Job Summary
The Inventory Control Manager is responsible for overseeing and optimizing all inventory management activities within a food manufacturing and distribution environment. This role combines strategic inventory leadership with advanced inventory analysis to ensure raw ingredients, packaging materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished food products are accurately tracked, properly stored, and readily available to support production schedules and customer demand.
The position ensures inventory accuracy, product traceability, FIFO/FEFO compliance, shelf-life management, regulatory compliance, and financial accountability and serving as the primary liaison with Headquarters for inventory reporting, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives
Inventory Management
- Maintain accurate inventory records for raw ingredients, packaging materials, WIP, finished goods, and consumable production supplies.
- Develop, implement, and maintain inventory control procedures that comply with food manufacturing standards.
- Coordinate daily, weekly, monthly, and annual cycle count programs.
- Monitor inventory levels to support production while minimizing waste, spoilage, and excess inventory.
- Analyze inventory variances and implement corrective actions.
- Monitor slow-moving, excess, obsolete, damaged, and expired inventory.
- Ensure FIFO and FEFO inventory rotation.
- Monitor product shelf life and expiration dates.
- Maintain complete lot and batch traceability.
- Reduce waste, spoilage, product damage, and carrying costs.
- Implement Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
Inventory Analytics & Reporting
- Analyze inventory trends and identify opportunities to reduce spoilage.
- Utilize Excel, Google Sheets and our ERP (Netsuite) system to analyze inventory movements
- Perform root cause analysis on inventory losses.
- Maintain inventory integrity within NetSuite and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
- Ensure accurate recording of receipts, production consumption, transfers, adjustments, returns, and scrap.
- Manage staging using FIFO and FEFO.
Accounting & Financial Coordination
- Collaborate with Finance, Purchasing, Production, and Supply Chain teams to reconcile inventory balances.
- Ensure accurate inventory valuation and financial reporting.
- Support month-end inventory reconciliation and financial close.
- Analyze inventory adjustments and prepare audit reports.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop Inventory Control and Warehouse personnel.
- Train employees on ERP/WMS systems, Organic traceability, and compliance.
- Establish measurable goals related to inventory accuracy
- Collaborate across Production, Purchasing, Planning, Logistics, QA, Maintenance, and Headquarters.
Headquarters Communication
- Serve as the primary inventory contact with Headquarters.
- Present inventory metrics, trends, waste analysis, and improvement recommendations.
- Support ERP enhancements and executive decision-making.
Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including Pivot Tables, Power Query, XLOOKUP, dashboards, and reporting.
- Experience with NetSuite ERP and Warehouse Management Systems.
- Knowledge of inventory costing, reconciliation, forecasting, and financial reporting.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, handheld scanners, and shipping/logistics systems.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Accounting is a plus.
- Equivalent food manufacturing inventory experience considered.
- APICS CPIM, CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, certifications are a plus
Experience
- 5–7 years of inventory management experience in food manufacturing, processing, beverage manufacturing, or food distribution.
- 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
- Experience with lot traceability, expiration management, and ERP/WMS systems.
Pay: $77,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
