Job title – Senior Manager, Inventory - Taste (Europe) (72398)

Location – Barcelona, Spain

Job model – Hybrid

We are dsm-firmenich – innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty. We bring progress to life by combining the essential, the desirable, and the sustainable.

From our master perfumers and flavorists to our expert nutritionists and scientists, our trailblazing teams work closely with customers, supporting their ambitions with 150+ years of R&D expertise.

With a passionate and talented team of close to 30,000 employees, we are determined to be a force for good. And to work together to positively impact people and planet.

As the Senior Manager, Inventory, Taste Eur you will lead strategic inventory governance, loss mitigation, and continuous improvement initiatives to optimize stock levels and enhance inventory health. Collaborating cross-functionally and overseeing a dedicated team, you’ll drive compliance with global standards, elevate inventory quality, and streamline planning processes to achieve impactful, measurable results.

At dsm-firmenich, being a force for good is not optional. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a shared responsibility woven into our daily work to not only benefit our People, Customers & Communities but also drive business value. Equal access to opportunities is a given, belonging is a shared feeling, authenticity is celebrated.

Your key responsibilities

• Inventory Governance & Control: Oversee inventory control processes, ensuring compliance with global write-off and obsolescence guidelines, and collaborate with Purchasing, Production, Quality, Operations, and Commercial teams to manage slow-moving and obsolete inventory effectively. Enforce cycle count accuracy and maintain inventory data integrity.

• Inventory Loss Mitigation: Act as the guardian of non-value added (NVA) inventory, proactively managing obsolescence risks. Lead root cause analysis for inventory losses and drive corrective actions.

• Team Management: Lead and develop a team of two, providing mentorship and support to meet performance and growth objectives.

• Inventory Targets: Collaborate with global, regional, and plant-level planning teams to set and meet realistic inventory objectives, balancing availability with efficiency and cost.

• Inventory Health Improvement: Drive initiatives to enhance inventory health, measured by the Inventory Quality Ratio (IQR), and improve overall inventory value add.

• Planning Parameters: Validate and optimize planning parameters in partnership with capacity, materials, and master data teams to ensure global alignment and high-quality data for effective planning.

• Continuous Improvement: Lead programs focused on inventory health and loss reduction, applying Lean, Six Sigma, or other methodologies to streamline processes and elevate inventory management performance.

We bring

• A rich history and a promising future of bold scientific innovation and passionate creation with our customers;

• A culture that prioritizes safety and well-being, both physically and mentally;

• The opportunity to work for a company where sustainability is much more than a claim and is core to our strategy and purpose;

• A flexible work environment that empowers people to take accountability for their work and own the outcome;

• A firm belief that working together with our customers is the key to achieving great things;

• An eagerness to be one team and learn from each other to bring progress to life and create a better future;

You bring

• University degree or equivalent in in Engineer, Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, or Economics

• 8-10 years of experience in supply chain, planning and inventory management

• 3-4 years of team management experience

• 2-3 years in continuous improvement roles is a plus

• Results-oriented with a focus on driving performance and continuous improvement.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Financial / accounting basics.

• Strong experience in using lean methodologies, Six Sigma, or other process improvement tools.

• Proficiency in planning software (SAP ECC; SAP APO or equivalent), Advance Planning Solutions experience is a plus (Kinaxis).

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools.

• APICS Basics, CPIM is a plus.

The application process

Interested in this position? Please apply on-line by uploading your resume in English via our career portal.

Equal Opportunities Commitment

dsm-firmenich is fully dedicated to inclusion because when people feel engaged and empowered, their creativity and innovation drives unprecedented progress. We aim to build a workplace where opportunity really is equal, so everyone can thrive. We do not discriminate: there’s a place for everyone at dsm-firmenich.

As a committed equal opportunity employer, we ensure our recruitment practices are inclusive and fair. We encourage the recruitment of a diverse workforce, representative of the communities in which we work, by using inclusive language, diverse interview panels, diversified sourcing strategies. Selection is based on qualifications, competency, experience, performance history and fit with the team to advance fair and equitable opportunity.

Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, backgrounds, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

We are committed to providing reasonable support for disabled applicants in our recruiting process. Should you need assistance, and are comfortable to share this, please let us know.

About dsm-firmenich

As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world’s growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. dsm-firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than €12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life™ every day, everywhere, for billions of people. www.dsm-firmenich.com

Pease note this is a direct search led by dsm-firmenich. We only accept applications from candidates, not from agencies nor subject to agency’s fees, percentages or similar.