What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Manager Assortment Planning position at NAPA Auto Parts?
Come be part of the Assortment Planning & Modeling team at NAPA, a world leader in automotive and industrial product aftermarket parts. Help us continue to build on a 100-year legacy of excellence and service to our customers. Our mission is to assort and deliver the right part, in the right place, at the right time to service and repair millions of cars each year. To do this, we are seeking talented, motivated individuals to bring their passion and drive to the NAPA team.
Position Mission
The Sr Manager, Assortment Planning will help build a team that provides Category Managers with insight, guidance and recommendations on assortment and inventory mix to maximize sales while balancing inventory and space productivity in Company Owned & Independent NAPA stores and distribution centers. The role will report directly to the Sr Director, Assortment Planning, will utilize existing tools and help build new tools, processes and analyses to provide clarity on current state and recommend optimization of future assortments. The role will also manage a team of Assortment Planners who will work directly with Category Managers to optimize assortment decisions. Through a prioritized set of reviews as well as a continuous review process the Sr Manager and team will balance market demand, supplier recommendations, field & independent store owner feedback and predictive analytics along with line structure/life cycle management, store clustering and new product introduction methodologies to produce a best in class thought process and execution model. The Sr Manager and team will also act as liaisons between the Category Management and Modeling team to ensure that Category role and intent are well defined, understood and executed by all parties.
Detailed Position Description
Analytics (40%)
GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.
Position Mission
The Sr Manager, Assortment Planning will help build a team that provides Category Managers with insight, guidance and recommendations on assortment and inventory mix to maximize sales while balancing inventory and space productivity in Company Owned & Independent NAPA stores and distribution centers. The role will report directly to the Sr Director, Assortment Planning, will utilize existing tools and help build new tools, processes and analyses to provide clarity on current state and recommend optimization of future assortments. The role will also manage a team of Assortment Planners who will work directly with Category Managers to optimize assortment decisions. Through a prioritized set of reviews as well as a continuous review process the Sr Manager and team will balance market demand, supplier recommendations, field & independent store owner feedback and predictive analytics along with line structure/life cycle management, store clustering and new product introduction methodologies to produce a best in class thought process and execution model. The Sr Manager and team will also act as liaisons between the Category Management and Modeling team to ensure that Category role and intent are well defined, understood and executed by all parties.
Detailed Position Description
Analytics (40%)
- Deep dive inventory productivity including Category line structure, potential and actual sales and inventory levels by location and SKU to help understand correct product mix
- Identify opportunities to properly distribute space by and within Categories to allow for optimal mix across the enterprise
- Continue to develop cross-functional review model including analytics to help Category Managers and Operators understand and optimize exit strategy cost and optimal timing of new product introductions
- Build post-review SKU add analytics to help Category Managers understand incrementality and cannibalization of their assortment decisions
- Assist Category Managers in providing forecasts by SKU to Inventory Planning and Replenishment team to ensure proper fill rates and service levels
- Working directly with Sr Director, Assortment Planning and Category Management leadership, create streamlined, repeatable processes for Business Reviews and Assortment recommendations including documentation and collection of all data points needed to assort/de-assort SKUs
- Create process to translate assortment recommendations from Business Reviews to Division Modelers and Inventory Planning associates to properly place and support ongoing replenishment of SKUs
- Partner with Supply Chain Strategy & Analytics team to refine/build tools needed to make proper assortment decisions and analyze results
- Along with Sr Director, Assortment Planning build a team of Assortment Planners who will ultimately support Category Managers in the Business Review process
- Build hiring and onboarding program, launch new team based on all of the work streams outlined above. Monitor new tools, processes and associates for opportunities to improve and build a culture of excellence around Assortment Planning principles
- Company Owned and Independent Store Sales
- Inventory productivity including increasing inventory turnover while reducing underperforming inventory and returns
- Expense reduction associated with excess returns
- 8 years of deep Analytics and Process Improvement experience required
- Possesses the following technical proficiencies:
- Very strong analytical skills, highly competent using tools such as Excel and Big Query
- Well versed in analytics visualization tools (Power BI in particular)
- Prior knowledge of merchandising and assortment modeling applications/tools preferred
- Background in the following process improvement capabilities:
- Ability to quickly identify, recommend solutions for and execute on process opportunities/gaps
- Possesses strong communication, collaboration, and presentation skills including:
- Using PowerPoint to create materials for leadership and cross-functional meetings
- Ability to make compelling presentations to small and large groups
- Comfortable communicating with leadership in large organizations
- Team leadership and team building experience
- Bachelors degree in Business, Analytics, Process Improvement or equivalent experience required
- Ability to manage complex analytical and process improvement projects while demonstrating a positive, collaborative approach with fellow associates across the organization
- High degree of business acumen with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization, balancing multiple stakeholder imperatives
- Work is performed in a typical office environment.
- Ability to travel when called upon.
GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.
