Summary:
The Replenishment Planner/Analyst provides the forward-looking planning and analytical capability needed to translate demand, new business, promotions, events, program launches, and base replenishment requirements into an integrated inventory and inbound plan for IDI. The role works across Procurement, Sales Planning, Category Management, suppliers, and Distribution Center Operations to identify inventory, service, and capacity risks before product reaches the DC and recommend actions that improve product availability while managing inventory and inbound flow.
This position is distinct from day-to-day PO execution. Buyers/Replenishment remain accountable for item- and supplier-level replenishment execution; the Replenishment Planner/Analyst owns the consolidated forward view, planning analytics, exception visibility, and recommendations that guide those actions.
**This is an in-person role that requires regular attendance at our designated work location**
Schedule:
Full-time | Monday through Friday
Imperial offers a flexible work environment that supports collaboration while recognizing the importance of work-life balance. Core business hours are generally 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility in start and end times based on business needs and manager approval.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties Include:
- Own and maintain a consolidated forward inventory and inbound plan for IDI.
- Integrate base replenishment demand with new business, promotions, seasonal events, program launches, transitions, and other known demand changes.
- Translate forward demand into time-phased inventory requirements, expected PO timing, supplier receipt timing, and projected DC inbound case volume.
- Maintain a rolling forward planning view that gives Procurement and DC Operations early visibility to expected inbound volume and material demand changes.
- Identify projected inventory shortages, excess inventory, service risks, supplier constraints, and inbound capacity exceptions early enough for corrective action.
- Analyze demand trends, inventory positions, open POs, supplier lead times, order frequency, promotional lifts, new-item activity, and other planning inputs.
- Partner with Buyers/Replenishment to recommend changes to order timing, quantities, receipt timing, and inventory parameters based on the forward plan.
- Coordinate receipt-smoothing actions across Procurement, suppliers, Category Management, and DC Operations when projected inbound volume exceeds practical capacity.
- Provide analytical support for high-velocity, high-risk, long-lead-time, promotional, and other exception items requiring additional planning attention.
- Develop recurring reports, scorecards, dashboards, and ad hoc analysis covering service level, inventory health, inbound volume, supplier performance, and planning exceptions.
- Perform root-cause analysis on stock-outs, excess inventory, demand/supply gaps, unusual demand patterns, and recurring planning exceptions; recommend corrective actions.
- Support scenario planning and evaluate service, inventory, and operational trade-offs when demand, supply, or capacity conditions change.
- Establish planning assumptions, data inputs, exception thresholds, and escalation triggers; continuously improve the planning process as data and system capabilities mature.
- Partner with IT and business teams to improve planning data, reporting, dashboards, and automation while maintaining effective controls during the transition from manual processes.
- Prepare clear, actionable information for weekly planning reviews and leadership discussions and ensure identified actions have owners and due dates.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal: Director, Procurement; Procurement Manager; Buyers/Replenishment; Category Management; Sales Planning; Distribution Center Operations; IT; Finance and other business partners.
External: Suppliers and other supply-chain partners as required to support planning, availability, and receipt timing.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
- Service level / product availability and stock-out risk visibility.
- Inventory levels, inventory turns/days of supply, excess and aging inventory.
- Accuracy and timeliness of the forward inbound plan and projected inbound case volume.
- Forecast/demand-plan variance and identification of material demand changes.
- Supplier lead-time and delivery performance visibility.
- Timeliness of exception identification, escalation, and corrective action.
- Reduction in avoidable inbound volume spikes through earlier planning and receipt smoothing.
- Accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of planning reports, scorecards, and dashboards.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Analytics, Finance, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
- Three to five years of experience in replenishment, inventory planning, demand planning, supply planning, procurement, distribution, or supply chain analytics preferred.
- Experience working in a high-SKU, distribution, wholesale, retail, or consumer-products environment strongly preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to turn large amounts of data into clear business actions.
- Advanced Excel skills; experience with Power BI or similar reporting/visualization tools preferred.
- Working knowledge of replenishment, inventory management, forecasting, lead times, safety stock, service level, inventory turns, open-PO management, and supplier performance.
- Ability to distinguish one-time demand events from recurring demand and understand the impact of promotions, seasonality, new business, and item transitions.
- Strong attention to detail while maintaining an end-to-end view of inventory and inbound flow.
- Ability to work cross-functionally, challenge assumptions constructively, and communicate risks and recommendations clearly.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and planning horizons.
- Comfort working in an evolving environment where processes, reporting, and automation capabilities are being developed.
ROLE BOUNDARIES
- The Replenishment Planner/Analyst does not replace Buyer/Replenishment ownership of routine PO creation, supplier follow-up, or item-level execution.
- The role does not own Category Management commercial decisions or Distribution Center receiving/putaway execution.
- The role is accountable for providing the forward plan, analytical visibility, early warning, and recommended actions needed to support better decisions across these functions.
PHYSICAL / WORK REQUIREMENTS
This position primarily performs office-based analytical and planning work and requires regular use of a computer, spreadsheet and reporting applications, meetings, and communication with internal and external partners. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
