Position Title: Associate Inventory Planner
Classification:Exempt
Reports To: Replenishment & Inventory Planning Director
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full Time/Typical hours are M-F, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
Who We Are:
Mid-States Distributing ("Mid-States") is the leading Farm, Ranch, and Home Retail Cooperative. Our company is owned by 31 independent Farm, Ranch & Home retailers (Members) who operate over 800 stores in 36 states and 9 Canadian provinces with combined annual sales in excess of 7.5 billion dollars. Our member/owners retail items such as agriculture parts & supplies, petroleum products, hardware & tools, pet food, lawn & garden, animal health supplies, apparel & footwear, sporting goods, and various other products for the Farm, Ranch, and Home.
We are looking for competitive people who like to win big and have fun doing it. We place a tremendous amount of emphasis on creating a unique and positive company culture. Most of our employees will tell you this is the best place they’ve ever worked. We value high-energy people who like to work hard and play hard. Our consumers are primarily rural people raising kids, pets, cows, and crops so traditional values like God, family, and patriotism are important virtues around here. So, if you are enthusiastic and competitive, have a great attitude, have good communication skills, build relationships, love to win, and like ice cream Mid-States is the place for you! If you are not, please apply with our competitors!
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Associate Inventory Planner is responsible for purchase order creation, order tracking, and coordinates with the logistics team to ensure on-time delivery. They are the point of contact for customers and suppliers regarding timely shipments. This position plays a central role to improve the overall efficiencies of supply chain and inventory management.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
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Works directly with the inventory planner to process orders daily/weekly as needed.
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Work with suppliers on order tracking to ensure on time delivery.
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Communicates weekly with customers on current order status.
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Weekly tracking and assessment of internal/external data: Scorecard and PO tracking.
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Supports management of inventory on hands, fill rates, turn goals, customer order frequency and forecast accuracy.
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Helps optimize supply chain to reduce inbound and warehouse expense.
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Active involvement on a cross functional team while being single point of contact for all PO Tracking and order management.
- Maintain collaborative partnership with customers, suppliers, warehouse, transportation, and internal partners to achieve in stock, fill rate, and supply chain goals.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
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Strong attention to detail, planning, and organizational skills.
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Proactive and creative problem solving, particularly in areas of order tracking, and order management.
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Results-driven mindset, with the ability to multi-task and define long and short-term objectives and establish priorities.
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated passion for teamwork.
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Customer-focused; ability to balance supplier, company and customer goals.
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Coordinate and manage requests for data analysis and reporting of varying size and scope.
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Ability to interface with all levels of management.
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Demonstrated integrity and ethical standards.
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Bachelor's degree or higher OR equivalent work experience
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1+ years business experience in Replenishment, Inventory Management, Merchandising, Merchandise Planning, or Retail experience preferred
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Proficient in MS Office applications: Excel, Word, Outlook
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Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems: Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience a plus
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Experience with both short and long lead time suppliers (imports)
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Generally, the job requires 80% sitting, 10% walking, and 10% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean environment. The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping and significant fine finger dexterity.
TRAVEL:
Limited Travel Required.
OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
A few words from our COO:
Mid-States is truly the best company I have ever worked for. We strive to provide a unique, exciting, fulfilling work environment for our staff. We are cautious when we hire because we want to protect that environment. Drama, laziness, and entitlement have no place in Mid-States. Our company is very financially sound and growing like crazy. If you are an enthusiastic, high-energy person with a positive attitude and the skills described above, you may have just found the last job you will ever apply for. I look forward to meeting you. Jeff