VP - Inventory Planning & Management

VP - Inventory Planning & ManagementOur Planning team's mission is to constantly push the status quo to deliver the best service to our buying team and store operators. Our team is highly intelligent and engaged with the business- allowing us to operate in a fast-paced environment and form cross-functional partnerships. Successful members of our team maximize profitability and productivity within their department and motivate their team and cross functional partners with their energy.As the VP of Inventory Planning & Management, you will lead the end-to-end inventory planning and allocation function across Grocery Outlet, ensuring our inventory position is optimized across all categories, channels, and nodesfrom suppliers to warehouse to storewhile balancing in-stock performance, cost, and capacity.This is a highly visible leadership role where you will serve as the architect of our inventory planning capability, building the strategies, processes, tools, and team needed to support Grocery Outlet's opportunistic buying model at scale. You will operate in a complex environment defined by non-repeatable buys, variable lead times, and supply unpredictability, requiring deep expertise, strong cross-functional leadership, and a hands-on approach to driving performance and continuous improvement. The VP, Inventory Planning & Management, reports to the SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer.Responsibilities include:Own and evolve the Open-to-Buy (OTB) checkbook process, ensuring accurate and actionable financial guardrails for purchasing decisionsEstablish and manage warehouse Days of Supply (DOS) targets by product type and category, balancing service levels with carrying costs and capacity constraintsLead a disciplined weekly OTB review cadence with Purchasing leadership, translating inventory KPIs into clear buying guidanceDefine and enforce need-by date discipline, ensuring proactive PO management and timely upstream executionLead and develop a team of inventory planners with clear accountability for DOS, in-stock performance, and aged inventory outcomesMaintain a rigorous KPI reporting framework covering warehouse inventory, store in-stock rates, aged inventory, and open purchase commitmentsOwn and manage the OOS Issue Tracker and related store communication processes, ensuring timely resolution of service issuesPartner with Distribution Center operations to optimize inbound scheduling, storage utilization, and inventory flowPartner with First Mile and Transportation to align inbound velocity, carrier capacity, and network throughput with inventory targetsServe as the planning engine behind Grocery Outlet's opportunistic buying strategy, enabling fast, confident decision-makingDevelop planning protocols tailored to irregular deal flow, quantity variability, and compressed timelinesProvide rapid, accurate inventory assessments to support time-sensitive purchasing decisionsBuild and lead a high-performing inventory planning team grounded in ownership, accountability, and a bias for actionEstablish clear expectations and a strong feedback culture; address performance gaps with urgencyHire, develop, and retain top talent while building scalable capabilities and career pathsFoster a culture where planners act as proactive business partners, not just order takersDrive a data-first problem-solving culture, requiring clear problem definition and quantified impactLead root cause analysis on inventory performance gaps using structured methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Pareto)Translate complex inventory challenges into clear, concise, data-driven narratives to support decision-makingChampion continuous improvement by challenging assumptions and identifying better ways to plan and manage inventoryServe as the primary partner to Purchasing on all inventory-related topics, building strong relationships with Buying leadershipPartner with Finance to align inventory planning with financial goals and guardrailsCollaborate with Merchandising, Store Operations, and Distribution to align inventory strategy with business prioritiesRepresent the planning function in senior leadership forums, clearly communicating inventory position, risks, and opportunitiesAbout The Pay:Base Salary Range: $200,000 - $225,000 AnnuallyAnnual Bonus ProgramEquity401(k) Profit SharingMedical, Dental, Vision & More!Final compensation will be determined based upon experience and skillsAbout You:10+ years of progressive experience in inventory planning, merchandise planning, or supply chain operations within retail grocery or a similar modelAbility to thrive in a fast paced, start-up like environmentDeep expertise in OTB management, demand forecasting, allocation, and replenishmentExperience in opportunistic, off-price, or highly variable merchandise environments strongly preferredProven ability to build, lead, and hold high-performing teams accountableStrong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insightsDemonstrated strength in root cause problem solving and structured thinkingClear and effective communicator with the ability to create executive-ready materials and drive alignmentStrong understanding of retail financial metrics (DOS, OTB, margin, shrink, aged inventory) and their impact on P&LExperience with inventory planning and forecasting systems, with the ability to influence technology strategyStrong executive presence and ability to partner effectively with senior leadershipHighly organized, process-oriented, and able to operate with urgency in a fast-paced environmentBachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred