About this role

The Inventory Control Manager is responsible for developing, leading, and continuously improving inventory control strategies that ensure inventory accuracy, material availability, operational efficiency, and service excellence across manufacturing plants, warehouses, and external storage locations. This role serves as the organizational leader for inventory governance, inventory optimization, materials visibility, and inventory-related process excellence.

The Inventory Control Manager leads a team of inventory professionals and partners closely with Operations, Planning, Procurement, Logistics, Transportation, Finance, and Customer Service to ensure inventory integrity throughout the supply chain across multiple sites. This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution to drive working capital improvements, inventory accuracy, service levels, and operational performance.

Inventory Strategy & Governance

- Develop and execute inventory management strategies that support operational, customer service, and financial objectives.

- Establish inventory control standards, procedures, and auditing processes across all facilities and storage locations.

- Drive inventory accuracy initiatives through disciplined transaction management, cycle counting, and reconciliation practices.

- Ensure compliance with inventory policies, internal controls, food safety requirements, and regulatory standards.

- Govern inventory adjustments, dispositions, write-offs, and inventory-related financial controls.

Inventory Accuracy & Control

- Lead all physical inventory, cycle count, and inventory audit activities across internal and third-party facilities.

- Maintain industry-leading inventory accuracy through robust process controls and root cause analysis.

- Monitor transaction activity within ERP, WMS, and inventory management systems to identify discrepancies and process failures.

- Investigate inventory variances and implement corrective actions to eliminate recurring issues.

- Ensure proper product identification, lot traceability, FEFO compliance, and inventory status management.

Materials & Inventory Optimization

- Partner with Planning, Production, Procurement, and Logistics teams to ensure material availability while minimizing inventory investment.

- Manage inventory health through proactive monitoring of excess, obsolete, slow-moving, and at-risk inventory.

- Lead SLOB (Slow Moving and Obsolete Inventory) reduction initiatives and working capital improvement programs.

- Identify opportunities to optimize inventory levels, storage utilization, and material flow throughout the network.

- Strong understanding of inventory control methodologies, warehouse processes, MRP systems, and supply chain operations

- Experience working with ERP systems, warehouse management systems, and inventory management platforms.

- Advanced analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and reporting tools.

- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred

- Food manufacturing, frozen foods, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) experience.

- Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience.

- Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or other business intelligence platforms.

- APICS/ASCM, CPIM, CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, or related certifications.

- Experience managing inventory across multiple facilities or complex distribution networks.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and warehouse reporting tools.

- Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

- Champion a culture of continuous improvement focused on inventory accuracy, process efficiency, cost reduction, and operational excellence.

- Lead root cause investigations and corrective action plans related to inventory discrepancies and process failures.

- Standardize inventory management practices across manufacturing and warehouse operations.

- Utilize Lean principles and data analytics to improve inventory performance and reduce waste.

- Lead cross-functional projects that improve service levels, inventory integrity, and supply chain efficiency.

- Leadership & Talent Development

- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of inventory control professionals, supervisors, and analysts.

- Establish clear expectations, performance metrics, and accountability standards.

- Foster an environment of collaboration, engagement, continuous learning, and operational discipline

- Support succession planning, talent development, and organizational capability-building initiatives.

- Data Analytics & Reporting

- Develop and maintain KPI dashboards to monitor inventory accuracy, inventory turns, service levels, inventory adjustments, and working capital performance.

- Leverage ERP, WMS, Power BI, and reporting tools to analyze trends and identify improvement opportunities.

- Present inventory performance, corrective actions, and strategic recommendations to site and corporate leadership.

Qualifications

Required

- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.

- 5–8 years of progressive experience in inventory control, inventory management, warehouse operations, or supply chain management

- 3–5 years of leadership experience managing inventory teams or supply chain professionals.