Inventory Planning Analyst

Title: Inventory Planning Analyst

Division: Publishing Division

Reports to: Inventory Manager

General Description of Responsibilities:

The Inventory Planning Analyst is responsible for the demand and methodology side of Crossway’s inventory management. This role builds and maintains the demand forecast, receives and tunes planning parameters (safety stock, reorder timing), produces the analytics and reporting that drive decision-making, and leads Crossway's inventory planning systems and tooling roadmap. Working under the Inventory Manager, this role generates the SKU-level recommendations that drive replenishment and brings analytical rigor and modern best practices to a growing and increasingly complex inventory operation, particularly in the Bible category.

Specific Responsibilities:

Transition Crossway to a New Inventory Forecasting Tool

• Document existing forecasting workflows to ensure a seamless transition to the new system.
• Lead the evaluation of modern forecasting tools, presenting recommendations to leadership.
• Coordinate the implementation and rollout of the selected inventory planning system.
• Ensure seamless ERP integration and accurate data migration by partnering with IT and management.
• Stay current on advanced forecasting technologies and recommend high-value system applications.

Provide Inventory Forecasting Recommendations to Management

• Generate data-driven demand forecasts for books and Bibles to ensure optimal product availability.
• Deliver reports on order timing and quantity recommendations to the Inventory Manager.
• Track and analyze forecast accuracy metrics to systematically reduce errors over time.

Enforce Leadership’s Reordering Parameters and Logic

• Enforce and apply leadership’s replenishment logic to optimize safety stock and reorder timing.
• Suggest adjustments to planning parameters based on actual performance, lead times, and demand trends.
• Manage high-risk Bible planning variables, including long offshore lead times and SKU groupings.
• Align internal workflows with modern supply chain standards by benchmarking against industry best practices.

Create Visual Dashboards and Reports for Internal Transparency

• Build and maintain dynamic dashboards to give management real-time visibility into inventory health, stock risks, and forecasting performance.

General Administration

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Inventory Manager.

Qualifications:

• A college degree (BA or BS)
• Highly organized and detail oriented
• Experience in demand planning, inventory analysis, supply chain, or another quantitative operations role (typically 2+ years)
• Comfort with analytical work: forecasting, working with data across many SKUs, and reasoning about stock levels and trade-offs
• A degree in supply chain, business, math, or a related field a plus
• Hands-on experience with a professional planning system (e.g., Dynamics, Netstock, Slimstock, Streamline, or comparable) a plus
• Deeper grounding in statistical forecasting, safety stock methods, or inventory optimization a plus
• Familiarity with publishing, print manufacturing, or other long-lead-time products a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Passion for the word of God and the gospel

Personal Qualities:

Pleasing personal demeanor with a willing, positive attitude. Energetic, organized, and timely. A love for God’s Word and His church. Committed to an evangelical understanding of the Bible, the gospel, and Christian doctrine. A genuine faith in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, and active participation in a local church.

Benefit Program:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for full time employees after 30 days of employment with employer contribution to costs
• Three medical plan options available with monthly premium costs for a family from $125-$300
• Life, long term, and short term disability insurance for full time employees paid by company
• Additional voluntary life insurance offerings paid by employee
• Paid vacation and illness days for full time employees (part time employees PTO accrual based on hours worked.)
• 11 paid holiday for full time employees (part time employees holiday pay dependent on schedule)
• Participation in retirement plan including 25% company match of up to $1,500 for full time and part time employees (temporary employees not eligible.)

Starting Salary:

Salary Range: $70,000-$75,000 annually

Competitive salary based on previous work experience, education, acquired skills, and aptitude. Starting salary commensurate with current standards for comparable positions at Crossway and similar companies in Christian publishing and ministry.