Description:
Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.
This position will be located in: Fargo, ND
Application Deadline: Posted Until Filled
Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed application deadline. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.
The Distribution Center (DC) Inventory Control Specialist is responsible for executing and supporting inventory accuracy through cycle counts, discrepancy investigations, and continuous process improvements. This role develops and follows cycle count plans, verifies inventory levels, and ensures proper adjustments are made in warehouse systems. The specialist collaborates with warehouse teams to resolve discrepancies, optimize inventory placement, and improve storage efficiency. Using Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and RF technology, the Inventory Control Specialist tracks inventory movements and maintains accurate records, contributing to operational metrics such as dock-to-stock cycle time and inventory accuracy. The role also supports cross-functional efforts to implement inventory best practices and drive process improvements.
Essential Functions
- Acts as the primary liaison between the distribution center and corporate inventory, demand planning, and procurement teams.
- Proactively addresses concerns or issues resulting from stockouts, product quality, or other inventory-related problems.
- Serves as an advocate for implementing best practices and driving process improvements around inventory management, both inside and outside of the distribution center.
- Develops cycle counting plan and helps ensure company benchmarks are met.
- Completes cycle counts and compares inventory to system records.
- Verifies counts against physical inventory and completes inventory adjustments for discrepancies.
- Investigates and resolves inventory discrepancies, working with other teams in the DC, branches, and Branch Support Center to identify causes and solutions.
- Reviews and addresses operational inventory metrics such as dock-to-stock cycle time and inventory accuracy to resolve any inventory discrepancies and make appropriate corrections.
- Ensures proper placement and slotting of inventory to ensure safety and efficiency.
- Uses WMS and RF scanners to track inventory levels, locations, and movements.
- Coordinates with the inbound, picking, packing, and shipping teams to ensure smooth inventory flow and timely stock replenishment.
- Maintains accurate records of inventory transactions and updates in the WMS.
- Organizes storage locations and optimizes inventory storage to maximize space and minimize errors.
- Works with the Master Data Specialist to ensure inventory storage locations
Non-essential Functions
- Assists with other projects as needed.
- Collaborates with the inbound team to ensure proper receiving and stocking of materials.
- Participates in training warehouse associates on inventory management procedures and systems.
- Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or other designate.
- Associates degree or equivalent work experience.
- 3+ years experience in warehouse operations or inventory control preferred.
- Prior electrical distribution experience preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint), internet, email, and SAP software preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills.
- Effective planning and organizing and attention to detail.
- Ability to perform accurate counts.
Lift and carry requirements (weight and frequency):
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%
- Lift from Floor to Waist:
- < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
- 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
- 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
- 51 to 75 lbs. - Occasionally
- 76 to 100 lbs. - Occasionally
- 101 + lbs. - Occasionally
- Above Waist Lift:
- < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
- 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
- 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
- 51 to 75 lbs. - Occasionally
- 76 to 100 lbs. - Occasionally
- 101+ lbs. - Not at all
- Unilateral Carry:
- < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
- 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
- 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
- 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
- 76 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
- 101+ lbs. - Not at all
- Bilateral Carry:
- < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
- 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
- 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
- 51 to 75 lbs. - Occasionally
- 76 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
- 101+ lbs. - Not at all
Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:
- Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Frequently
- Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Occasionally
- Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Occasionally
- Bending/Stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally
- Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all
- Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Occasionally
- Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently
- Crouching/Squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally
- Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Not at all
- Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Frequently
- Repetitive Motion (substantial movement (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Occasionally
- Trunk Rotation (movement in any direction, whether standing or sitting, with at least one foot stationary and in contact with the floor) - Occasionally
- Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally
- Handling (applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Continuously
- Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working primarily with fingers and not whole hand) - Frequently
- Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Occasionally
- Driving (the control and operation of a fork lift) - Frequently
- Desk Work (tasks generally performed at a desk, including use of a computer, printer, fax machine, telephone and other office equipment) - Occasionally
- Use of tools (safely operate equipment needed for receiving, conveying, stocking, packaging, and shipping parts) - Frequently
- Hearing (perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously
- Exposure to adverse weather & temperature conditions - Frequently
- Travel(travel needed to perform job duties) - Not at all
This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Our History
Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with approximately 130 locations in 31 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extra-ordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers’ needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness and flexibility to outperform all others.
Values
As a Border States employee-owner, you’re responsible for living our mission, service philosophy and service standards.
Our Purpose
We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn't go it alone. We are owners - of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.
Service Philosophy
We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.
Service Standards
Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged .
Your career
Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?
Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
FSA & HSA
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Disability Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Holidays
Paid Volunteer Time
Personal Leave time and more!
Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.
Equal Opportunity For All
It’s not just the law. It’s something we’ve believed in since our founding. We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.
Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace
Employment may be contingent on the offered candidate successfully passing one or more of the following pre-employment screenings:
- Criminal background check (required for all positions)
- Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check (required for positions involving driving)
- Drug testing
The MVR check and drug testing vary by role and will be communicated to the offered candidate during the onboarding process and as applicable.
