Inventory Planning Manager

As Inventory Control Manager for FBC UK based at our DHL Hub in Liverpool, you will play a critical role in ensuring the effective planning, control, and optimisation of inventory across our supply chain. Working closely with the S&OP process, you will lead inventory planning activities and drive inventory performance across our 3PL network, ensuring the right stock is in the right place at the right time.

Partnering with Demand Planning, Finance, Manufacturing, Customer Service, S&OP teams, 3PL providers, and customers, you will align forecasts, inventory policies, and replenishment strategies to balance service, availability, and working capital objectives. Through a data-driven approach, you will identify opportunities to optimise stock levels, improve inventory health, and enhance overall supply chain resilience..

You will also champion inventory accuracy and governance, ensuring robust controls, audit-ready standards, and high levels of stock integrity across both physical and system inventories. By driving continuous improvement initiatives, you will reduce waste, obsolescence, and write-offs while delivering clear performance metrics and sustainable improvements in inventory efficiency and customer service.

Inventory Accuracy & Control

• Own and drive inventory accuracy across our 3PL network, ensuring delivery of key KPIs relating to cycle count compliance, stock variance, and system integrity.
• Maintain robust controls across inventory transactions, including IDOCs, ASNs, QA holds, delists, claims, and stock movements.
• Lead the reconciliation, governance, and control of stock adjustments, identifying root causes and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Partner with Logistics Stock Control teams and 3PL providers to investigate inventory discrepancies, strengthen controls, and improve stock visibility.
• Collaborate with S&OP teams to align inventory strategies with demand and supply plans, improving product availability while minimising waste and excess stock.

Demand & Supply Alignment

• Ensure inventory policies and stock levels are optimised to support forecasted demand, customer service targets, and business objectives.
• Support the S&OP process by providing inventory insights, risk assessments, and recommendations to improve decision-making.
• Drive inventory optimisation initiatives that balance service levels, working capital, and stock health across the supply chain.

Reporting & Analysis

• Develop and deliver insightful inventory performance reporting, highlighting risks, opportunities, trends, and required actions.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on inventory accuracy, claims, write-offs, storage costs, and inventory health metrics.
• Lead initiatives to improve stock visibility, reduce inventory days, and support working capital improvement targets through data-driven analysis.

Governance, Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Own inventory planning standards, policies, controls, and governance processes across the 3PL network and Logistics Stock Control team.
• Ensure full compliance with internal policies, BRC standards, audit requirements, and business control frameworks.
• Drive audit readiness through effective process control, system governance, and data integrity across SAP, WMS, and reporting platforms.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build strong partnerships with Demand Planning, S&OP, Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, Customer Service, and external logistics providers to optimise inventory performance.
• Act as the key inventory lead with 3PL partners, driving accountability, performance improvement, and issue resolution.
• Represent Inventory Planning within governance forums, supporting internal and external audit activities and business reviews.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead inventory improvement initiatives focused on reducing waste, obsolescence, write-offs, and excess stock across the 3PL network.
• Drive enhancements in reporting, data quality, inventory processes, and system capabilities to improve efficiency and decision-making.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to strengthen planning, forecasting, inventory control, and supply chain performance.

• Proven experience in Inventory Planning, Inventory Control, Supply Planning, or Stock Management, ideally within an FMCG, manufacturing, logistics, or 3PL environment.
• Strong understanding of inventory management principles, stock optimisation strategies, product availability, waste reduction, and write-off management.
• Experience working with SAP, WMS platforms, and inventory processes including IDOC management, ASNs, QA holds, claims, and stock reconciliation.
• Highly analytical with the ability to interpret, challenge, and translate complex data into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Experience producing and analysing inventory KPIs, performance dashboards, and management reports to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to identify trends, risks, and opportunities to improve inventory performance, stock accuracy, and working capital.
• Strong understanding of inventory governance, audit requirements, process controls, and compliance standards, with knowledge of BRC or similar frameworks desirable.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across Planning, Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, Customer Service, and external logistics partners.
• Confident communicator who can influence, challenge constructively, and drive accountability at all levels of the organisation.
• Passionate about accuracy, data integrity, and continuous improvement, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and delivering sustainable solutions.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, resilient, and results-focused, with a commitment to improving processes, controls, and overall inventory performance.