory issues caused by the vendors or our customers.
• Work with Value Stream Support Managers on days on hand and approvals through NCH process.

Principal Accountabilities

What are the key accountabilities of the role? (Consider – why does the position exist, what does it do and what is the planning horizon)

• Minimize the loss of inventory due to poor inventory management practices
• Continue to monitor, train, and report on current findings from ERP processes to ensure inventory is reported accurately
• Work with Finance/Procurement on obsolete material to determine if we need to hold or can dispose
• Report out weekly on all KPI's
• Ensure the validity of our cycle counter through spot checks and training
• Assist Value Stream Support Managers and Logistics Manager as needed
• Review current processes and adjust on best practice
• Assist Logistics Manager with measurement and documentation of BNA KPI's; establish and complete weekly/monthly reports
• Report findings of cycle count results to Value Stream Support Managers with resolution
• Execute year-end inventory processes that support accounting needs
• Ensure we are following outside auditor requirements
• Personal development and learning continuously for self-growth

Mission Critical Competencies

What are the must have skills that allow the best associates to exceed the challenges and create the outputs described above? What is the handful of skills that would separate the best from the rest? (Don't think about the "nice to have", this is about the "must haves")

• Ability to communicate with upper-level management
• People Leadership
• Engagement and Team Building
• Detail-orientation; fact-based critical thinking
• Drive for Results
• Analytical Skills
• Work measurement
• Planning
• Decision Making Skills
• Integrity and Trust
• Employee/Staff Development

*Key Functional Skills/Knowledge *
What does an associate have to do & know to create superior results in this role?

• Manufacturing experience & fulfilment
• Financial Awareness
• Constraint Management
• Problem Solving
• Effective Team Utilization
• Project Mgmt.

Key Experiences
What experiences would someone need to be an outstanding performer in this role? What professional experiences (assignments/ time in roles) must they have had and for what length of time to create superior results?

• Cost Accounting background experience (2-4 years)
• Supply Chain experience (2-4 years)
• Supervisor/Manager (1-3 years)
• Microsoft Office program (2-4 years)
• ERP software

Desired Education
What key education must the associate have completed to be ready to create superior results?

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Finance with at least 2 years related experience in Manufacturing and Supply Chain