Director of Planning Operations & Inventory Management

Location 302 Rue Louis XIV,Lafayette, LA, 70508,United States Job Category Supply Chain Operations, Leadership, Full-Time Join our Supply Chain Operations team — manage inventory, procurement, logistics, and more — and help drive efficiency, cost savings, and seamless delivery of quality products. The Procurement team strategically manages our acquisition of goods, services, and raw materials to ensure operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality. We go beyond transactional purchasing to drive value through vendor relationships. We are seeking a Director of Planning Operations & Inventory Management to build and scale the systems, processes, and team that power our end-to-end planning and inventory strategy. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for transforming how we forecast, plan, and deploy inventory to support rapid growth, improve service levels, and optimize working capital. You will operate at the intersection of Merchandising, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations, owning the planning ecosystem and driving cross-functional alignment. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building, and is motivated by delivering measurable business outcomes. Key Responsibilities Own and evolve the end-to-end planning and inventory strategy, aligning demand, supply, and production to support business growth Drive cross-functional alignment across Merchandising, Sales, Operations, and Finance to ensure integrated, executable plans Lead demand planning, supply planning, production scheduling, procurement, and inventory management functions Translate demand signals and business strategy into actionable plans that balance service levels, capacity, and inventory investment Establish best-in-class inventory management practices to optimize in-stock rates while minimizing excess and obsolescence Oversee purchase order strategy and execution to ensure inventory flow aligns with forecasted demand Build visibility through KPIs and dashboards, driving accountability for service, cost, and inventory performance Identify and proactively resolve constraints across supply, materials, and production to ensure continuity and responsiveness Lead the evolution of planning systems, tools, and processes, including evaluating and implementing new technologies with clear ROI Transform data into actionable insights that inform strategic and operational decision-making Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean or similar methodologies to improve efficiency, service levels, and cost performance Partner with leadership to shape inventory investment strategy and balance growth, profitability, and customer experience Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing planning and inventory team Create a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement Provide clear goals, regular feedback, and development opportunities to elevate team performance Build strong cross-functional relationships to promote transparency, alignment, and effective execution Basic Qualifications Experience in supply chain, inventory planning, operations, or related fields, with increasing leadership responsibility Proven experience leading planning and inventory functions in a complex, fast-paced environment Strong track record of improving forecast accuracy, inventory turns, and service levels Experience implementing or optimizing planning systems (ERP, demand planning, or advanced planning tools) Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and scale high-performing teams Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into strategic insights and decisions Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management capabilities Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and manage competing priorities Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence at multiple levels of the organization Preferred Qualifications Experience in high-growth or evolving business environments Experience leading transformation of planning systems, tools, and processes Experience building scalable, integrated planning frameworks that align demand, supply, and financial plans Ability to increase visibility and accountability through clear KPIs and performance reporting Ability to strengthen cross-functional alignment, improving speed and quality of decision-making Ability to act as the primary liaison to internal business partners, translating technical software capabilities into strategic business value #J-18808-Ljbffr