Inventory Optimisation Manager

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About Matalan

From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.

We know as a team, we are stronger together - we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.

We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know.

In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.

About the role

We are looking for an Inventory Optimisation Manager to play a pivotal role in managing and optimising our inventory levels across all divisions and channels. You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to ensure optimal inventory levels, minimise out of stocks, reduce excess inventory, and improve inventory turnover. Additionally, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to forecast demand, analyse inventory trends, and optimise inventory placement to maximise sales and profitability.

As our Inventory Optimisation Manager you will be responsible for:

• Developing and implementing strategies to minimise stockouts and excess inventory.
• Identifying slow-moving and obsolete inventory and develop strategies to liquidate or repurpose them effectively.
• Working closely with Stock Placement, optimise inventory allocation to different stores and channels based on demand patterns, seasonality, and other relevant factors.
• Developing and maintaining accurate forecasts for DC storage requirements based on inventory turnover rates, seasonal trends, and projected sales volumes.
• Collaborating with the DC teams to ensure adequate storage capacity is available to accommodate incoming inventory while optimising space utilisation.
• Implementing strategies to optimise DC storage layout and organisation to streamline operations and maximise efficiency.
• Liaising with third-party logistics providers to collect, validate, and analyse inventory data for accurate reporting.
• Developing and maintaining standardised reporting processes to track inventory levels, inbound/outbound shipments, and storage utilisation at 3PL facilities.
• Generating regular inventory reports to provide insights into inventory status, performance, and trends at 3PL warehouses.
• Developing and maintaining comprehensive inventory reporting systems to track key metrics such as stock levels, turnover rates, and aging inventory.
• Analysing inventory health metrics to identify areas for improvement and develop action plans to optimize inventory performance.
• Generating regular inventory health reports to assess the effectiveness of inventory management strategies and identify further opportunities for optimisation.
• Continuously assessing and improving inventory management processes and systems to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Implementing best practices and industry standards in inventory management to drive continuous improvement.

About You

• Educated to degree level or above
• Advanced Excel skills
• Power BI experience including ability to visualise complex data in simple ways
• Demonstrable experience of managing stock operations (Fashion retail would be an advantage)
• Understanding of retail industry including ecommerce is desirable
• IT savvy including the ability to learn new systems if required
• Results driven, hardworking and willing to work extra hours dependent on business need

Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, we also offer the below core benefits:

• 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
• Thrive Recognition Scheme
• Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
• Life Assurance
• Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
• Pension Scheme
• Access to a wide range of career development
• Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business