Inventory Specialist Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Inventory Management Specialist Lead is responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of on-hand inventory across the facility. This role combines hands-on floor leadership — directing and performing physical cycle counts — with system-level analysis, using the company's MRP (Material Requirements Planning) system and advanced Excel/Microsoft Office tools to identify discrepancies, execute inventory adjustments, run reports, and monitor fulfillment dashboards. The Lead manages a team of 5–7 cycle counters, ensuring counts are completed on schedule, root causes of variances are investigated, and corrective actions are implemented to support accurate inventory levels for production, planning, and order fulfillment.

This is a working-lead role: the individual will split time between the warehouse/production floor (cycle counting, auditing, team supervision) and administrative/system work (data analysis, reporting, MRP transactions).

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Key Responsibilities

Inventory Accuracy & Cycle Counting

· Plan, schedule, and execute daily/weekly cycle count programs across all inventory locations (raw materials, WIP, finished goods, consumables) in accordance with ABC classification methodology.

· Lead, train, and directly supervise a team of 5–7 cycle counters, assigning count zones, reviewing completed counts, and ensuring counts are performed accurately and on schedule.

· Perform physical cycle counts and spot audits personally, particularly for high-value, high-velocity, or high-risk SKUs.

· Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies by researching transaction history, reviewing bin/location accuracy, and identifying root causes (e.g., mis-picks, data entry errors, receiving errors, scrap not recorded).

· Process approved inventory adjustments in the MRP system, ensuring proper documentation, approval workflows, and audit trails are followed.

· Maintain inventory accuracy targets (e.g., 98%+ count accuracy) and track performance against established KPIs.

MRP System & Data Management

· Utilize the MRP/ERP system to make on-hand inventory adjustments, transfer stock between locations, and correct data entry errors.

· Run, analyze, and distribute standard and ad hoc inventory reports (on-hand balances, negative inventory, aging inventory, slow-moving/obsolete stock, cycle count performance, variance reports).

· Monitor daily dashboards related to order fulfillment, pick/pack accuracy, backorders, and inventory availability; flag and escalate issues that may impact production or customer shipments.

· Reconcile physical counts against system records and prepare variance reports for management review.

· Support annual/periodic physical inventory (wall-to-wall) counts, including planning, execution, and reconciliation.

Excel & Microsoft Office Applications

· Build and maintain advanced Excel workbooks (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, conditional formatting, macros/VBA where applicable) to analyze inventory trends, variances, and count performance.

· Develop and maintain cycle count schedules, tracking logs, and audit checklists in Excel.

· Create summary reports and presentations (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for leadership review, communicating inventory accuracy trends, root-cause findings, and process improvement recommendations.

· Export data from the MRP system into Excel for deeper analysis and reconciliation not natively supported by system reporting tools.

Team Leadership & Supervision

· Supervise, coach, and develop a team of 5–7 inventory/cycle count associates, including training on counting procedures, MRP system use, and safety practices.

· Create and manage daily/weekly work assignments and count schedules for the team.

· Conduct performance check-ins, provide feedback, and support performance management processes in partnership with HR.

· Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement within the inventory team.

· Ensure team compliance with safety protocols, warehouse policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Process Improvement & Compliance

· Identify trends in inventory discrepancies and recommend process improvements to reduce future errors (e.g., bin location changes, labeling improvements, process training).

· Develop, document, and maintain SOPs for cycle counting, adjustments, and audit procedures.

· Support internal and external audit requests related to inventory accuracy and controls.

· Partner with Purchasing, Production, Warehouse, and Customer Service teams to resolve inventory-related issues impacting fulfillment or production schedules.

· Ensure compliance with company inventory control policies and, where applicable, financial/SOX controls related to inventory adjustments.

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Required Qualifications

· High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Logistics, or related field preferred.

· 3–5+ years of experience in inventory control, cycle counting, or warehouse operations, including at least 1–2 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

· Hands-on experience with an MRP/ERP system (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Epicor, Infor, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar) for inventory transactions and adjustments.

· Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookup formulas, data analysis) and general Microsoft Office proficiency (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

· Strong understanding of inventory control principles, including ABC analysis, cycle counting methodologies, and root-cause analysis.

· Demonstrated ability to lead, train, and motivate a team in a fast-paced warehouse or manufacturing environment.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present findings to management.

· Ability to work on the warehouse/production floor, including standing, walking, bending, and lifting (see physical requirements below).

Preferred Qualifications

· APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CLTD) a plus.

· Experience with barcode scanning/RF inventory systems.

· Experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or food/pharma-regulated environment.

· Familiarity with Lean/Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies.

· Experience with Power BI or other data visualization/dashboarding tools.

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Physical Requirements

· Ability to stand and walk for extended periods on the warehouse/production floor.

· Ability to lift up to 25–50 lbs occasionally.

· Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and climb (ladders/step stools) as needed for counting.

· Comfortable working in a warehouse environment with varying temperatures.

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Work Schedule

· Full-time, [Day Shift / hours Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. May require occasional flexibility to support physical inventories, month-end close, or urgent inventory issues.

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Key Performance Indicators (Suggested)

· Inventory accuracy rate (cycle count results)

· Cycle count schedule completion rate

· Number/value of inventory adjustments processed and root-cause resolution rate

· Team productivity and count throughput

· On-time completion of reporting and dashboard reviews