Manager, Inventory Operations

Job Description

The Manager, Inventory Operations serves as the operational leader for all product intake, back of house organization and inventory execution within Harry Potter Shop Chicago. The role ensures that every product moves efficiently from delivery through to the sales floor, enabling exceptional guest experiences supported by high product availability and operational readiness to drive commercial performance. This will include ensuring ownership over all aspects of inventory and stock integrity, being consistently mindful of the criticality of effective management to ensure product counts are accurate, spaces are efficiently structured and have a sound knowledge of all product.
This position functions as the key deputy to the Senior Manager. During periods of absence, the Inventory Operations Manager steps into elevated responsibilities to support the Director, Retail Operations and maintain leadership continuity across the location. The role requires a highly organized and experienced leader with strong communication skills, excellent follow up and the ability to coach and motivate a team to execute with accuracy and pace.

Your Key Responsibilities…
Operations
• Lead the full product intake process for Harry Potter Shop Chicago, ensuring timely, accurate receiving, processing and movement of merchandise through the space, connecting with delivery partners and the warehouse closely on a daily basis.
• Oversee all back of house operations including stockroom layout, storage standards, organization systems and daily workflow planning.
• Deliver a structured replenishment strategy that keeps the sales floor fully stocked throughout trading hours, driving density, standards and consistency.
• Partner with Visual Merchandising and Sales leadership to support product launches, floor moves and seasonal changes.
• Maintain full compliance with operational, health and safety and inventory management processes.
• Identify opportunities to streamline receiving, storage, stockroom workflows and replenishment processes.
• Implement improved systems that reduce labor hours, increase accuracy or improve replenishment.
• Maintain strong facility standards including cleanliness, equipment maintenance and adherence to safety procedures.
• Own technology processes in-store in relation to receiving and inventory management.
• Take responsibility for personalization operations, equipment, processes and inventory as required.
Inventory
• Drive cycle counts, stock audits, adjustments, damages and shrink control routines to maintain consistently accurate inventory.
• Track and analyse inventory metrics to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement, partnering with Inventory & Systems Analyst for data.
• Ensure accurate SKU-level documentation for all deliveries, transfers, returns, damages and adjustments, maintaining constant visibility over store inventory and taking action swiftly.
• Support the Senior Manager in preparing inventory reporting for cross functional partners.
• Maintain the role of inventory expert for the store, knowing product quantities, additional density requirements, storage needs and take responsibility for communicating to Merchandising team.
• Own reporting on negative inventory, stock adjustments, damages, best-before dates, delivery discrepancies and create action plans from planning through to execution and review.
People
• Provide direct line management to all back of house team, enabling and maintaining a strong team culture focused on exceeding expectations of service, employee morale and high performance.
• Oversee recruitment, training, onboarding and ongoing development for all back-of-house roles, engaging with People & Culture and Talent Acquisition for back filling roles swiftly.
• Conduct performance reviews for back-of-house leadership, collaborate with Senior Manager to oversee performance of all team members, setting the expectations and standards clearly.
• Partner with People & Culture to conduct any required disciplinary or respond to any escalated people situations, ensuring compliance with all WBD policies.
• Ensure clear expectations for inventory management, receiving procedures and organization, coaching to develop and grow team, focusing on feedback as a tool for improvement.
• Maintain clear communication, in conjunction with Senior Manager, with team members at Harry Potter Shop Chicago, creating a safe and thriving environment for all employees to grow.
Cross-Functional
• Act as the deputy for the Senior Manager and take on escalated responsibilities in their absence.
• Drive the in-store tech partnership relationship, ensuring that any and all tech issues relating to inventory are swiftly reported, tracked, escalated and actioned, raising with Senior Manager and Director for support as required.
• Partner with the Senior Manager and Director, Retail Operations on planning, workload and priorities for the operation.
• Serve as the escalation point for any inventory or back of house operational issues.
• Maintain strong working relationships with Merchandising, Buying, Visual Merchandising, Security and Warehouse teams.
• Keep a high level of visibility on the shop floor and back-of-house at all times, driving experience and service as much as inventory by setting an example and keeping standards as a top priority.
Qualifications and Competencies
• Over 3-5 years of progressive retail leadership experience, with 2 at a Manager level, overseeing high-volume stores and flagship locations in relation to inventory management.
• Proven ability to lead teams in a high volume and fast paced retail environment.
• Experience leading large teams, including other managers, in a fast-paced, high volume and/or experiential retail environment.
• Understanding of retail financials, including labor planning and general expenditure.
• Demonstrated ability to partner cross-functionally with central teams in merchandising, marketing, P&C finance and facilities.
• Experience managing complex operational challenges and able to manage challenging people or store situations.
• Experience stepping into senior leadership responsibilities is an advantage.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and operate with a high degree of autonomy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence.
• Proficiency with retail systems, reporting tools and Microsoft Office or equivalent platforms.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management, Hospitality or related field preferred, or equivalent experience.
Work Pattern
• Up to 40 hours a week working 8-hour shifts, this role will require a minimum of two working weekends per month. This role will be based in-store at Harry Potter Shop Chicago.

Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.
If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job a

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Jobcode: Reference SBJ-12y8n0-18-97-14-89-42 in your application.