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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Inventory Coordinator

💰 $ - $

InventorySupply ChainLogisticsOperations

🎯 Role Definition

An Inventory Coordinator is responsible for maintaining accurate inventory records, coordinating stock movement across warehouses and stores, and ensuring inventory integrity through cycle counts, reconciliation, and process improvements. This role works closely with procurement, warehouse operations, sales, and finance to optimize stock levels, minimize carrying costs, and prevent stockouts or excess inventory. The Inventory Coordinator leverages warehouse management systems (WMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle), and advanced Excel techniques to analyze inventory performance and drive continuous improvement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Associate / Stock Clerk
  • Logistics Specialist / Shipping & Receiving Clerk
  • Procurement Assistant / Purchasing Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Inventory Manager / Inventory Control Supervisor
  • Supply Chain Analyst / Demand Planner
  • Operations Manager / Warehouse Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Purchasing Coordinator
  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Quality Control Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Maintain accurate perpetual inventory records by performing and documenting regular cycle counts, physical inventories, and reconciliations; identify and investigate variances and implement corrective actions to reduce shrinkage and discrepancies.
  • Coordinate inbound and outbound stock movement with receiving, picking, packing and shipping teams to ensure on-time order fulfillment, correct SKU allocation, and proper staging of goods in compliance with safety and quality standards.
  • Execute daily inventory transactions in the warehouse management system (WMS) and ERP, including receipts, transfers, adjustments, returns, and replenishments, ensuring data integrity and audit readiness.
  • Analyze inventory levels, turn rates, lead times and safety stock by SKU or product category; produce daily/weekly/monthly reports and dashboards that identify slow-moving, obsolete, and excess inventory for remediation.
  • Partner with procurement and demand planning teams to translate sales forecasts into inventory purchase recommendations, help set reorder points and economic order quantities, and support vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs.
  • Investigate and resolve stock discrepancies by initiating root cause analysis, coordinating cross-functional corrective actions, updating SOPs, and training warehouse staff on proper counting and handling procedures.
  • Support returns processing and disposition, including RMA intake, quarantine, inspection, restocking, refurbishment, or disposal, while ensuring accurate cost tracking and disposition codes in the ERP.
  • Implement and enforce inventory control policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as cycle count schedules, bin location management, lot and serial number tracking, and first-expire-first-out (FEFO) protocols.
  • Create and maintain product master data (SKU setup, unit of measure, dimensions, lot/serial attributes, lead times) and coordinate changes with IT and data governance teams to prevent transaction errors and order mismatches.
  • Monitor vendor performance metrics (on-time delivery, fill rate, lead-time variability) and escalate supply issues to procurement to minimize stockouts and expedite high-priority replenishments.
  • Coordinate cross-dock and transfer orders between distribution centers, optimizing truck utilization and minimizing double handling to reduce logistics costs and transit times.
  • Manage inventory-related audits and support external auditors and finance during month-end and year-end closings, providing documentation, variance explanations and reconciliation workpapers.
  • Lead continuous improvement projects to improve inventory accuracy and operational efficiency (5S, Kaizen events, cycle count optimization), tracking KPIs such as inventory accuracy, days of inventory on hand (DOH), and carrying cost reduction.
  • Configure and maintain bin/barcode labeling, RFID or barcode scanning workflows, and mobile data collection standards to streamline put-away, picking and counting procedures.
  • Provide escalated support for order exceptions and shortages by coordinating with customer service, sales operations and fulfillment teams to prioritize backorders and expedite shipments where required.
  • Prepare and present actionable inventory summaries and exception reports to supply chain leadership including root cause trends, shrink analysis and recommendations to reduce working capital.
  • Oversee seasonal inventory planning and promotional surge forecasting; coordinate temporary labor and additional counting cycles to maintain accuracy during peaks.
  • Ensure compliance with regulated product handling (hazmat, controlled goods, pharmaceuticals) by verifying storage conditions, inventory segregation and traceability requirements are met.
  • Maintain a safe and organized stockroom and warehouse environment by enforcing storage standards, safe stacking limits, and participating in safety audits and incident investigations.
  • Coordinate with IT teams to test and validate ERP/WMS enhancements, patches or integrations that impact inventory transactions and reporting, and provide functional testing and user acceptance feedback.
  • Train, mentor and review performance for junior inventory staff and temporary counters; create training materials, job aids, and checklists to ensure consistent inventory practices.
  • Support cross-functional projects such as new product introductions (NPI), warehouse expansions or system migrations by providing SKU-level inventory impact assessments and cutover plans.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests, exploratory inventory analysis, and special projects to optimize stock flow and reporting accuracy.
  • Contribute to the organization's inventory strategy and roadmap, recommending system upgrades, process automation and key vendor partnerships.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate inventory and reporting needs into technical requirements for IT, ERP and WMS teams.
  • Participate in sprint planning, UAT and agile ceremonies when working with technical teams on inventory system enhancements.
  • Assist procurement teams with safety stock calculations and order batching to reduce expedited freight and improve fill rates.
  • Provide backup support for receiving, returns or shipping during peak periods to maintain service levels and inventory accuracy.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient with warehouse management systems (WMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms such as NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Manhattan Associates or Fishbowl.
  • Advanced Excel skills: pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, conditional formatting, macros and data visualization for inventory trend analysis.
  • Experience with barcode/RFID scanning systems, mobile data capture devices and label printers for accurate SKU and lot control.
  • Strong understanding of inventory methodologies: FIFO, LIFO, FEFO, cycle counting, ABC/XYZ classification and safety stock optimization.
  • Familiarity with demand planning and forecasting concepts to align inventory levels with sales velocity and seasonality.
  • Hands-on experience performing physical inventory, cycle counts, and reconciliation processes with documented audit trails.
  • Ability to configure and maintain product master data (SKU attributes, units of measure, dimensions, lot/serial tracking) in ERP/WMS.
  • Knowledge of logistics and transportation fundamentals, inbound/outbound scheduling, cross-docking and inter-DC transfers.
  • Competency in inventory KPIs and reporting: days of inventory (DOH), turnover, accuracy %, fill rate, obsolete inventory valuation and shrinkage metrics.
  • Experience supporting inventory audits, SOX controls, and month-end financial reconciliations related to inventory valuations.
  • Basic SQL or data query skills to extract and analyze transactional inventory data (preferred but not always required).
  • Familiarity with MRP processes, purchase order lifecycle, and vendor lead-time management.

Soft Skills

  • Strong analytical skills with a detail-oriented mindset to identify patterns and root causes of inventory discrepancies.
  • Excellent communication skills to collaborate with suppliers, warehouse teams, procurement, finance and sales stakeholders.
  • Problem-solving orientation with a bias for action and the ability to prioritize competing operational demands.
  • Time management and organizational skills to manage recurring count schedules, reporting deadlines and special projects.
  • Team player who can train and influence staff across departments to adopt standardized inventory procedures.
  • Adaptability and resilience to perform in fast-paced, seasonal or changing operational environments.
  • Customer-focused mindset to balance internal stakeholder needs and external order fulfillment expectations.
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills when working through vendor or interdepartmental discrepancies.
  • Continuous improvement mindset with experience driving process improvements and measurable results.
  • Integrity and accuracy-focused approach to maintain trust in inventory records and financial reporting.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Finance, or related field preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management
  • Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–4 years of hands-on inventory control, warehouse, or supply chain experience (varies by company size and complexity).

Preferred:

  • 2–5+ years of inventory control or supply chain operations experience in a distribution, manufacturing, retail or e-commerce environment.
  • Experience with ERP/WMS implementations, cycle count program ownership, and cross-functional process improvements.
  • Certifications such as CPIM or CSCP (APICS), Six Sigma/Lean, or Certified Supply Chain Professional are advantageous.
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