Inventory Operations Specialist

Inventory Operations Specialist

The Inventory Operations Specialist is a hands-on warehouse operations professional responsible for maintaining inventory accuracy, investigating inventory issues, and ensuring products are available to support customer orders.

This position spends significant time on the warehouse floor verifying inventory, researching discrepancies, supporting cycle counts, utilizing RFID technology, and partnering with Receiving, Fulfillment, and Quality teams to resolve inventory issues in real time.

While inventory reports and systems are important tools, success in this role comes from taking ownership of inventory accuracy through active investigation, operational follow-up, and cross-functional collaboration. The Inventory Operations Specialist also participates in inventory planning and purchasing support by providing operational insights that help maintain healthy inventory levels and improve overall warehouse performance.

Inventory Operations & Warehouse Support

• Support the Inventory Manager with daily warehouse inventory priorities, issue resolution, and operational follow-up
• Spend significant time on the warehouse floor verifying inventory, investigating discrepancies, and supporting inventory accuracy
• Monitor live inventory levels across styles, sizes, colors, and garment categories to identify fulfillment risks before they impact customers
• Investigate inventory shortages, overages, misplaced inventory, and inventory accuracy issues through hands-on warehouse verification
• Review inventory movement, item status, storage locations, and physical inventory to ensure system accuracy
• Perform cycle counts, physical inventory audits, RFID scanning, and inventory reconciliations
• Identify root causes of recurring inventory discrepancies and partner with warehouse teams to implement corrective actions
• Help ensure inventory standards, warehouse processes, and inventory handling procedures are consistently followed

Purchase Order & Receiving Support

• Participate in purchase order review activities by validating inventory needs, quantities, and receiving accuracy
• Assist with reviewing purchase orders before and after inventory receipt
• Verify incoming inventory matches expected quantities, garment styles, colors, sizes, SKUs, and quality standards
• Ensure newly received inventory is accurately entered into inventory systems and made rental-ready
• Partner directly with Receiving, Quality, Purchasing, and Inventory teams to investigate and resolve receiving discrepancies
• Identify receiving errors, missing inventory, incorrect SKUs, damaged garments, and inventory quality concerns
• Support proper placement, labeling, RFID scanning, and inventory tracking throughout the warehouse

Inventory Availability & Fulfillment Support

• Monitor blocked, constrained, or at-risk inventory that may impact customer orders
• Investigate inventory constraints and recommend substitutions while maintaining garment style, color, fit, and wedding party consistency
• Partner with Inventory and Fulfillment teams to resolve inventory shortages before shipment deadlines
• Utilize garment knowledge, sizing expertise, SKU structures, and inventory availability to support fulfillment decisions
• Track recurring inventory issues and recommend operational improvements to prevent future shortages
• Support urgent inventory investigations and issue resolution during peak production periods

Inventory Reporting & Operational Support

• Use inventory reports and warehouse systems to identify inventory discrepancies, shortages, blocked inventory, and fulfillment risks
• Maintain inventory tracking tools that improve inventory visibility and support daily warehouse operations
• Review inventory activity and trends to support operational decisions and inventory planning
• Document inventory investigations, corrective actions, and operational follow-up
• Prepare inventory reports and operational updates for leadership as requested
• Escalate inventory risks with recommended corrective actions

Inventory Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in inventory planning activities by providing inventory accuracy insights, warehouse observations, and operational recommendations
• Review upcoming demand and historical inventory activity to help identify inventory needs and potential fulfillment risks
• Monitor inventory depth by style, size, and category throughout the year
• Identify inventory that is understocked, overstocked, aging, damaged, missing, or underutilized
• Recommend inventory additions, transfers, repairs, relocations, removals, and process improvements based on inventory conditions and operational findings
• Support inventory readiness initiatives leading into peak business periods
• Identify opportunities to improve inventory workflows, RFID processes, inventory tracking, and overall warehouse efficiency

Inventory Systems & Data Integrity

• Utilize RFID technology and warehouse inventory systems to locate, verify, and reconcile inventory
• Investigate missing inventory, incorrect inventory statuses, and location discrepancies through physical warehouse verification
• Maintain accurate inventory records across warehouse systems
• Ensure physical inventory consistently aligns with system records
• Identify process gaps contributing to inventory inaccuracies and recommend sustainable operational improvements

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum of 24 years of experience in warehouse inventory operations, inventory control, fulfillment, logistics, or distribution
• Inventory planning, purchasing support, inventory replenishment, or receiving operations is a plus
• Experience with RFID technology, warehouse management systems (WMS), or inventory management systems preferred
• Experience performing cycle counts, inventory audits, inventory reconciliation, or physical inventory verification preferred
• Experience using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, including formulas, filters, lookup functions, and pivot tables
• Experience with Metabase or similar reporting platforms preferred

Skills

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate inventory discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to inventory accuracy
• Ability to prioritize multiple operational tasks in a fast-paced warehouse environment
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills
• Ability to work independently while partnering effectively across Receiving, Fulfillment, Purchasing, Quality, and Inventory teams
• Ability to learn garment sizing, fit, style, color, SKU structures, and substitution processes
• Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and follow-through
• Demonstrated ability to investigate operational inventory issues, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions through resolution while working in a hands-on warehouse environment

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, push, pull, and perform warehouse inventory activities throughout the shift
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds
• Comfortable working both in an office setting and on the warehouse floor throughout the day
• Flexibility to work overtime or adjusted schedules during peak business periods as business needs require
• High school diploma or equivalent required