About this role
Job Title: US Spirits Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) Planner
About Us:
With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate, and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you'll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.
Join us to build a career worth celebrating.
Which company will you join?
From Arthur Guinness to Johnnie Walker, our business was founded on people of outstanding character, and in 250 years, nothing has changed. We're the world's leading premium alcohol company! Our brands are industry icons including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Our success is thanks to the strength of our people, in every role. It's why we trust them with our legacy and why we reward them with the career-defining opportunities that they deserve. Our ambition is to build the best performing, most trusted and respected Consumer Products Company in the world. To achieve these, we need the very best people!
At Diageo, our purpose is to celebrate life everywhere, every day. To do that, you will join an organization that is passionate about customers and consumers, and proud of what they do. Diageo teams constantly set high goals and then try hard to exceed them. We are also an incredibly diverse organization, and we value each and every one's talent and personality.
About the team:
Own distributor inventory performance across SGWS and BBG states. This role sits at the center of Supply Chain and Commercial, translating demand signals into replenishment decisions that improve service while optimizing cash and cost. You'll operate as a trusted business partner to distributors and internal teams, using data and judgment to anticipate risks, solve problems, and drive execution.
About the role: Distributor Inventory Performance: Optimize finished goods inventory across assigned distributors to deliver best-in-class service levelsVMI Planning & Order Creation: Build and implement VMI plans that generate accurate orders and inform supply forecastsService Excellence: Identify and resolve risks to prevent out-of-stocks, delays, and disruptionCross-Functional Alignment: Partner with Sales, Supply Planning, Demand Planning, Logistics, and Finance to balance multiple prioritiesDistributor Partnership: Serve as the primary point of contact for distributor planning teams, building trust and driving accountability.Distributor Inventory Performance: Optimize finished goods inventory across assigned distributors to deliver best-in-class service levelsVMI Planning & Order Creation: Build and implement VMI plans that generate accurate orders and inform supply forecastsService Excellence: Identify and resolve risks to prevent out-of-stocks, delays, and disruptionCross-Functional Alignment: Partner with Sales, Supply Planning, Demand Planning, Logistics, and Finance to balance prioritiesDistributor Partnership: Serve as the primary point of contact for distributor planning teams, building trust and driving accountability
Role Responsibilities: Translate data into clear replenishment actions that improve service and reduce excess inventoryAnticipate issues and lead solutions across internal and external partnersInfluence without authority-balancing commercial priorities with supply constraintsDrive continuous improvement in ordering patterns, lead times, and planning parameterLead regular business reviews with distributors to improve performance and strengthen partnerships.Develop and maintain VMI plans that generate recommended orders and provide a reliable signal to Supply PlanningMonitor distributor inventory, shipments, and service metrics; take action to resolve gaps against service and DSI targetsLead the order lifecycle from recommendation through delivery, including raising critical issues and expediting when neededCommunicate proactively with distributors on order status, risks, and logistics updatesEnsure adherence to ordering guidelines and improve distributor ordering behaviorsLead recurring alignment meetings with distributors and internal partnersManage exceptions including quality issues, product constraints, and transfers
What Success Looks Like Minimal distributor out-of-stocks and consistently high service levels (e.g., ≥97% case fill rate)Disciplined inventory positions (maintain DSIs within target range; no chronic overstock or shortage)Strong distributor relationships and high trustFewer escalations driven by proactive issue management
Experience / skills required: 3+ years in supply planning, VMI, customer operations, or related roles (CPG or beverage alcohol preferred)Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into decisionsAbility to handle multiple stakeholders and influence outcomesComfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environmentSolid understanding of inventory management and logistics conceptsAdvanced Excel skills; experience with planning systems a plusStrong communication skills with both internal teams and external partners
Flexible Working Statement: Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you're supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.
Rewards & Benefits Statement: We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package.
Diversity statement:
Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.
We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, and more.
Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.
Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.
If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.