Director, Forecasting and Replenishment

About Lee Valley

Since 1978, Lee Valley has recognized that for many, woodworking and gardening are more than just hobbies. Lee Valley Tools enjoys a proud history of providing high-quality woodworking, gardening, hobby, hardware, gift and seasonal merchandise to customers worldwide. We pride ourselves on providing quality products and renowned customer service.

Lee Valley has been honored with many prestigious awards, including being recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in 2023 by Deloitte and one of Canada's Best Employers by Forbes in 2018. Additionally, we ranked #1 for In-Store Experience in Ontario by Leger Marketing Inc.

A position at Lee Valley is more than just a job – we honor the time and dedication that our people give by providing sustained and meaningful employment while striving to provide an environment where learning and development are encouraged.

Job purpose

Oversees the company’s inventory management, traffic and customs teams. Works closely with Category Management, Marketing, Warehouse Operations, Retail Stores, Customer Service and Finance in the delivery of strategic initiatives and company objectives.

Leads multiple teams, influences across the business through effective collaboration. Continuously improves inventory management and replenishment strategies to meet short and long-term objectives. Brings forward growth initiatives, improve efficiency and lower costs. Optimizes investments in people, process, & systems.

An inclusive, ethical, innovative leader with their finger on the pulse of the organization, who understands and appreciates an empowered team. Fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Highly focused on the customer, aware of the current and most important organizational priorities. Always curious, seeking out new learnings and on the lookout for opportunity. Judges where to focus time and effort for maximizing execution and results.

Contributes as a strategic thinker, comfortably manages between big picture opportunities and details to facilitate effective management and execution. A leader willing to jump in, roll up their sleeves, dig into details, learn, utilize in, and contribute to development of strategies or process improvement.

Communicates across the organization to support precise execution.

Duties and responsibilities

Maximize customer fulfilment and experience, maintaining optimal inventory levels by warehouse location, appropriately representing the Lee Valley Tools value proposition. Ensures development and execution of efficient, cost-effective strategies for managing company inventory.

• Develop COGS, Receipt, and Inventory budgets to accommodate merchandise strategies and deliver on company objectives. Forecast weekly receipts and inventory. Collaborate with finance to ensure acceptable inventory operating levels. Develop action plans and strategies to mitigate inventory risk in the face of changing business conditions.
• Oversee and approve purchase order spend for merchandise products. Supervise PO Review process ensuring avoidance of unnecessary purchases. Maintain OTB and inventory targets.
• Encourages, supports and directs supply management team through command of reporting tools, helping to identify exceptions and opportunities with day-to-day inventory activities. Develop low-level check in’s to identify opportunities and potential performance gaps. Holds team members accountable for outcomes.
• Become the expert on complexities within the Lee Valley Tools business model, company systems and processes used to execute and monitor business. Uses superior analytics and data management skills to resolve complex challenges and identify opportunities. Develop effective strategies and processes to scale and overcome complexities.
• Drive the Integrated planning & execution process (IP&E). Identify opportunities for improvement, guide teams through successful collaboration and ensure outcomes aligned with strategic objectives.
• As part of IP&E process, oversee and ensure successful outcomes for item level sales planning, buy plan execution and distribution strategies. Develops in alignment with company objectives, merchandise financial plans to the sub category level. Performs top down-bottom up assessment and reconciliation.
• Develop effective relationships with cross-functional leaders, optimizing the integrated planning & execution process. Ensure execution of item-level sales plans and appropriate in season and pre-season purchase orders. Galvanize relationships between Supply & Category Management teams. Partners with VP Merchandise for success of product initiatives and strategies.
• Manage back order reporting. Minimize expense, customer dissatisfaction. Maximize billable revenue through timely resolution of missed opportunities. Develop action plans to prevent and resolve back orders.
• Ensure inventory intelligence and reporting to support company’s promotional marketing program.
• Optimize the company’s Regional Fulfilment Centre strategy.
• Build effective partnership with store leadership teams to maximize potential for inventory management, warehouse operations, and transportation. Ensures PO distribution opportunities are maximized.
• Oversees development and implementation of distribution strategies ensuring appropriate seasonal inventory level for all warehouse and store locations.
• Maintain effective expense controls, adjusting to ongoing changes in business and market conditions. Establish expense budgets for transportation, aligning with company objectives. Report on KPI’s, action opportunities to reduce expense, while maintaining or improving service level.
• Maintain effective inventory forecasting and reporting process. Develop strategies and action plans to address opportunities. Collaborate with CFO, VP Operations, to maintain acceptable inventory investment.
• Negotiate contracts for small parcel in support of operational strategies. Oversee carrier contract negotiations. Maintain audit process for transportation expenses.
• Oversee team to ensure timely customs clearing and duty payments for import/export activities.
• Oversee timely processing of transportation expense invoices.
• Lead company Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Process. Timely and accurate monthly reporting of Channel level Sales/GM$ vs plan, inventory, and other appropriate metrics as required. Oversee development and communication of reporting and meeting documents.
• Develop, maintain and update as required, KPI measures for transportation and supply management.
• Participate in business cases for technology investments
• Mentor, train, and develop team of managers, demand planners and analysts. Provide timely performance management reviews, develop action plans to support performance opportunities and succession planning.
• Develop agile teams capable of adapting to changing conditions, while maintaining strong execution standards.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in quantitative field (supply chain, operations, engineering, finance)
• 7 – 10 years leadership experience in supply chain, inventory management, proven ability to lead teams. Extensive retail experience in both bricks and mortar and e-commerce retail.
• Track record of success transforming supply chain networks and systems with improved results by delivering large-scale, multi-stakeholder strategies.
• Deep understanding of end-to-end supply chain including forecasting, demand planning, inventory optimization, distribution, transportation, data analytics, and integrated operations planning.
• Success leading in a fast paced, ambiguous environment, ability & experience for sound judgement & decision-making.
• Hands on leadership style, with a willingness and ability to “do the work” as well as manage others.
• Superior analytics/data management skills. Ability to streamline complex data into strategic and tactical opportunities.
• Appreciates and thrives in a product driven business, with the competency to understand technical assortment dependencies of a category specialist to maximize customer experience.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), presentation, and negotiation skills; ability to influence key stakeholders, through fact-based analysis. Trusted, able to win over stakeholders, and known for accomplishments.
• Diverse experience across both e-commerce & bricks and mortar retail formats with expertise in replenishment, merchandise planning, inventory management and store operations.
• Experience working with forecasting, replenishment and inventory management systems.
• Shrewd self-teacher of merchandise, inventory and warehouse management systems.
• A passion for the retail business with a determination to serve.
• A transformational leader, evolving business strategy & process to maximize results and service the customer.
• Entrepreneurial, creative, keen ability to recognize value and see new opportunities.
• Excellent recruiting and EQ skills.
• Advanced capabilities with Microsoft Tools, excel, etc.

Desirable Personal Attributes & Skills

• Curious, loves to learn
• Problem solver
• Customer centric
• Metrics Driven
• Recruitment Prowess
• Budget Management
• Collaborator, a natural communicator
• Technology Expertise
• Responsive, Action Oriented

Travel Requirements

Occasional visiting stores throughout Canada.

What we offer

• Competitive compensation program including competitive base salary, a robust health and dental benefits packages well as a matching group retirement plan.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Lee Valley Employee Discount
• A family-oriented environment that supports growth and development for all employees.

Diversity and Inclusion