SoTalent

Job Title: Director of Inventory Operations

Location: Houston, Texas, United States

Type: Full Time

Our Client is Looking a strategic and results-oriented Director of Operations – Inventory Initiatives & Projects to lead enterprise-wide inventory optimization initiatives that reduce waste, improve inventory performance, and strengthen organizational capabilities. This highly visible leadership role partners across Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Commercial teams to drive inventory governance, standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable business value.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Inventory Strategy & Performance

• Lead enterprise-wide initiatives focused on improving inventory health and reducing waste across the organization
• Develop strategies to optimize inventory management, minimize obsolescence, and improve operational efficiency
• Drive visibility into inventory performance through robust reporting, analytics, and performance monitoring
• Identify key inventory risks and develop sustainable solutions to improve overall business outcomes

Inventory Governance & Process Excellence

• Establish and maintain governance structures, operating routines, and accountability frameworks to manage inventory performance end-to-end
• Standardize inventory-related processes across the organization, including:
• 30-60-90 inventory reviews
• Donation programs
• Product destruction processes
• Trade break management
• Product resets
• Repack initiatives
• Ensure consistent execution of inventory management best practices across functions

Business Insights & Analytics

• Develop and oversee weekly inventory performance reporting and analytics
• Deliver actionable insights that support fact-based decision-making and performance improvement
• Analyze inventory trends, operational performance, and waste drivers to identify improvement opportunities
• Partner with analytics teams to enhance reporting capabilities and performance visibility

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with stakeholders across:
• Sales
• Supply Chain
• Operations
• Finance
• Commercial Teams
• Analytics Functions
• Align teams around strategic priorities and drive accountability for execution
• Remove organizational barriers that impact inventory performance and operational effectiveness
• Influence outcomes across teams without direct reporting authority

Project Leadership & Change Management

• Lead large-scale inventory and operational improvement projects from concept through implementation
• Define project objectives, success metrics, timelines, and deliverables
• Monitor progress and ensure initiatives achieve targeted business results
• Drive organizational adoption of new processes, tools, and operating models

Capability Building & Training

• Design and implement enterprise-wide training programs related to inventory and BSO (Business System Operations) processes
• Build organizational capability through education, process standardization, and best-practice sharing
• Support continuous improvement efforts that strengthen execution discipline across functions

Risk Mitigation & Continuous Improvement

• Identify upstream drivers of inventory challenges, including forecasting, planning, and execution gaps
• Partner with teams to improve forecasting accuracy and inventory management processes
• Implement sustainable solutions that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance business performance
• Drive a culture of operational excellence and accountability

What We're Looking For

Leadership & Strategic Thinking

• Proven ability to lead enterprise-wide initiatives and transformation programs
• Strong cross-functional leadership and influencing skills
• Ability to drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups
• Experience building governance frameworks and operating models in complex environments

Inventory & Supply Chain Expertise

• Strong knowledge of:
• Inventory Management
• Supply Chain Operations
• Demand Planning
• Direct Store Delivery (DSD) environments
• Waste Reduction Initiatives
• Experience improving inventory performance and operational execution

Analytics & Business Acumen

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to translate data into actionable business strategies
• Experience leveraging reporting and performance metrics to drive decision-making
• Financial acumen related to inventory, cost management, and operational performance

Communication & Influence

• Excellent executive communication and presentation skills
• Ability to build strong relationships across organizational levels
• Proven success influencing stakeholders without direct authority
• Strong change management and stakeholder engagement capabilities

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree required
• 10+ years of experience in:
• Operations
• Supply Chain
• Direct Store Delivery (DSD)
• Inventory Management
• Related operational leadership roles
• Proven experience leading large-scale business initiatives and delivering measurable results
• Strong analytical, leadership, and project management skills

Preferred

• Advanced degree (MBA or related field)
• Experience in inventory optimization and waste reduction programs
• Background in consumer products, food & beverage, retail, or DSD operations
• Experience building enterprise governance processes and organizational capabilities

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: $155,500 – $180,000 annually
• Annual performance-based bonus eligibility
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off and Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement and Education Assistance
• Child & Elder Care Benefits
• Fertility and Adoption Assistance Programs
• Employee Resource Groups and Wellness Programs
• Mileage Reimbursement and additional employee benefits