Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Inventory Control Lead

🎯 Role Definition

The Inventory Control Lead is a hands-on, results-oriented leader responsible for owning inventory accuracy, shrinkage prevention, cycle count programs, and continuous improvement initiatives across warehouse and distribution environments. This role partners closely with operations, procurement, planning, finance, and vendors to set and enforce inventory policies, maintain ERP/WMS integrity, optimize stock levels, and deliver measurable improvements to inventory KPIs such as inventory accuracy, days on hand, fill rate, and carrying costs. The ideal candidate brings deep experience with ERP/WMS systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Manhattan, Blue Yonder), strong analytical capability, and a proven track record leading cross-functional teams to reduce stock variance and improve operational efficiency.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Inventory Analyst (Cycle Count Analyst, Stock Analyst)
Inventory Specialist / Stockroom Lead
Warehouse Supervisor / Distribution Lead

Advancement To:

Inventory Manager / Stock Control Manager
Supply Chain Manager / Logistics Manager
Director of Inventory, Director of Operations

Lateral Moves:

Demand Planner / Forecasting Analyst
Procurement / Purchasing Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Own and execute the cycle count program, including schedule development, variance investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action plans to achieve and sustain target inventory accuracy (e.g., 98%+).
Lead month-end and quarter-end physical inventory reconciliations, ensuring timely adjustments in the ERP/WMS and alignment with inventory valuation in collaboration with finance and accounting.
Design, document, and enforce inventory control policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for receipts, putaway, picking, returns, scrap, and intercompany transfers to minimize loss and improve process compliance.
Manage daily inventory transactions in ERP/WMS systems (SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Manhattan, JDA/Blue Yonder), including cycle count processing, adjustments, reservations, and replenishment logic troubleshooting.
Investigate and remediate inventory discrepancies (root cause analysis), producing corrective action plans and tracking effectiveness through KPIs and follow-up audits.
Lead a cross-functional shrinkage reduction program focused on loss prevention, process adherence, packaging integrity, and vendor accountability to lower write-offs and unexplained variances.
Maintain and optimize item master data quality — SKU classification, unit of measure, bin locations, catch weights, lot/serial controls, and lead-time parameters to ensure accurate transactional behavior in systems.
Monitor and report inventory KPIs (accuracy, variance per SKU, days of inventory, turns, obsolete stock, fill rate) through dashboards and weekly/monthly performance reviews with operations and senior leadership.
Implement inventory segmentation (ABC/XYZ) and inventory optimization strategies (safety stock, reorder points, min/max) to balance service levels and working capital.
Supervise and coach inventory control staff, build capability for distributed counting teams, and enforce training programs for warehouse associates on inventory best practices.
Collaborate with procurement and demand planning teams to resolve recurring supplier quality issues, lead-time deviations, and incorrect deliveries that drive inventory variance.
Drive continuous improvement projects using Lean, Kaizen, or Six Sigma methodologies to streamline receiving, putaway, cycle count efficiency, and reconciliation throughput.
Coordinate vendor returns, RMA disposition, and reverse logistics processes, ensuring accurate recording of returns, credits, and disposition workflows.
Partner with IT and system integrators to scope and implement WMS/ERP enhancements, barcode/RFID initiatives, and mobile scanning improvements that increase transaction accuracy and throughput.
Support audits by external auditors and internal controls teams; provide documentation and evidence for inventory balances, adjustments, and control procedures.
Forecast and plan inventory-related labor, equipment, and supply budgets; identify capital and operating expense opportunities to improve inventory processes.
Validate and maintain lot and serial control integrity for regulated products, ensuring traceability for recalls, expirations, and compliance reporting.
Drive timely disposition and liquidation of obsolete and excess stock through promotions, transfers, scrap, or vendor negotiations to minimize carrying costs.
Create and present executive-level inventory performance reviews and action plans to senior leadership, translating data into clear decisions and forecasted financial impacts.
Implement and enforce cycle count best practices for distributed warehouses and 3PL partners, including SLA definitions, count tolerances, and data sharing agreements.
Lead cross-functional task forces to resolve high-impact stock issues (stockouts, overages) and coordinate emergency replenishment plans to protect customer service levels.
Maintain strong relationships with logistics/warehouse operations to ensure alignment between physical workflow and inventory control requirements (bin strategy, labeling, kitting).
Manage continuous improvement of inventory reporting and analytics using Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or custom BI tools to power timely decision-making.
Validate and monitor inbound/outbound EDI and ASN accuracy in relation to received quantity mismatches and downstream inventory effects.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory inventory analysis to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for process improvement.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap for inventory analytics, reporting, and master data governance.
Collaborate with business units to translate inventory and warehouse business needs into engineering or IT requirements for system changes and automation.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within cross-functional or IT/data teams to prioritize inventory control enhancements and fixes.
Assist supply chain leadership with special projects such as ERP migrations, WMS rollouts, 3PL implementations, and inventory rationalization programs.
Mentor and cross-train peers in inventory reporting, count methodology, and problem solving to build bench strength.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Inventory management systems: Hands-on experience with ERP/WMS platforms (SAP MM/WM, Oracle NetSuite, Manhattan, Blue Yonder/JDA, Infor).
Cycle counting & physical inventory: Program design, scheduling, tolerance setting, reconciliation, and variance analysis.
Inventory optimization: Safety stock calculation, reorder point logic, lead-time analysis, ABC/XYZ segmentation, days of inventory calculations.
Data analysis & reporting: Advanced Excel (pivot tables, macros, Power Query), SQL querying, Power BI or Tableau dashboard creation.
Process improvement tools: Lean manufacturing, Kaizen events, Six Sigma methodologies, root cause analysis (5 Whys, fishbone).
Inventory finance & accounting coordination: Inventory valuation, write-offs, accruals, and reconciliation practices.
Barcode/RFID & automation: Understanding of pick/pack scanning, mobile devices, conveyors, sortation, and automation impacts on inventory accuracy.
Returns and reverse logistics: RMA process management, disposition workflows, credit reconciliation.
Quality and compliance: Lot/serial traceability, expiration date management, regulated product handling.
Systems integration & EDI: Ability to validate inbound/outbound EDI, ASN accuracy, and ERP-WMS data flows.

Soft Skills

Leadership and people development: Coaching, performance management, and building high-performing inventory teams.
Analytical problem solving: Translate complex data into actionable root causes and structured corrective actions.
Cross-functional collaboration: Work effectively with Planning, Procurement, Operations, Finance, and IT stakeholders.
Communication and presentation: Explain inventory performance and recommendations clearly to technical and executive audiences.
Attention to detail: Rigor in audit trails, count procedures, and inventory adjustments to reduce error risk.
Change management: Drive adoption of new processes and tools across warehouse and supply chain partners.
Time management and prioritization: Manage competing demands, urgent investigations, and continuous improvement backlogs.
Negotiation and vendor management: Resolve supplier discrepancies, claims, and contractual issues impacting inventory.
Customer service orientation: Balance accuracy and cost with service level commitments to internal and external customers.
Adaptability and resilience: Operate in fast-paced environments and respond to peak season volatility.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Accounting, Operations Management, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree plus professional certification such as APICS CPIM or CSCP, ISM, or Lean/Six Sigma Green/Black Belt; MBA or advanced degree preferred for senior roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Logistics and Transportation
Business Administration / Finance / Accounting
Industrial Engineering / Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressive inventory control, warehouse operations, or inventory analyst experience.

Preferred:

5+ years leading inventory control teams or programs within retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, or 3PL environments, with demonstrable improvements in inventory accuracy, shrink reduction, and inventory carrying cost reduction. Experience with ERP/WMS implementations and data analytics strongly preferred.