Inventory Planning Manager (IC)

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time. Position Summary The End-to-End Planner is responsible for the integrated planning and execution of demand, supply, inventory, and replenishment strategies across assigned product categories. This role serves as the central point of coordination between Merchandising, Category Management, Inventory Planning, Supply Chain, Finance, Vendors, Logistics, and Analytics teams to ensure product availability, optimize inventory investment, and achieve sales, margin, service, and operational objectives. The End-to-End Planner owns the development of demand forecasts, inventory plans, replenishment strategies, and purchase plans while driving alignment across the organization through a single, consensus-based plan. This position balances customer demand, supply constraints, inventory productivity, and financial goals to ensure the right products are available at the right place, at the right time, and at the optimal cost. Key Responsibilities: Demand Planning & Forecast Management Develop, maintain, and continuously improve baseline, promotional, seasonal, and event-driven forecasts for assigned product categories. Collaborate with Category Management, Merchants, Buyers, and Analysts to align forecasts with business strategies, new item introductions, promotional activities, and market trends. Adjust forecasts based on market intelligence, consumer trends, supplier inputs, and business performance insights. Monitor forecast accuracy, identify root causes of forecast bias and variances, and implement corrective actions to improve planning performance. Generate forecast performance metrics and provide actionable insights to leadership and cross-functional partners. Utilize forecasting tools and analytics to determine appropriate forecast models, assumptions, and parameters. Supply, Inventory & Replenishment Planning Develop and manage inventory, replenishment, and purchase plans that support forecasted demand while achieving inventory productivity and service level targets. Own inventory performance for assigned products, vendors, and categories, ensuring appropriate inventory levels to support customer demand. Establish and maintain replenishment parameters, safety stock levels, and inventory strategies using analytical recommendations and business requirements. Monitor inventory health, receipts, replenishment execution, and supplier performance to proactively address risks and opportunities. Manage stock-out prevention plans and excess inventory mitigation strategies. Evaluate purchasing opportunities, including forward-buying and deal-buying decisions, balancing financial returns with inventory objectives. Monitor promotional, seasonal, and new product receipts while partnering with suppliers and logistics providers to ensure timely product availability. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Business Planning Facilitate a collaborative planning process that aligns demand forecasts, supply plans, inventory investments, and business objectives. Partner with Finance, Logistics, Transportation, Category Management, and Vendor partners to identify opportunities that improve profitability, service levels, and inventory efficiency. Support Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes by providing demand, inventory, and supply insights that enable informed business decisions. Communicate supply risks, inventory issues, forecast changes, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and leadership teams. Develop and present planning recommendations that support strategic and operational decision-making. Performance Analysis & Reporting Achieve sales, margin, in-stock, service level, inventory turn, and inventory productivity goals. Analyze demand, inventory, and service-level performance to identify trends, risks, and opportunities. Generate and maintain reporting that provides visibility into forecast accuracy, inventory health, replenishment performance, and key business metrics. Leverage statistical and analytical techniques to drive continuous improvement across planning processes. Create meaningful aggregations of demand and inventory data to support executive reporting and cross-functional communication. Required Qualifications 3–5 years of experience in retail merchandise planning, demand planning, supply planning, inventory planning, or supply chain management. Preferred Qualifications Experience with JDA/Blue Yonder Forecasting, Replenishment, Fulfillment, and Order Optimization solutions. Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration (MBA), or a related discipline. APICS/ASCM certifications (CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent). Experience supporting Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes. Strong knowledge of forecasting methodologies, inventory optimization, replenishment planning, and statistical analysis. Demonstrated business and financial acumen with an understanding of retail supply chain operations. Self-motivated individual with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other analytical tools. Ability to effectively influence and collaborate across multiple functions and organizational levels. Strong communication, organizational, and decision-making skills. Experience managing forecasts, inventory, replenishment, or category planning within a retail environment. Education Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Operations, Economics, or a related field. Anticipated Weekly Hours 40 Time Type Full time Pay Range The typical pay range for this role is: $66,330.00 - $145,860.00 This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong. Great benefits for great people We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families. This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility. Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments. We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/31/2026 Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws. Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in the area.