Zones, LLC
Manager, Strategic Inventory Management
Zones, LLC, Carol Stream, Illinois, United States, 60158
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Manager, Strategic Inventory Management
role at
Zones, LLC
When it comes to IT solution providers, there are a lot of choices. But when it comes to providers with innovative and differentiating end-to-end service offerings, there’s really only one: Zones – First Choice for IT.TM
Position Overview The Manager, Strategic Inventory Management is responsible for developing and executing inventory strategies that optimize working capital, minimize stockouts and excess, and ensure supply readiness across the organization. This role drives cross-functional alignment between supply chain, procurement, finance, and sales teams to support business objectives through effective inventory planning, analytics, and governance.
Responsibilities Strategic Planning & Leadership
Develop and implement long‑term inventory management strategies aligned with business growth, customer demand, and financial goals.
Lead a team responsible for demand planning, inventory forecasting, optimization, and reporting across multiple product lines or regions.
Partner with executive leadership to define key inventory KPIs (e.g., inventory turns, days of supply, fill rate, excess & obsolete metrics).
Demand Planning & Inventory Optimization
Analyze demand and supply trends to set optimal inventory targets and safety stock levels.
Drive strategic initiatives to improve inventory efficiency, reduce carrying costs, and mitigate obsolescence risks.
Oversee deployment and replenishment strategies to balance customer service and cost.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Collaborate with supply planning, procurement, logistics, and finance to ensure alignment of supply plans and inventory goals.
Act as a key liaison between global and regional operations teams for inventory governance and standardization.
Partner with finance to forecast working capital requirements and monitor inventory‑related financial performance.
Process & Systems Management
Lead continuous improvement projects in planning systems and analytics tools.
Establish standardized processes, controls, and reporting dashboards to enhance inventory visibility and decision‑making.
Support system enhancements and automation to improve accuracy and efficiency in inventory management.
Analytics & Reporting
Track, analyze, and present inventory performance metrics to senior leadership.
Develop advanced analytics models to predict demand‑supply imbalances and inventory risks.
Provide actionable insights to improve forecasting accuracy and service levels.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or related field (Master’s or MBA preferred).
7+ years of progressive experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, or operations strategy.
At least 2–3 years in a managerial or team‑leadership role.
Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem‑solving skills.
Experience in the Enterprise IT procurement channel.
Expertise in ERP and advanced planning systems (Microsoft D365 and Kinaxis RapidResponse preferred).
Proficiency in data visualization and analytics tools (Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SQL, etc.).
Knowledge of and experience with best practices in inventory and materials management (e.g., Classification Methods (A,B,C,D), Safety Stock, Lean, Consignment, etc.).
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership skills.
Demonstrated ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
Qualified candidates can expect a salary range of $90,000–110,000.
Benefits Zones offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, voluntary accident, hospitalization and critical illness insurance options, a 401(k) plan with matching provision, and personal paid time off and sick leave in compliance with state requirements.
Job Details
Seniority level: Not Applicable
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Management and Manufacturing
Industry: Computer Hardware Manufacturing, Software Development, and IT Services and IT Consulting
EEO Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or basis of disability.
Zones participates in E‑Verify. E‑Verify is a system that compares information from a team member’s Form I‑9 to federal records to confirm their eligibility to work in the United States.
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Manager, Strategic Inventory Management
role at
Zones, LLC
When it comes to IT solution providers, there are a lot of choices. But when it comes to providers with innovative and differentiating end-to-end service offerings, there’s really only one: Zones – First Choice for IT.TM
Position Overview The Manager, Strategic Inventory Management is responsible for developing and executing inventory strategies that optimize working capital, minimize stockouts and excess, and ensure supply readiness across the organization. This role drives cross-functional alignment between supply chain, procurement, finance, and sales teams to support business objectives through effective inventory planning, analytics, and governance.
Responsibilities Strategic Planning & Leadership
Develop and implement long‑term inventory management strategies aligned with business growth, customer demand, and financial goals.
Lead a team responsible for demand planning, inventory forecasting, optimization, and reporting across multiple product lines or regions.
Partner with executive leadership to define key inventory KPIs (e.g., inventory turns, days of supply, fill rate, excess & obsolete metrics).
Demand Planning & Inventory Optimization
Analyze demand and supply trends to set optimal inventory targets and safety stock levels.
Drive strategic initiatives to improve inventory efficiency, reduce carrying costs, and mitigate obsolescence risks.
Oversee deployment and replenishment strategies to balance customer service and cost.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Collaborate with supply planning, procurement, logistics, and finance to ensure alignment of supply plans and inventory goals.
Act as a key liaison between global and regional operations teams for inventory governance and standardization.
Partner with finance to forecast working capital requirements and monitor inventory‑related financial performance.
Process & Systems Management
Lead continuous improvement projects in planning systems and analytics tools.
Establish standardized processes, controls, and reporting dashboards to enhance inventory visibility and decision‑making.
Support system enhancements and automation to improve accuracy and efficiency in inventory management.
Analytics & Reporting
Track, analyze, and present inventory performance metrics to senior leadership.
Develop advanced analytics models to predict demand‑supply imbalances and inventory risks.
Provide actionable insights to improve forecasting accuracy and service levels.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or related field (Master’s or MBA preferred).
7+ years of progressive experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, or operations strategy.
At least 2–3 years in a managerial or team‑leadership role.
Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem‑solving skills.
Experience in the Enterprise IT procurement channel.
Expertise in ERP and advanced planning systems (Microsoft D365 and Kinaxis RapidResponse preferred).
Proficiency in data visualization and analytics tools (Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SQL, etc.).
Knowledge of and experience with best practices in inventory and materials management (e.g., Classification Methods (A,B,C,D), Safety Stock, Lean, Consignment, etc.).
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership skills.
Demonstrated ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
Qualified candidates can expect a salary range of $90,000–110,000.
Benefits Zones offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, voluntary accident, hospitalization and critical illness insurance options, a 401(k) plan with matching provision, and personal paid time off and sick leave in compliance with state requirements.
Job Details
Seniority level: Not Applicable
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Management and Manufacturing
Industry: Computer Hardware Manufacturing, Software Development, and IT Services and IT Consulting
EEO Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or basis of disability.
Zones participates in E‑Verify. E‑Verify is a system that compares information from a team member’s Form I‑9 to federal records to confirm their eligibility to work in the United States.
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