We're looking for a highly analytical and detail-oriented Replenishment Specialist to optimize our inventory levels and ensure seamless product availability. In this role, you'll use data to make efficient purchasing decisions, minimize waste, and keep stock levels on point across all product categories. This position plays a critical role in supporting operational efficiency and delivering the fresh, high-quality ingredients our customers expect.
You'll collaborate with multiple teams, own the replenishment process from end to end, and keep things running smoothly between our fulfillment centers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
Location:
What You'll Do
Inventory Management
- Partner with the Fulfillment Center Inventory Manager and team to ensure accurate stock management
- Monitor and maintain optimal inventory levels to match demand forecasts and sales orders
- Establish and maintain critical parameters such as safety stock and reorder points
- Manage FIFO/FEFO processes to minimize waste and maintain freshness
- Review and reconcile cycle counts, physical inventory, and month-end reports
- Ensure timely closing of manufacturing and sales orders in our systems
- Respond to inventory issues from the Fulfillment Center quickly and effectively Generate and share weekly inventory-related reports, including scrap, pick tickets, shorts, and substitutions
Procurement
- Manage the full replenishment process, including sales analysis, PO creation, projections, and reporting
- Collaborate with Replenishment and Sourcing teams to create accurate POs, validate pricing/quantities/specifications, and align with organizational goals
- Use tools like Looker and Fishbowl to calculate optimal reorder quantities and avoid overstock
- Serve as the main contact between warehouse operations and vendors to address backorders and urgent replenishment needs
- Monitor inventory trends, resolve quality/delivery issues, and identify recovery strategies when needed
- Respond quickly to supply chain disruptions, identify alternative sources, and communicate changes to stakeholders
- Coordinate with Accounts Payable, Fulfillment, and vendors to ensure accurate and timely invoicing
Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement
- Analyze sales trends, inventory performance, and product lifecycle data for improvement opportunities
- Report on slow-moving, near-expiry, or obsolete inventory and recommend actions
- Recommend strategies for inventory optimization, cost savings, and process efficiency
- Define replenishment parameters such as lead times, menu frequency, and vendor MOQs
Collaboration & Communication
- Act as the link between inventory, purchasing, and other teams to ensure information flows seamlessly
- Share actionable insights and recommendations with stakeholders
- Participate in cross-functional meetings to align inventory practices with company objectives
- Communicate inventory status, challenges, and solutions clearly to both internal and external partners
Who You Are
- 2-4 years of buying, forecasting, procurement, and/or supply chain management experience in the Food and Beverage industry
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
- Strong understanding of demand planning, forecasting, and procurement processes in the food and beverage industry
- Proficient in inventory management systems and data analysis tools (Google Sheets required; Excel a plus)
- Skilled in cost calculations and quantity conversions for accurate purchasing
- Comfortable creating and managing spreadsheets, with bonus points for pivot tables, filters, and conditional formatting
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a calm and confident approach under pressure
- Fishbowl or similar ERP experience is a plus
- Prior experience buying for a DTC Food organisation is a plus!
Location
- This role is located in our Chicago, IL office and requires 2-3 days onsite
Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $60,000 - 75,000. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.
Garnish
We love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), matching retirement plan, unlimited paid time off, Purple Carrot box allowance, professional development, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with teammates who are passionate about food!
Final Touches
We are committed to a safe and inclusive work environment, free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, mental or physical disability, handicap, veteran status, or marital status.
About Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot started with just a seed of an idea in 2014. Our vision is a world where plant-based eating is at the core of living well. Every day, on this mission, we're breaking boundaries with plant-based eating. We value learning from customers, an ownership mindset, integrity, winning together, and being bold. We need your expertise on our People team to make things happen!
Purple Carrot's irresistible, globally-inspired meal-kit recipes and prepared meals using fresh ingredients are available in all 48 contiguous US states. We are a team of collaborative individuals who drive for results, strive for doing better, make good choices quickly, and embrace a growth mindset to win or learn. Here's what you're up for!
