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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Inventory Manager

💰 $ - $

OperationsSupply ChainInventory Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Inventory Manager is responsible for end-to-end inventory control, stock accuracy, and optimization across single or multi-site warehouse networks. This role blends operational leadership, data-driven forecasting, supplier coordination, and ERP/WMS mastery to minimize stockouts, reduce carrying costs, and improve inventory turns. The Inventory Manager works cross-functionally with purchasing, operations, finance, and sales to implement inventory policies, perform root-cause analysis on discrepancies, and drive continuous improvement initiatives in supply chain and warehouse operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Inventory Analyst / Inventory Control Specialist
  • Warehouse Supervisor / Lead
  • Supply Chain Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Inventory Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager / Demand Planning Manager
  • Director of Supply Chain Operations
  • VP of Supply Chain or Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Procurement / Purchasing Manager
  • Logistics or Distribution Manager
  • Operations Manager
  • Demand Planner

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Own the daily management of inventory levels across all SKUs and locations: set and maintain reorder points, safety stock, and replenishment strategies to balance service levels and inventory carrying cost.
  • Lead and execute accurate cycle counting programs, documenting count procedures, resolving variances, and achieving targeted count accuracy KPI (e.g., >98%).
  • Develop and maintain demand forecasts in partnership with sales and planning teams, analyze forecast error, and adjust replenishment plans to reduce stockouts and overstocks.
  • Manage inventory receiving and put-away processes; ensure SKU identification, barcode/RFID scanning, and correct location assignment in the WMS/ERP to guarantee traceability.
  • Design and implement stockholding strategies (e.g., safety stock, min/max, consignment, vendor-managed inventory) tailored to SKU velocity, seasonality, lead time, and business objectives.
  • Monitor and report core inventory KPIs (turns, days of inventory on hand, fill rate, stockouts, excess and obsolete inventory) and use results to drive corrective action plans.
  • Coordinate intercompany and intra-warehouse transfers, prioritizing urgent replenishments and ensuring compliance to transfer and shipping procedures.
  • Drive SKU rationalization programs to reduce complexity and carrying costs by identifying slow-moving, obsolete, and redundant items with cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Partner with purchasing and suppliers to optimize lead times, order quantities, safety stock requirements, and supplier reliability to improve on-time in-full (OTIF) performance.
  • Oversee returns processing, reverse logistics, and disposition decisions for damaged, expired, or recalled inventory, including restocking, repair, resale, or disposal pathways.
  • Lead root cause investigations for shrinkage, discrepancies, and stock variance, implement corrective actions (process, system, training), and report outcomes to leadership.
  • Manage month-end and year-end inventory close activities including reconciliations, adjustments, and audit support to ensure accurate financial inventory valuation (FIFO/LIFO/Weighted Average).
  • Configure and maintain inventory-related modules in the ERP/WMS (locations, bins, SKU attributes, replenishment rules) and validate system changes before production release.
  • Supervise, coach, and develop inventory control staff and cross-functional warehouse teams; set performance goals, conduct regular feedback, and organize training on inventory best practices.
  • Lead continuous improvement and Lean initiatives focused on inventory flow, picking accuracy, storage density, and reduction of non-value added handling.
  • Plan and manage seasonal inventory strategies (promotions, peak demand, product launches) to ensure optimal stock levels during high-volume periods.
  • Establish and enforce cycle time standards, receiving SLAs, and inventory handling policies to ensure consistent warehouse operations and labor productivity.
  • Support sourcing and supplier selection efforts by providing inventory impact analyses and recommended order cadence to procurement teams.
  • Implement and manage barcode/RFID labeling, scanning policies, and technology rollouts to increase traceability and reduce errors in physical inventory processes.
  • Prepare and present comprehensive inventory reports, trend analysis, and recommendations to senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Drive compliance with regulatory, safety, and quality standards that impact inventory handling, storage, and transportation, including hazardous materials where applicable.
  • Lead and support external and internal audits, provide data and physical access to inventory, and implement audit recommendations to strengthen controls.
  • Manage inventory-related budgets, cost-savings initiatives, and capital requests for systems, automation, racking, or warehouse equipment to optimize inventory cost structure.
  • Coordinate with IT and data teams to define inventory data requirements, improve master data quality (SKUs, BOMs, lead times), and ensure accuracy of item attributes.
  • Oversee vendor-managed inventory (VMI) or consignment programs where applicable, including performance monitoring, replenishment cadence, and contractual compliance.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to inventory performance, demand variance, and supplier lead times.
  • Contribute to the organization's inventory digitization roadmap, providing requirements for ERP/WMS upgrades, automation, or reporting enhancements.
  • Train and mentor cross-functional colleagues (sales, customer service, purchasing) on inventory policies, lead time impacts, and how to interpret inventory reports.
  • Participate in project teams for warehouse expansions, new site openings, SKU launches, and EDI/API integrations with suppliers or carriers.
  • Assist finance with inventory accounting queries, COGS reconciliations, and impairment calculations for slow-moving stock.
  • Maintain up-to-date documentation of inventory processes, SOPs, and work instructions to ensure consistent execution across shifts and sites.
  • Collaborate with customer service to prioritize urgent orders, backorder resolution, and to communicate realistic fulfillment timelines to clients.
  • Help develop contingency and safety plans for supply disruptions, supplier failures, or transportation delays to protect service levels.
  • Provide subject matter expertise for continuous improvement workshops (Kaizen), 5S, and waste reduction initiatives related to inventory flow.
  • Liaise with legal and compliance teams on product recalls, regulatory inventory holds, and documentation retention for traceability purposes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Inventory management systems: Advanced experience with ERP/WMS platforms (e.g., SAP MM/WM, Oracle NetSuite, Manhattan, JDA/Blue Yonder, Infor, Microsoft Dynamics).
  • Warehouse management: Expertise configuring and operating WMS functions including put-away logic, picking strategies, cycle counting, and replenishment.
  • Demand forecasting & replenishment: Experience using statistical forecasting tools and MRP/DRP processes to set reorder points, safety stock, and order cadence.
  • Data analysis & reporting: Advanced Excel (pivot tables, Power Query, VBA macros), Power BI/Tableau, and SQL for extracting and analyzing inventory datasets.
  • Inventory valuation & accounting: Knowledge of inventory costing methods (FIFO, LIFO, Weighted Average), obsolescence provisioning, and month-end reconciliation.
  • Barcode/RFID and scanning technologies: Implementation and troubleshooting of scanning hardware, label standards, and inventory capture workflows.
  • Supply chain optimization: SKU rationalization, ABC/XYZ segmentation, lead time reduction, and network inventory allocation techniques.
  • Cycle count program management and variance resolution methodologies.
  • Purchase order lifecycle management and collaboration with procurement systems and EDI/ASN flows.
  • Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma tools, and continuous improvement methodologies applied to inventory and warehouse operations.
  • Inventory-related compliance and regulatory knowledge (e.g., hazardous materials handling, recall management).

Soft Skills

  • Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable inventory optimization plans.
  • Excellent cross-functional communication and stakeholder management—able to influence purchasing, operations, finance, and sales.
  • Leadership and people development skills to manage, coach, and motivate warehouse and inventory teams.
  • Problem-solving orientation with a focus on root-cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
  • Attention to detail and data accuracy mindset to maintain high inventory integrity.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance urgent operational needs with strategic improvement projects.
  • Negotiation skills for working with suppliers on lead times, minimum order quantities, and supply agreements.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, seasonally variable supply chain environments.
  • Customer-service orientation to align inventory decisions with fulfillment and client expectations.
  • Project management skills to deliver system upgrades, implementations, and process changes on time.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

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

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field plus certifications such as APICS CPIM/CSCP, ISM CPSM, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), or MBA.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management
  • Industrial / Systems Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, or supply chain roles.

Preferred: 5+ years managing inventory programs or leading inventory teams, hands-on experience with enterprise ERP/WMS implementations, proven track record reducing inventory carrying costs and improving fill rates, and experience in a multi-site or distribution network environment.

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