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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Replenishment Specialist

💰 $55,000 - $85,000

Supply ChainInventory ManagementLogisticsRetailPlanning

🎯 Role Definition

A Replenishment Specialist is the strategic core of our inventory management operations, ensuring a seamless flow of products from suppliers to our customers. This role is responsible for maintaining optimal stock levels across the entire network—balancing the critical need for product availability against the financial impact of carrying costs. More than just ordering stock, a specialist in this field uses data-driven insights to forecast demand, analyze performance, and fine-tune inventory strategies. They are proactive problem-solvers, collaborating closely with sales, marketing, logistics, and vendors to anticipate market shifts, manage promotions, and mitigate supply chain disruptions. In essence, the Replenishment Specialist is the guardian of our inventory health, directly impacting customer satisfaction and the company's bottom line.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Inventory Clerk / Inventory Control Associate
  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Retail Merchandising Assistant
  • Data Entry or Purchasing Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Senior Replenishment Specialist / Senior Inventory Analyst
  • Demand Planner / Forecast Analyst
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Inventory Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Buyer / Purchasing Agent
  • Logistics Planner
  • Supply Chain Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct in-depth analysis of historical sales data, current inventory levels, and market trends to accurately forecast product demand and determine optimal replenishment quantities.
  • Generate, manage, and meticulously track purchase orders from creation through to final delivery, ensuring accuracy in quantities, pricing, and delivery timelines with suppliers.
  • Proactively monitor and expedite inbound product flow from suppliers to distribution centers, identifying and resolving potential delays to maintain a consistent supply chain.
  • Develop and maintain optimal inventory parameters within the ERP system, including safety stock levels, reorder points, and economic order quantities (EOQ) for thousands of SKUs.
  • Collaborate closely with the sales and marketing teams to plan for promotional events, new product launches, and seasonal demand peaks, ensuring inventory is aligned with business strategy.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of vendors, building strong relationships to improve lead times, resolve discrepancies, and negotiate better terms.
  • Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as inventory turnover, stock-to-sales ratios, fill rates, and forecast accuracy, reporting on trends and initiating corrective actions.
  • Identify slow-moving or obsolete inventory (SLOB) and collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and execute disposition strategies to minimize financial losses.
  • Manage inventory allocation and transfer orders between different warehouses or store locations to balance stock and optimize availability across the entire network.
  • Investigate and resolve complex inventory discrepancies by reconciling system data with physical counts and shipment records, performing root cause analysis to prevent future issues.
  • Prepare and present detailed inventory status reports, performance dashboards, and data-driven recommendations to senior management and key stakeholders.
  • Utilize advanced planning and replenishment software (like JDA, SAP, Oracle) to automate ordering processes and refine system-generated forecasts.
  • Continuously evaluate and challenge current replenishment processes and logic, recommending and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Manage the reverse logistics process for your assigned product categories, coordinating returns to vendors and ensuring proper system and financial adjustments.
  • Assess vendor performance based on on-time delivery, order fill rates, and quality, providing regular feedback and participating in formal vendor reviews.
  • Coordinate with the transportation and warehouse receiving teams to ensure smooth and efficient inbound logistics and rapid stock availability.
  • Analyze the impact of lead time variability and demand uncertainty on inventory levels, adjusting safety stock and planning parameters accordingly.
  • Support the end-to-end lifecycle management of products, from initial item setup in the system to phasing out discontinued items from the inventory plan.
  • Actively participate in the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, providing critical input on inventory projections and supply constraints.
  • Develop contingency plans to address potential supply chain disruptions, such as supplier shortages, transportation delays, or unexpected surges in demand.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer pressing business questions related to inventory and sales.
  • Contribute to the organization's continuous improvement culture by identifying opportunities within the broader supply chain.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate new product or marketing needs into actionable inventory requirements and system setups.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if the supply chain team operates within an agile framework for project management.
  • Assist in training junior team members or colleagues from other departments on inventory management principles and system usage.
  • Participate in physical inventory counts and cycle counting programs, helping to reconcile variances and improve overall inventory accuracy.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Inventory Management Systems: Hands-on proficiency with specialized replenishment and inventory planning software (e.g., JDA, o9 Solutions, Logility, SAP APO, Oracle Demantra).
  • ERP Proficiency: Deep understanding and practical experience with Enterprise Resource Planning systems (e.g., SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365) for order management and inventory control.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel: Mastery of Excel for data manipulation and analysis, including complex formulas, pivot tables, VLOOKUP/INDEX-MATCH, and data modeling.
  • Data Analysis & Querying: Ability to pull and analyze large datasets. Basic to intermediate SQL skills for querying databases is highly desirable.
  • Demand Forecasting Techniques: Strong knowledge of statistical forecasting models, seasonality, and trend analysis.
  • Supply Chain Principles: Solid understanding of core concepts like safety stock, lead time, order cycles, EOQ, and inventory turnover.
  • Purchase Order Management: Expertise in the complete PO lifecycle, from creation and transmission to tracking, receiving, and reconciliation.
  • Vendor Performance Metrics: Ability to track and analyze supplier performance using metrics like On-Time In-Full (OTIF).
  • Reporting & Visualization: Experience creating clear, concise reports and dashboards for stakeholders, with experience in tools like Tableau or Power BI being a significant plus.
  • Logistics Coordination: Familiarity with inbound transportation, customs, and warehouse receiving processes.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical & Critical Thinking: The ability to dissect complex problems, see patterns in data, and make logical, data-driven decisions.
  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: A sharp eye for accuracy is critical when managing thousands of SKUs and large purchase orders.
  • Proactive Problem-Solving: An aptitude for anticipating potential issues and developing solutions before they become critical problems.
  • Strong Communication: The ability to clearly articulate complex inventory situations and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: A natural ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, logistics, and finance.
  • Time Management & Prioritization: Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment without sacrificing accuracy.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to respond to sudden changes in demand, supply disruptions, or shifting company priorities.
  • Negotiation & Influence: The skill to build consensus and influence stakeholders or vendors to achieve desired outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • An Associate's degree in a relevant field or a High School Diploma combined with several years of direct experience in inventory control or purchasing.

Preferred Education:

  • A Bachelor's degree is strongly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics
  • Business Administration
  • Economics or Finance
  • Data Analytics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of direct experience in a replenishment, inventory planning, purchasing, or highly analytical supply chain role.

Preferred:

  • Experience within a specific industry (e.g., fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail, e-commerce, manufacturing) is often highly valued.
  • Demonstrated success in managing a large and complex SKU portfolio.
  • Proven experience using a modern ERP or advanced planning system.
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