Head - Inventory Management

Job Requirements

To define and lead the enterprise-wide inventory management strategy - ensuring the right balance between product availability, agility, and working capital efficiency. The role drives the design and governance of systems, processes, and frameworks that manage assortment planning, buffers, and replenishment across the retail network.

As a strategic and system-driven leadership position, this role ensures that the brand's growth and retail objectives are supported by robust, data-led inventory planning and execution.

Work Experience

Key Responsibilities

- Strategic Inventory Leadership

- Define and implement the long-term inventory management strategy aligned to growth, category, and retail objectives.

- Establish governance mechanisms for inventory norms, stock turns, and aging across store clusters and product categories.

- Lead strategic initiatives to optimize working capital while ensuring optimal availability.

- Systems & Process Excellence

- Design and oversee systems that manage buffers, replenishment, and stock allocation across the network.

- Partner with Digital and analytics to strengthen planning, and forecasting tools for automation and agility.

- Institutionalize data-driven planning processes with clear parameters and accountability.

- Assortment Planning & Retail Alignment

- Lead the framework for assortment planning to ensure inventory alignment with store format, performance, and consumer profile.

- Review inventory deployment effectiveness and course correct as needed.

- Alignment with Category Team on Assortment Management, Product Life Cycle Management, New Products Introduction, Ensuring Freshness index as well as Must Have Products

- Alignment with Retail to ensure the Right Model Stock for each Boutique

- Buffer & Replenishment Management

- Define buffer policies and monitor performance against business cycles and trends.

- Continuously recalibrate buffer parameters based on demand velocity, lead time, and sales analytics.

- Establish system-led replenishment with minimal manual intervention.

- Analytics, Performance & Governance

- Build and sustain analytical frameworks and dashboards to monitor inventory KPIs.

- Publish insights to business leadership for proactive decisions.

- Anchor monthly inventory health reviews and drive course correction across clusters and categories.

- Leadership & Capability Building

- Build a strong analytical, process-driven, and collaborative culture within the team.

Success Metrics

- Aligning the alignment to the norms and model stocks for Stores to achieve Revenue and margin goals

- Freshness Index of Assortment

- Availability of Key Must Haves in stores

- Achievement of targeted stock turns and working capital efficiency.

- Reduction in aged and slow-moving inventory. Management of policies around Melting, Provisioning

- Improvement in in-stock efficiency

- Increased automation and accuracy in replenishment planning.

- Consistency and adherence to defined inventory norms

- Development and retention of high-performing inventory management talent.

Capabilities & Competencies

Functional:

- Strategic inventory management and planning systems

- Demand forecasting and buffer optimization

- Data analytics and ERP system understanding (SAP / Oracle / equivalent)

- Retail supply chain dynamics and assortment principles

Leadership & Behavioral:

- Strategic and systemic thinking

- Strong stakeholder collaboration and influencing skills

- Analytical and decision-making orientation

- Process discipline and execution rigor

- People leadership and capability building

Education & Experience

Education:

- MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain, Operations, or Business Strategy (Tier 1 / Tier 2 preferred)

- Graduate in Engineering, Commerce, or equivalent discipline

Experience:

- 10-12 years of experience in inventory management, demand planning, or supply chain functions

- Experience in large-scale retail, consumer goods, or lifestyle businesses

- Proven exposure to system-driven planning, analytics, and cross-functional leadership