Business Optimization Manager Jobs in Spring, TX

Job Description:

Huntsman is seeking a Manager, Supply Execution & Inventory Optimization supporting the Huntsman Advanced Materials Division located in The Woodlands, Texas and San Jose, Costa Rica. This position will report to the Supply Chain Director.

Job Scope

The Manager, Supply Execution & Inventory Optimization is responsible for maintaining end-to-end visibility of inventory performance and delivering accurate, timely operational reporting to support Supply Execution and S&OE decision-making.

This role owns the inventory review process, inventory roll-forward projections, operational KPI reporting, and performance analytics across the business. The position serves as the primary link between Planning teams, Site Supply Chain teams, Finance, and Business leadership by ensuring a single source of truth for inventory, service, backorders, and supply execution performance.

The role supports Supply Planning, Site Supply Chain, and the Supply Chain Director through the preparation of operational insights, identification of inventory risks, escalation tracking, and performance reporting. Inventory roll-forward projections, inventory reconciliation, S&OE outputs, and reporting visibility are core responsibilities of the role.

• Maintain visibility of inventory levels across regions, sites, and planning groups.

• Manage the inventory roll-forward process for the 0-3 month execution horizon.

• Monitor inventory deviations versus IBP targets and approved business plans.

• Identify inventory risks, excess inventory, slow-moving stock, and potential shortages.

• Track inventory trends and their impact on service, working capital, and customer performance.

• Coordinate follow-up actions with Supply Planning, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Site Supply Chain teams.

• Support inventory recovery and optimization initiatives.

• Support the annual Inventory Budget Plan and inventory optimization programs across the EMEAI region.

• Facilitate weekly Inventory Reconciliation activities.

• Prepare inventory review materials and supporting analyses.

• Consolidate inventory-related escalations across sites and planning groups.

• Track action items and ensure timely closure of agreed mitigation plans.

• Maintain visibility of inventory risks requiring leadership attention.

• Support the preparation of information for Integrated S&OE reviews and leadership meetings.

• Own the development and maintenance of operational reporting and dashboards.

• Deliver standardized reporting on Inventory, DIO (Days Inventory Outstanding), Supply Plan Adherence, and Working Capital.

• Ensure consistent KPI definitions and reporting methodologies.

• Provide trend analysis, root cause insights, and issue summaries to support decision-making.

• Maintain governance of reporting tools, files, and Power BI outputs.

• Support the continuous improvement of end-to-end Supply Execution processes, including inventory planning, replenishment, supply reconciliation, inventory reconciliation, and S&OE governance.

• Identify operational inefficiencies, process bottlenecks, and planning execution gaps impacting inventory, service, or working capital performance.

• Perform root cause analysis on recurring Supply Chain issues and develop corrective actions.

• Drive standardization of inventory management and reporting processes across sites, regions, and planning groups.

• Lead initiatives to improve inventory visibility, planning accuracy, and decision-making effectiveness.

• Partner with Supply Planning, Customer Service, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Logistics teams to improve operational workflows and execution performance.

• Support the implementation of new planning tools, reporting solutions, and automation initiatives.

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), process documentation, and governance routines.

• Monitor process performance through operational measures and identify opportunities for productivity improvement.

• Act as a key contributor to digital Supply Chain transformation initiatives, including Power BI reporting, SAP enhancement requests, automated reporting, and advanced analytics solutions.

• Build strong relationships and collaborate with Site Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Manufacturing, Logistics, Supply Planning, Procurement, and Supply Chain Excellence teams.

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

The candidate must have an unrestricted right to work for Huntsman in the United States or Costa Rica.

Candidates from Costa Rica are expected to work at our office in AFZ, Heredia on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Please note that there may be occasions where additional office days are required, due specific business needs.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in S&OP, Materials Management, Supply Chain, or a related field.

• Experience with S&OE and S&OP/IBP processes.

• Demonstrated experience in inventory management.

• Experience working with business needs, service levels, and commercial priorities.

• Fluent in English.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively between Business, Production, and Supply Chain teams.

• Strong interpersonal skills and a team-oriented approach.

• Highly analytical mindset with a strong focus on data and metrics.

• Ability to design and improve processes to deliver business targets and strategy.

• High computer literacy and proficiency in major IT tools, including SAP, Excel, IBM Planning Analytics, and Power BI.

• Strong ability to build relationships and networks across functions and organizational levels.

• Results-oriented approach with a focus on delivering valuable results.

• Conceptual and innovative thinking.

• Strong focus on simplicity and efficiency when achieving targets.

• Ability to identify, analyze, solve, implement, and sustain change.

• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities.

• APICS certification or equivalent Supply Chain experience.

• Additional language skills.

• Experience supporting regional or global Supply Chain organizations.

• Experience with Supply Chain digital transformation, reporting automation, Power BI, SAP enhancements, or advanced analytics solutions.

• Regional role requiring collaboration across multiple sites, regions, planning groups, and functions.

• Primarily office-based work involving extensive use of computer systems, data analysis, reporting tools, and virtual collaboration.

• May require interaction with regional and site teams across different locations and time zones.

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