Sales Specialist

Location Type: Not Specified

 

Sales Specialist – Walmart (Forecasting & Replenishment)
Location: Bentonville, AR (In-Office)

About Inaba Foods (USA) Inc.

Inaba Foods is a manufacturer of premium pet food, treats, toppers, and complements, deeply rooted in a family tradition of excellence that spans generations. Since 1958, pet parents have trusted Inaba to deliver products that are human-grade, nutrient-rich, and designed to bring joy to pets.

Today, Inaba is the most popular brand of premium cat and dog dinners and treats in Japan, with growing distribution throughout the United States and globally. Inaba Foods (USA) Inc. continues to expand its footprint, invest in talent, and build long-term partnerships across the pet industry, supported by the stability and vision of our Japanese parent company.

Position Summary

The Sales Specialist – Walmart plays a key role in driving account execution, forecasting accuracy, inventory management, and overall sales performance for the Walmart business. This role partners closely with internal sales leadership, replenishment teams, and Walmart stakeholders to ensure strong in-stock performance, precise demand planning, and successful promotional execution.

This position is ideal for a candidate with experience in CPG sales support, Walmart forecasting or replenishment, and strong analytical capabilities-someone who is looking to grow long-term within sales or key account management. The role blends key account sales support, forecasting, replenishment, and sales analytics, serving as a critical link between Walmart and our internal sales, operations, and supply chain teams.

This role is based in Bentonville, AR, and requires regular onsite engagement with Walmart merchants and cross-functional partners.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Walmart Account & Sales Support

• Serve as a day-to-day contact for Walmart merchants, replenishment teams, and cross-functional partners
• Support Walmart account planning, including sales forecasts, inventory reviews, and promotional execution
• Prepare and deliver sales presentations for line reviews, category reviews, and business updates
• Monitor in-store and digital execution, including distribution, modular resets, pricing, and digital shelf accuracy
• Track competitive activity, category trends, and merchandising tactics to identify growth opportunities

Forecasting, Replenishment & Inventory Management

• Collaborate with sales, operations, and supply chain teams to gather, validate, and consolidate Walmart forecasts
• Analyze POS data, purchase orders, inventory levels, and replenishment metrics to support demand planning
• Provide input on sales estimates for production and supply chain planning
• Identify inventory risks, in-stock issues, and replenishment gaps and proactively recommend solutions
• Support forecasting accuracy tied to promotions, new item launches, and seasonal demand

Analytics, Reporting & Financial Support

• Create and maintain sales, inventory, and product performance reports using Excel and Walmart systems
• Analyze sales trends, inventory turns, and promotional performance to drive informed decisions
• Monitor Walmart chargebacks and deductions; track and report trends to minimize financial impact
• Support analysis of the financial impact of promotions, pricing, and sales strategies

Systems, Portals & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Maintain accurate Walmart item setup, content, and compliance within Walmart systems
• Support customer portal management and ensure accurate data flow across internal systems
• Partner cross-functionally with marketing, operations, finance, logistics, and replenishment teams
• Assist sales leadership with order tracking, documentation, meeting preparation, and follow-ups

Professional Representation

• Represent Inaba Foods with professionalism and integrity in all Walmart and internal interactions
• Manage travel, expenses, and budgets in accordance with company policy
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, or related field
• 3-6 years of experience in CPG sales support, forecasting, replenishment, sales operations, or analytics
• Experience supporting Walmart or other major national retailers strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience with forecasting, replenishment, inventory analysis, and POS data
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret trends and translate data into action
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP) and PowerPoint
• Strong communication, organization, and time-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment

Required Qualifications

• Familiarity with Walmart Retail Link, Luminate, and Walmart replenishment tools
• Experience with modular planning, item setup, or digital shelf execution
• Background in the pet industry or passion for pet products
• Familiarity with Walmart replenishment tools, including Supplier One, Scintilla, OTIF Scorecard, Out-of-Stock Root Cause, and other Walmart replenishment tools
• Experience collaborating with Replenishment Managers (RM) on forecasting, item setup, and/or digital shelf execution
• Background in the pet industry, or a demonstrated passion for pet products

Why Join Inaba Foods

• Growing U.S. business with expanding distribution and increasing market presence
• Long-term stability and leadership from a well-established Japanese parent company
• Opportunity to manage meaningful accounts and influence growth strategy
• Collaborative, professional environment with a strong brand reputation

Inaba Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment laws.