Manager, Inventory Process Improvement & Innovation

Job Title: Manager, Inventory Process Improvement & Innovation

Work Place Flexibility: Hybrid 

Legal Entity: Entergy Services, LLC 

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager, Inventory Process Improvement & Innovation, leads enterprise-wide inventory transformation initiatives through process improvement, innovation, advanced analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence. This role is responsible for developing and executing the strategic roadmap for inventory management modernization, enabling Entergy to improve material readiness, optimize working capital, reduce operating costs, and enhance overall supply chain performance.

The Manager serves as the enterprise subject matter expert for inventory process excellence, governance, and innovation, partnering closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Information Technology, Finance, Nuclear, Power Generation, Power Delivery, Capital Projects, and external partners to implement sustainable business improvements and emerging technologies at scale.

The position is accountable for establishing enterprise inventory standards, governance frameworks, performance measures, and process controls that drive consistency, compliance, and operational excellence across all business units.

This position is responsible for identifying, evaluating, developing, and implementing inventory management innovations that support Entergy's strategic objectives. The Manager leads enterprise initiatives involving process redesign, digital transformation, advanced analytics, automation, predictive modeling, supplier collaboration, and artificial intelligence.

The role is accountable for delivering measurable improvements in forecast accuracy, inventory productivity, material readiness, surplus reduction, obsolescence management, working capital performance, and overall supply chain effectiveness.

The Manager leads enterprise change management and organizational alignment efforts to ensure inventory processes, technologies, and business solutions are standardized, adopted, and fully integrated with operational, commercial, regulatory, and technology strategies. Additionally, the Manager develops and governs a portfolio of process improvement, automation, analytics, and innovation initiatives, ensuring investments deliver measurable financial, operational, and customer service value across the enterprise.

The Manager operates autonomously and provides leadership and direction to cross-functional teams, analysts, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders while serving as a trusted advisor to leadership on inventory transformation, innovation, and enterprise supply chain strategy.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Safety/Human Performance: 
• Actively promote strong safety behaviors and ensure the team always puts safety first;
• Utilize key tools, programs, and proactive field visits to assure standards and behaviors;
• Monitor and influence stakeholders to proactively identify any safety concerns.

2. Incident Response:
• Perform storm role duties as assigned through the Storm Assignment Management System (SAMS) and/or the nuclear Emergency Response Organization (ERO)
Value Creation:

Optimize the Enterprise’s inventory to gain back working capital for the business to use

3. Work Processes:
• Conduct business unit’s needs assessments to determine customer requirements; attend stakeholder meetings where appropriate;
• Perform insightful data analyses to determine potential business risk associated with inventory management; coordinate with stakeholders as required;
• Apply the principles and practices of inventory management (Demand Planning, warehouse flow, inventory turns, cycle counting, processes auditing, and perform);
• Analyze Purchase Orders and Material Requests with Demand plan to track inventory optimization, work with stakeholders to update processes, and effectively implement required changes;
• Identify stranded and surplus inventory, work with stakeholders to remove and leverage capital;
• Build and implement an inventory management strategy for assigned business unit;
• Build and implement a change management and communication strategy for new inventory initiatives and processes;
• Using data analysis identify new areas for business units to optimize inventory;
• Source industry leading inventory management concepts, techniques, and technologies, implement within the Enterprise to streamline the inventory optimization process

4. Process and Reporting Compliance: 
• Ensure all requirements for savings, diversity, document retention, bidding, contractor safety and other areas of compliance are met.

5. Partnership/Relationships: 
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders to ensure supply chain is addressing inventory management needs pro-actively and in the most beneficial way for Entergy; 
• Work with stakeholders to analyze and develop company position inventory management; 
• Establish/maintain relationships with suppliers/partners, based on the ethical business practices as set forth in the Standards of Conduct and Integrity and Entergy's SC Polices.

6. Enterprise Process Improvement & Innovation:

•Develop and execute the enterprise inventory process improvement and Innovation roadmap. 

• Lead Lean, Six Sigma and Continuous improvement iniative across inventory warehousing planning logistics and materials management processes. 

• Lead Business process redesign efforts and support of enterprise inventory transformation initiatives

• Develop business cases return on investment models and implement strategies for technological investments.

• Partner with information technology and digital organizations to define and deploy inventory related technology solutions

• Lead Enterprise change management activities associated with new processes technologies and organizational capabilities.

7. Advanced analytics and AI

• develop inventory perform dashboards predictive models and decision and support tools

• Lead implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions supporting inventory optimization

• established data governance standards supporting inventory analytics and reporting

• Drive development of predictive demand forecasting inventory optimization and material readiness models

• Lead opportunities to leverage generative AI in advanced analytics to improve inventory decision making

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Minimum education required of this position

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Analytics, Statistics, Logistics, Economics, or other related discipline.

• Minimum of 7+ years of inventory management, process improvement, Analytics, Operational Engineering or related experience.

• 3+ Years leading enterprise iniative or cross functional teams

Preferred:

• Utility industry experience

• Inventory Optimization Experience

• Digital transformation experience 

• Ai / automation Implementation experience

• Enterprise change management experience  

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the position:

Technical
• Advanced understanding of business and supply chain operations within Entergy; including how Entergy manages inventory; experience and knowledge of supply chain systems and processes;
• High proficiency in developing complex inventory strategies, based on business unit’s objectives;
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience implementing inventory management processes, such as, but not limited to, cycle counting and shrink management;
• Demonstrated proficiency implementing multiple continuous improvement projects, related to inventory management, concurrently;
• Advanced  knowledge of warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment processes, such as, but not limited to, yard management, receiving, put-away, packing, sorting, and shipping;
• Advanced experience implementing inventory management software systems; advises working groups on best practice;

• Advanced knowledge of Lean Management, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping, Process Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, and Process Reengineering methodologies used to improve operational performance and business processes.

• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar methodologies.

• Advanced understanding of business intelligence, data analytics, predictive analytics, statistical analysis, and data modeling techniques used to support operational and strategic decision making.

• Experience developing and utilizing Power BI, Tableau, SQL-based reporting tools, or similar analytics platforms to drive business insights and performance improvements.

• Knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning concepts, process automation, robotic process automation (RPA), and digital workflow technologies applicable to supply chain and inventory management processes.

• Experience evaluating, designing, and implementing technology-enabled business solutions, including ERP integrations, workflow automation, and cloud-based analytics platforms.

• Advanced ability to establish performance measures, key performance indicators (KPIs), governance frameworks, and reporting structures that drive accountability and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to identify emerging technologies, industry best practices, and innovative business solutions and assess applicability within utility supply chain and inventory operations.

Professional :
• Demonstrated ability to lead others through human performance and behavior management techniques, outstanding interpersonal skills with a focus on development of individual team members;
• Advanced understanding of relationship management between clients, other supply chain specialists, vendors and other third parties for materials;
• Skillful application of project management principles to ensure systematic, thorough completion of each assignment, identifying critical pathways and risks to delivery;
• Skillful application of data analysis methods/techniques to provide detailed reports and insights; propose conclusions, use data trends and present in meaningful ways;
• Ability to coach and lead other supply chain personnel in technical tools and techniques;
• Advanced at internal and external stakeholder communications; operates independently with stakeholders; apply influencing skills to develop best outcomes for Entergy;
• Skillful at building relationships and networks with all stakeholders; including with suppliers;
• Strong communication skills in presenting concise/relevant information to stakeholders.
• Skillful organization of demand planning
• Strong ability to influence others without direct authority

• Skillful application of change management principles to successfully implement enterprise-wide process, technology, and organizational transformation initiatives.

Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, business units, and technology organizations.

• Strong project portfolio management skills with the ability to prioritize initiatives, allocate resources, manage risks, and ensure delivery of measurable business outcomes.

• Advanced ability to develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, return-on-investment (ROI) evaluations, and executive-level recommendations supporting strategic decision making.

• Demonstrated ability to influence organizational change and drive adoption of new processes, technologies, and operating models without direct authority.

• Strong facilitation, presentation, and executive communication skills with the ability to communicate complex analytical, technical, and business concepts to diverse audiences.

• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams of analysts, consultants, contractors, and business stakeholders in the execution of strategic transformation initiatives.

Any certificates, licenses, etc. required of the position 

• APICS CPIM, CSCP, or CPSM
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Business Process Professional (CBPP)
• Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Certification
• Agile or Scrum Certification
• AI, Data Analytics, or Automation-related certifications from Microsoft, AWS, or similar providers

Primary Location: Texas-The Woodlands Texas : The Woodlands || Arkansas : Little Rock || Louisiana : Hammond || Louisiana : New Orleans || Mississippi : Jackson 
Job Function: Corporate
FLSA Status: Professional 
Relocation Option: No Relocation Offered
Union description/code: NON BARGAINING UNIT 
Number of Openings: 1
Req ID: 124621
Travel Percentage:Up to 25%

An Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please click here to view the EEO page, or see statements below.

EEO Statement: The Entergy System of Companies provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Entergy System of Companies complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

The Entergy System of Companies expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of the Entergy System of Company employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Accessibility: Entergy provides reasonable accommodations for online applicants. Requests for a reasonable accommodation may be made orally or in writing by an applicant, employee, or third party on his or her behalf. If you are an individual with a disability and you are in need of an accommodation for the recruiting process please click here and provide your name, contact number, the accommodation requested and the requisition number that you are requesting the accommodation for. Employee Services will contact you regarding your request.

Additional Responsibilities: As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

 Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

The non-confidential portions of the affirmative action program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans shall be available for inspection upon request by any employee or applicant for employment.  Please contact [email protected] to schedule a time to review the affirmative action plan during regular office hours.

EEI Testing:

One way that Entergy has found to identify and assess the abilities and skills needed for certain jobs is through pre-employment testing. If this position does require an EEI test, the type of test will be located under the qualifications section of the job posting. If you are invited to a test session, we strongly recommend you review and complete the practice test as well as review the testing brochure for your respective test.  The test brochure will give you critical information on the test such as time allocated and number of questions.  Also, keep in mind that the actual test is timed; you should practice timing yourself while doing the practice tests. The practice test information and test brochures can be located by going to the EEI website, http://www.eei.org/practicetests, Logon ID:  entergy, password:  practice test (2 words). Travel expenses incurred in connection with EEI testing are non-reimbursable.

In addition to EEI testing there is also Fit-for-Duty testing which will identify and assess the abilities and skills needed for certain jobs. If this position does require Fit-for-Duty testing, the type of test will be located under the qualifications section of the job posting.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Please note: Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition to employment in this position. Entergy will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.