Inventory Optimisation Lead – Retail

Position Description: Inventory Optimisation Lead – Retail
Position Purpose
The Inventory Optimisation Lead is responsible for ensuring the right products are in the right place at the right time to deliver maximum availability for customers while minimising waste and working capital. This role leads the design and optimisation of inventory strategies, processes, and systems across stores, distribution centres, and the end-to-end product lifecycle.

Acting as a bridge between Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, and Store Operations, the role ensures retail inventory processes are well-documented, risks are identified, and improvements are embedded to drive both sales growth and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities
Retail Inventory Strategy & Optimisation

• Lead the development of inventory strategies to balance on-shelf availability, margin, and cash flow.
• Optimise inventory settings for store and DC replenishment (e.g., safety stock, min/max, order cycles).
• Analyse performance for promotions, seasonal ranges, and new lines to ensure stock is aligned to demand.
• Provide insight into inventory risks (stock-outs, overstocks, markdowns) and lead corrective actions.

Process & Systems Documentation

• Document and maintain end-to-end inventory-related retail processes, including:

• Article onboarding – from listing request to store availability.

• Article lifecycle management – pricing, hierarchy, attributes, promotions, maintenance, deletion.
• Site lifecycle – store openings, refurbishments, relocations, closures, and impact on stock flow.

• Replenishment & allocation – processes across DCs, stores, and e-commerce fulfilment.

• Identify gaps, risks, and pain points in inventory management and implement process improvements.

• Maintain a central, accessible library of process and system documentation (e.g., Confluence / SharePoint).

Stakeholder Leadership

• Partner with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Finance, Store Operations, and IT to align inventory processes and decisions.
• Facilitate workshops with business SMEs and technical teams to validate requirements and process flows.
• Translate business needs into system requirements for IT and planning teams.
• Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership on inventory performance and improvement initiatives.

Systems & Integration

• Ensure retail systems (ERP, Supply Chain Planning, POS, Finance) are configured and integrated to support optimal inventory outcomes.
• Document system flows, dependencies, and data touchpoints across article, site, and supply chain processes.
• Support testing, implementation, and training for system enhancements impacting inventory.

Governance & Compliance

• Define and document ownership, approvals, and governance structures across merchandising, supply chain, and finance.
• Ensure inventory processes comply with audit, stocktake, and financial reporting requirements.
• Embed governance frameworks that drive consistency, accountability, and sustainability in retail inventory decisions.

Required Skills & Experience
Retail & Inventory Expertise

• Proven experience in retail inventory management, supply chain planning, or merchandise planning.
• Understanding of product lifecycle management, promotional planning, and retail trading cycles.

Business & Process Analysis

• Strong capability in documenting and analysing retail workflows and dependencies.
• Experience in requirements gathering, stakeholder interviews, and process mapping.

Systems Knowledge

• Experience with retail ERP, Supply Chain Planning, and POS systems.
• Understanding of integration across Merchandising, Finance, and Operations systems.

Documentation & Modelling

• Skilled in creating clear process flows, RACI matrices, and business rules.
• Familiarity with tools for process mapping.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Strong communication and facilitation skills to engage with Merchandising, Supply Chain, IT, and Store Operations.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional workshops.

Governance & Compliance

• Knowledge of retail stock governance, audit trails, and data integrity requirements.
• Ability to embed governance practices across article and site lifecycle processes.

Success in this Role Means

• Improved on-shelf availability while reducing overstocks, markdowns, and working capital tied up in stock.
• Clear, consistent, and accessible documentation of inventory processes across the retail business.
• Aligned systems, settings, and processes that support promotional and seasonal trading success.
• Strong collaboration between Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, and Store Operations in managing inventory.
• Governance and accountability embedded into end-to-end retail inventory decisions.

At 7-Eleven our people are at the heart of everything we do.
We are committed to creating a workplace that fosters inclusion and celebrates diversity. We strive to make every single 7-Eleven team member feel heard, valued, and respected no matter who they are or what diverse characteristics reflect their unique identity. We are proud to be a
Diversity Council Australia Inclusive Employer and Bronze Accredited with the Australian Workplace Equity Index.
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