Position: Manager, Inventory Management
Location: Japan
Role Purpose
This role leads Inventory Management within the Supply Chain organization, ensuring customer demand can be fulfilled while maintaining optimal stock levels. The position is responsible for managing the team, overseeing supply and availability planning, monitoring inventory performance, and supporting operational improvements to drive efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
Team & Performance Management
• Lead and coach a high-performing team by setting goals, evaluating performance and enabling development
• Provide clear priorities, workload plans and objectives aligned with supply chain goals
Inventory Planning & Optimization
• Build robust supply plans that support market demand while minimizing excess inventory
• Manage inventory movement and stock levels across the network to meet financial and operational targets
• Monitor overall company inventory, execute reduction plans and ensure efficient management of aged or obsolete stock
• Contribute to open-to-buy meetings and liquidation strategies to optimize working capital
Operational & Strategic Support
• Support mid- and long-term supply chain volume planning and distribution center capability assessments
• Assist network studies to identify risks and improvement opportunities
• Ensure inventory exit and clearance plans align with distribution capacity and operational readiness
• Contribute to achieving on-time delivery by ensuring accurate inbound and outbound planning
Process & System Management
• Help to establish and maintain streamlined processes and data flows for inventory operations
• Partner with Planning Business Process Owners to optimize operational cost and system usage
• Support reporting and plan publication to provide transparency across functions
Key Stakeholders
Internal: Supply Chain, Sales Channels, Demand Planning, Marketing, Finance, IT and Global Supply Chain
External: Logistics partners, clearance business partners
Skills & Experience Required
• Understanding of global supply chain operations and inventory principles
• Minimum 3 years in a multinational or culturally diverse organization
• Minimum 3 years of people leadership experience
• Inventory management background within a consumer products environment in Japan
• Strong analytical thinking and decision-making skills
• Effective communication and stakeholder influence capabilities
• Ability to manage complexity, resources and cross-functional relationships
• High integrity and strong team collaboration mindset
Education & Technical Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Business, Finance or related field
• Proficiency in:
– Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Power BI (advanced level)
– Outlook, Word (intermediate level)
– ERP, WMS and integrated planning systems (basic knowledge)
Language
• Fluent Japanese
• Business-level English
Workplace Commitment
This organization promotes an inclusive and respectful environment, welcoming diversity of backgrounds and perspectives. Equal employment opportunity is ensured for all applicants.