INVENTORY CONTROL MANAGER

Job Title: Inventory Control Manager

Essential Function
Responsible for overseeing inventory control operations and ensuring inventory accuracy, process compliance, and operational effectiveness within the distribution center. Manages inventory-related functions including receiving verification, storage accuracy, replenishment integrity, inventory adjustments, cycle counting, returns, transfers, special orders, and inventory movement controls. Ensures accuracy, timeliness, cost effectiveness, and regulatory compliance of inventory-related activities while maintaining adherence to company policies and operational procedures.

Establishes and maintains operational controls, auditing programs, and standard operating procedures to support distribution center performance. Reports directly to the Senior Director, Distribution and aligns closely with the onsite Director, Distribution regarding facility impacts, operational priorities, and day-to-day execution.

Primary Duties

• Provides a safe, healthy, and secure work environment for employees.
• Supports efficient cost control initiatives and contributes to operational planning to ensure inventory control activities are executed within established budget parameters.
• Maintain accurate, efficient, and current receiving status, including communicating related issues and concerns to management and merchandising.
• Own inventory accuracy across the distribution center through cycle counting, inventory audits, annual physical inventory activities, transaction monitoring, reconciliation processes, and inventory control best practices.
• Maintain accurate, efficient, and current shipping and inventory movement status.
• Serve as the primary owner of operational process compliance across receiving, putaway, replenishment, picking, packing, shipping, returns, and inventory movement activities.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously enhance audit and compliance programs that ensure adherence to standard operating procedures, system-directed processes, and inventory control standards.
• Lead investigations and structured root cause analysis efforts related to inventory discrepancies, process breakdowns, compliance gaps, and recurring operational issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on inventory accuracy, productivity, throughput, service levels, process standardization, and overall operational efficiency.
• Partner with Operations, Transportation, Merchandising, and Supply Chain Systems teams to implement process improvements, operational controls, and system enhancements that improve accuracy and performance.
• Monitor inventory control metrics, compliance indicators, and operational performance measures, identifying trends and recommending corrective actions when necessary.
• Assist in Warehouse Management System development, testing, implementation, and upgrades.
• Provide a positive workplace environment in order to maintain a union-free environment.
• Ensure effective communication with customers, field partners, and corporate office personnel.
• Work with Merchandising on vendor purchase order discrepancies and inventory-related concerns.
• Perform all other duties as requested by management.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Required

• H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)
• 4-6 years of inventory control, warehouse operations, or distribution center experience
• Experience managing inventory control programs, cycle count processes, inventory investigations, and operational audits
• Experience performing in a goal-setting environment
• Working knowledge of inventory control best practices
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root cause analysis skills

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Experience with Manhattan Active WMS or other advanced warehouse management systems (WMS) in a high-volume distribution environment.

Competencies / Attributes
Passionate Learner

• Inquisitive about the business; open to feedback and coaching, applies learning quickly; applies learning to improve processes and procedures, proactively shares learning with colleagues and leaders.
  

Flexible & Agile Adapter

• Responsive and open to change; works well with ambiguity; adapts to new plans or directions; keeps calm under pressure; perseveres to achieve the plan/task; does not dwell on the past.
  

Talent Builder

• Considers how to create an inclusive culture; encourages input from others; invests time as an informal/formal coach or buddy; works to build a diverse team with the right skills and knowledge; looks for ways to acknowledge, motivate, and value the team.
  

Effective Communicator

• Articulates in an appropriate and accurate manner; emotionally astute while remaining authentic to own style/self; encourages others to express views and opinions; demonstrates active listening and uses probing questions; is concise and relevant with data and information.
  

Team Builder

• References the importance of teamwork and actively demonstrates collaboration and sharing; builds and participates in effective teams; values the importance of inclusion and various sources of thought and input; remains humble when operating within a team.
  

Customer Focused Partner

• Understands internal and external customer needs; contributes to plans and actions to improve the associate and customer experience; holds self and team accountable for improving the customer experience; acts as an advocate for the customer.
  

Strategic Thinker

• Progressive thinking with the ability to bring new ideas to life; works with others to develop progressive and cost-effective strategies; provides suggestions to improve continuous improvement and scalability within the department; uses a broad range of data sources.
  

Big Picture Thinker

• Understands own department and how other key departments operate; adopts an inclusive approach; seeks feedback, reviews progress, and adapts plans as needed; understands interdependencies with other departments.
  

Results Driver

• Effective at driving and delivering on plans; holds self and team accountable to high standards of delivery; identifies opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement; focuses on the right priorities and uses resources and time wisely; demonstrates grit and determination.
  

Problem Solver & Decision Maker

• Able to consume operational and inventory data to identify business issues and opportunities; identifies, gathers, and examines relevant information; makes recommendations and takes action to solve challenges; considers the importance and impact of decisions against relevant factors.
  

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

• The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as distribution centers, offices, meeting and training rooms, and retail stores, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, compliance with OSHA standards and regulations, and avoidance of trips and falls. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
• The position requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as shipment or record boxes. The work may require specific, but common, physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity.