Sr Principal Inventory Optimization

Overview

The Strategy & Operational Excellence team is on a mission to improve both our customer and employee experience by transforming how we plan, buy, make, and distribute products in Waters Global Operations. Our six pillars of focus include: Strategy, Network Optimization, Digitization, Process Improvement, Insights, and Strategic Projects.

As the Inventory PMO, you will be responsible for coordinating and driving the end‑to‑end inventory optimization for Waters. This global initiative spans the entire value chain (procurement, manufacturing, planning, distribution) and is sponsored by the GO leadership team. You will collaborate with and influence colleagues across our global network, drawing on your domain knowledge and the cross‑functional team. You will lead, develop, test, deploy, and drive adoption of inventory optimization levers to realize value.

Responsibilities

• Specify program approach and run the program
• Steer very diverse program and project teams toward a common result, overcoming competing targets
• Drive conceptual approach and identify levers / develop hypotheses
• Validate hypotheses with data, linking in analytics and data science teams
• Align results with GO stakeholders and finance business partners
• Derive implications from proposed levers on SC, manufacturing, procurement, and commercial
• Show trade‑offs and prepare decision proposals
• Steer discussions with GO leadership team and divisions
• Develop implementation plan
• Drive implementation of decided levers, including tracking of results
• Drive change and act as a change agent

Capacities and Tasks

• Establish and lead a cross‑functional team of subject‑matter experts from all GO sub‑functions
• Collaborate with stakeholders outside of Global Operations to ensure alignment with the overall enterprise, e.g., in initiatives with interdependencies to other functions and divisions
• Develop and employ project management tools to ensure proper organizational structure, project planning/scheduling, budgeting, and governance
• Identify best practices to be adopted into current ways of working
• Create a prioritized roadmap of changes to be introduced, working with business leaders on other transformation leads to reach alignment
• Design and validate proposed changes
• Develop communication tools and documentation for stakeholders such as Scorecards, Key Decision Documentation and Quarterly updates, as well as periodic cross‑team / function updates and workshops
• Manage project risk assessments, mitigation plans and problem‑solving efforts, and direct project resources to focus on the development and implementation of strategic plans

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Minimum 5 years experience in project/program management roles.
• Experience building and managing cross‑functional teams.
• BS Degree in an Engineering, Science or Supply Chain discipline. Master’s Degree or equivalent industry experience preferred. BA/BS in business, science or engineering; MBA or master’s degree in science or engineering is desirable.

Knowledge and Skills

• Effective analytical, technical, and problem‑solving skills, including business and financial analyses
• Strong project management skills, experience creating and executing multi‑disciplinary projects
• Strong influencing skills, proven ability to work across organizational boundaries driving change and harmonization across a global organization
• Working knowledge of change management in the context of deploying new processes and technology solutions
• Collaborative, strong listening skills and ability to assimilate other viewpoints to arrive at a better solution
• Agile and responsive, experience handling multiple priorities, acting with urgency, and managing ambiguity
• Customer‑centric, track record of investing time in understanding user requirements
• Results oriented, demonstrated ownership mindset and delivering high quality outcomes
• Proven track record of solving problems, breaking down barriers and delivering results ahead of schedule
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Demonstrated ability to promote teamwork and motivate and manage exempt level personnel
• Ability to travel globally up to 25‑30% as required to support site integrations

Equal Opportunity and Diversity Statement

Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

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