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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Multiple language proficiency, including English.