Global Inventory Optimization Manager

Job Overview

Coordinates and integrates the flow of materials and information among suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers and identifies opportunities for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain.

Job Requirements

• Managing day-to-day operational coordination and escalations, reviewing and tracking checklists, ensuring all supply chain activity is completed timely, and avoiding project delays.
• Monitoring inventory levels and coordinating with multiple teams in arranging the manufacture or the purchase of stock to meet promised deliveries against forecasted demand.
• Implementing supply chain optimization projects, creating processes to gather supply chain data, and analyzing them to identify areas for improvement.
• Liaising with the internal functions to determine priorities and working with the cross-functional leads to identify, plan and resolve inconsistencies and gaps between demand and supply.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Own global inventory performance for GATD Automotive, with primary accountability for achieving budgeted inventory turns, days on hand, and inventory health targets.
• Define and deploy standardized inventory policies, governance mechanisms, and best practices across regions and business units.
• Design, lead, and implement strategic inventory optimization initiatives aligned with TE Connectivity’s operations and supply chain strategy.
• Drive sustainable reduction of excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory while protecting customer service and business continuity.
• Identify structural improvement opportunities across planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution.
• Develop, implement, and monitor global inventory planning and fulfillment KPIs, dashboards, and performance metrics.
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to ensure data integrity, root-cause analysis, and corrective action execution.
• Serve as the central point of expertise for inventory analytics, risk assessment, and opportunity identification.
• Lead and support cross-functional initiatives focused on optimizing customer on-time delivery, lead times, forecast accuracy, and inventory efficiency.
• Collaborate across the end-to-end supply chain, including Sales, Operations, Finance, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Logistics.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma tools, value stream mapping, and structured problem-solving methodologies where applicable. • Develop playbook for Material Management
• Ensure inventory strategies for new product introductions are fully aligned and embedded within the S&OP and IBP processes.
• Provide guidance on inventory positioning, ramp-up strategies, and lifecycle management to support growth while controlling risk.
• Coach, train, and mentor global and regional teams on inventory management principles and optimization techniques.
• Conduct gap assessments and maturity evaluations, developing clear roadmaps to achieve target service levels with optimized inventory.
• Lead the global deployment and adoption of inventory management standards, ensuring consistent execution and compliance.

Desired Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field required.
• Minimum 5–8 years of progressive experience in inventory optimization, supply planning, or related supply chain roles.
• Experience operating in a global, multi-site manufacturing and distribution environment strongly preferred.
• Strong expertise in inventory optimization concepts, planning methodologies, and financial trade-off analysis.
• Solid understanding of inventory health metrics, working capital management, and cost-to-serve principles.
• Hands-on experience with SAP and advanced digital supply chain or analytics tools.
• Proven ability to influence and collaborate across functions, regions, and organizational levels.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; capable of translating complex data into clear insights.
• Self-motivated, results-driven professional with a track record of delivering sustainable process improvements.
• Comfortable operating under pressure while addressing systemic and structural issues.
• CPIM, or equivalent professional certification.
• Lean Six Sigma experience or certification.
• Prior exposure to automotive or industrial manufacturing environments.

Competencies