Inventory Performance

Lead Zentiva's inventory governance, procedures, and continuous improvement initiatives within the S&OP framework, driving operational excellence, service performance, and optimized working capital across RM, WIP, and FG globally.

• Lead the development, governance, and continuous improvement of Zentiva's inventory management processes, fully integrating them into the S&OP process to drive operational excellence and performance across the organization.
• Establish governance mechanisms to monitor compliance of procedures, track effectiveness and drive accountability.
• Lead training and communication efforts related to inventory management procedures across the organization, ensuring understanding and adoption.
• Conduct regular checks and reviews to identify areas for improvement and ensure alignment with evolving business
• Lead on all inventory (RM, WIP, FG) management processes – including the reporting on all inventory management initiatives from across the company (directly supporting to those initiatives as required or instructed by the SIOPS Lead)
• Hold accountable those functions who own specific inventory types (in terms of proactive inventory management)
• Consolidate inventory projections to ensure avoidance of excess inventory (wherever possible).
• Maximize customer service by minimizing out of stock situations
• Increase business profitability by the proactive management of product supply

Main Responsibilities

• Strategy & Governance:
• Develop, document, and maintain inventory procedures aligned with GMP and Zentiva policies.
• Oversee governance frameworks ensuring process consistency, compliance, and KPI accountability.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Drive lean-based initiatives to enhance service levels, reduce excess inventory, and optimize working capital.
• Support digitalization and system enhancements for inventory management.
• Inventory Performance:
• Lead and report on RM, WIP, FG inventory initiatives including excess management, safety stock, segmentation, launches, and M&A.
• Measure and improve performance using clear metrics while ensuring stakeholder accountability.
• Participate in development of statistical models and critical parameters to optimize inventories
• Collaboration:
• Align inventory strategies with S&OP and business objectives cross-functionally.
• Ensure systematic review and governance adherence to support service and cost goals.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal Partners

• Global Demand & Supply Network Planning teams
• Production Sites, IO Management
• ESO
• Launches / Transfers / M&A
• Regional Supply Chain
• Commercial (Markets)
• Quality & Regulatory
• Other functions supporting directly to Affiliates/Global

Hard Skills & Competencies

• Minimum 6 years experience of having designed and implemented numerous inventory management processes within a regulated or FMCG industry – including reporting and ongoing tracking of performance
• Experience of materials/production planning– with a specific focus on inventory - within a regulated industry (preferably generics pharma or FMCG)
• Good working knowledge of requirement planning and/or MRP
• Good working knowledge of S&OP – with inventory management embedded into the process
• Demonstrated understanding of financial systems and key commercial drivers (within a manufacturing environment)
• Proven understanding of Supply Chain including: demand & stock management, production & capacity management, monthly reporting, CMO supply, WH & Logistics, S&OP – KPI tracking etc
• Proven analytical skills – able to produce data/reports with a high degree of accuracy
• Ability to generate insights from quantitative and qualitative analysis. Develop creative solutions to complex problems.
• English: Advanced level (other languages are an advantage)

Soft Skills & Competencies

• Problem-solver: able to identify issues and implement corrective actions
• Able to act independently (within a defined area of responsibility)
• Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate decision-making across the different stakeholders
• Reliable – consistently deliver on what they promise
• Having a customer orientated mind-set
• Good written and oral communication skills – able to confidently present to team, peers & leadership
• Able to work under pressure, whilst maintaining a clear focus on business objectives
• Builds excellent relationships with internal and external customers based on trust and confidence.
• Comfortable with elements of ambiguity, not distracted from the required outcome