Manager, Area Planning and Sales Inventory

This position helps make gospel teachings, resources, and services accessible to
all in a simple and affordable way, supporting the mission of the Church. This
role exists to provide support and leadership for area sales channel operations,
demand planning, inventory management, customer service, and inform/awareness
outside the United States. Success is measured by key operating metrics and
customer/employee satisfaction. It also leads warehousing and logistics,
printing, retail expansion, and may help with other logistics tasks as assigned.

In some areas this role may oversee the Distributions operations in one or more
areas creating synergies and acting like a regional manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Regularly manage the work of other employees (may include mixed workforce),
and is authorized, in partnership with HR, to hire employees and recommends
advancement, promotions or any other change of status of employees within
their reporting line.
* Responsible for all demand planning, forecasting, and inventory management
within the Area, supporting local production needs and maintaining proper
levels of inventory throughout the local supply chain and especially at the
retail stores.
* Organizes and measures distribution channels for materials in the area.
* May coordinate and supervise exports and imports in the area.
* May coordinate and supervise the Church’s magazine program in the area.
* Evaluates the cost/benefit of nearshoring for Church materials in the area.
* Ensures optimal levels of inventory to meet customer needs and suggesting
opportunities for improvement that are backed by analysis.
* Ensures members in the area have simple and affordable access to products
through an appropriate sales channel mix, that may include the online store,
retail stores, and other channels.
* Ensures customers receive an optimal customer experience when interacting
with the sales channels.
* Standardize sales channel operations globally while understanding local
customs and practices.
* Primary owner of all customer inform/awareness activities within the area and
partners closely with the area communications committee and area publishing
services manager (PSM) to adapt inform/awareness materials to the local
language and customer needs and execute all inform/awareness activities.
* Assists the area PSM with the creation of local inform/awareness materials
and provide feedback to area and Church headquarters regarding the
effectiveness of all marketing campaigns. Success is measured by execution
and effectiveness of inform/awareness campaigns within the area and customer
awareness.
* Leads area inventory management and demand planning, overseeing the inventory
health and replenishment levels (min/max) of all fulfillment centers and
warehouses within the area.
* Ensure timely replenishment of sellable and non-sellable products through
shipping analysis and order processing efficiencies.
* Determines area assortment by fulfillment center, the optimal channel mix for
the area, and assortment mix across channels.
* Reporting and analyzing data, performance metrics and key indicators and
reviewing financial performance of sales channels.
* Provides recommendations to store managers and other key leaders to influence
and improve key operating indicators.
* Understand customer marketing strategies and how to apply local adaptation.
This may include local pop-up stores to increase product accessibility.
* Providing vision and best practices to store managers and inventory control
specialists regarding operations such as personnel management, inventory
levels, product assortments, selling cost ratios, security standards for IT,
proper care and sale of sacred clothing, shipping schedules, and creating
standards for financial and operational issues.
* Travel to stores and warehouses throughout assigned area to audit best
practices, hire, train, review, and manage performance of store managers,
inventory control specialists, and other area associates on product
knowledge, merchandising, annual goals, operational procedures.
* Manage the work of other employees (may include mixed workforce).
* Responsible, in partnership with HR, to hire employees and recommends
advancement, promotion, or any other change of status of employees within
their reporting line. This includes performance management and
recommendations for discipline and termination.
* May help with other logistical tasks as assigned such as relocations and
communications to priesthood leaders.
* In some areas;
* Manages the printing, warehousing, distribution, retail stores, inventory
control and 3PL vendors through the respective functional managers by
meeting regularly, coordinating with functional managers, and giving
directions and counsel as needed.
* May also be responsable for the distribution operations for several areas.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

* 10 years of any combination of related experience or progress towards or
completion of a relevant university (post-secondary) degree or an
industry-recognized certification. Former work-related leadership experience.
* Knowledge of retailing, inform/awareness, logistics, inventory management,
etc.
* Knowledge of import and export processes (Incoterms, legal trade regulations,
etc.).
* Ability to change and adapt to meet business needs.
* Excellent computer skills including Excel, ERP systems, and the ability to
set up computer component systems in a POS setting essential.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Ability to manage and motivate people and train employees of various learning
abilities to perform social and complex functions.
* Ability to understand financial and budgeting procedures.
* Must be willing and able to travel extensively and have a current passport.
* Previous international experience.
* This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely
uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers,
filing cabinets, and fax machines. This is largely a sedentary role,
requiring some bending and standing as necessary.

Preferred:

* Multiple language proficiency, including English.