Inventory Planning Manager (IC)

Key Responsibilities

• Demand Planning & Forecast Management Develop, maintain, and continuously improve baseline, promotional, seasonal, and event-driven forecasts for assigned product categories.
• Collaborate with Category Management, Merchants, Buyers, and Analysts to align forecasts with business strategies, new item introductions, promotional activities, and market trends.
• Adjust forecasts based on market intelligence, consumer trends, supplier inputs, and business performance insights.
• Monitor forecast accuracy, identify root causes of forecast bias and variances, and implement corrective actions to improve planning performance.
• Generate forecast performance metrics and provide actionable insights to leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Utilize forecasting tools and analytics to determine appropriate forecast models, assumptions, and parameters.
• Supply, Inventory & Replenishment Planning Develop and manage inventory, replenishment, and purchase plans that support forecasted demand while achieving inventory productivity and service level targets.
• Own inventory performance for assigned products, vendors, and categories, ensuring appropriate inventory levels to support customer demand.
• Establish and maintain replenishment parameters, safety stock levels, and inventory strategies using analytical recommendations and business requirements.
• Monitor inventory health, receipts, replenishment execution, and supplier performance to proactively address risks and opportunities.
• Manage stock-out prevention plans and excess inventory mitigation strategies.
• Evaluate purchasing opportunities, including forward-buying and deal-buying decisions, balancing financial returns with inventory objectives.
• Monitor promotional, seasonal, and new product receipts while partnering with suppliers and logistics providers to ensure timely product availability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Business Planning Facilitate a collaborative planning process that aligns demand forecasts, supply plans, inventory investments, and business objectives.
• Partner with Finance, Logistics, Transportation, Category Management, and Vendor partners to identify opportunities that improve profitability, service levels, and inventory efficiency.
• Support Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes by providing demand, inventory, and supply insights that enable informed business decisions.
• Communicate supply risks, inventory issues, forecast changes, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Develop and present planning recommendations that support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Performance Analysis & Reporting Achieve sales, margin, in-stock, service level, inventory turn, and inventory productivity goals.
• Analyze demand, inventory, and service-level performance to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Generate and maintain reporting that provides visibility into forecast accuracy, inventory health, replenishment performance, and key business metrics.
• Leverage statistical and analytical techniques to drive continuous improvement across planning processes.
• Create meaningful aggregations of demand and inventory data to support executive reporting and cross-functional communication.
• Required Qualifications 3–5 years of experience in retail merchandise planning, demand planning, supply planning, inventory planning, or supply chain management.
• Preferred Qualifications Experience with JDA/Blue Yonder Forecasting, Replenishment, Fulfillment, and Order Optimization solutions.
• Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration (MBA), or a related discipline.
• APICS/ASCM certifications (CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent).
• Experience supporting Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.
• Strong knowledge of forecasting methodologies, inventory optimization, replenishment planning, and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated business and financial acumen with an understanding of retail supply chain operations.
• Self-motivated individual with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other analytical tools.
• Ability to effectively influence and collaborate across multiple functions and organizational levels.
• Strong communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Experience managing forecasts, inventory, replenishment, or category planning within a retail environment.
• Education Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Operations, Economics, or a related field.
• Anticipated Weekly Hours 40 Time Type Full time Pay Range The typical pay range for this role is: $66,330.00 - $145,860.00 This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls.
• The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors.
• This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above.
• Our people fuel our future.
• Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.
• Great benefits for great people We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.
• This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families.
• The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.
• Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments .
• We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/31/2026 Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.