Inventory Control Lead

About the role

The Inventory Control Lead ensures the accuracy, integrity, traceability, and availability of all ingredients, packaging, components, and finished goods inventory within the facility. This role serves as the primary technical resource for inventory control, aligning physical inventory with ERP records through accurate transactions, validation, cycle counts, reconciliation, and traceability compliance. The position supports Bakerly’s mission of crafting high-quality bakery products and upholds core values of honesty, reliability, collaboration, positivity, and excellence.

The Inventory Control Lead partners with Warehouse Operations, Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Supply Planning to maintain inventory accuracy, support production continuity, and identify inventory risks before they impact operations.

Responsibilities

• Own inventory validation of all ingredients, packaging, components, receipts, and finished goods, including quantity verification, lot and batch accuracy, expiration and shelf-life validation, material condition, and compliance.
• Ensure ERP transactions accurately reflect physical receipts before inventory is made available for use.
• Prevent receipt of ingredients into the system without proper validation and documentation.
• Prevent dispatch of finished goods into the system without proper physical verification.
• Partner with Receiving and Quality to ensure proper material release and compliance.
• Ensure inventory transactions (receipts, moves, and consumption) are accurate, timely, and aligned with physical inventory.
• Validate ingredient consumption transactions and ensure alignment with production work orders and system records.
• Investigate ingredient consumption variances and partner with Production to identify root causes.
• Monitor and audit ERP inventory transactions to prevent discrepancies.
• Identify and escalate system versus physical inventory mismatches.
• Validate that ingredients, packaging, components, and finished goods are stored in correct locations, properly identified, and aligned with ERP records.
• Ensure compliance with FIFO, FEFO, lot traceability, and inventory control standards.
• Identify and address inventory issues including misplaced inventory, incorrect locations, labeling errors, and traceability gaps.
• Escalate recurring inventory control issues and drive corrective actions.
• Execute cycle counts and support annual physical inventories for ingredient inventory.
• Validate alignment between physical inventory and ERP records.
• Investigate inventory discrepancies and perform root cause analysis.
• Reconcile inventory variances and ensure proper documentation and approvals.
• Drive corrective actions to improve inventory accuracy and reduce inventory adjustments.
• Escalate inventory risks and material constraints to the Supply Planning team.
• Partner with Warehouse Operations, Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Supply Planning to support inventory accuracy and material availability.
• Support inventory-related audits, traceability exercises, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for ingredients, packaging, components, and finished goods inventory processes, controls, lot traceability, and inventory transactions.
• Coordinate and execute cycle counts, physical inventories, reconciliations, and inventory discrepancy investigations.
• Assist in identifying inventory control risks, process gaps, and continuous improvement opportunities to improve inventory accuracy and compliance.
• Serve as a backup resource during staffing shortages, vacations, and peak operational periods.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, materials management, or supply chain.
• Experience with ERP and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
• Forklift experience.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

• Strong understanding of inventory control principles, cycle counting, reconciliation, FIFO/FEFO, and lot traceability.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and inventory reporting tools.
• Knowledge of GMP, SQF, FDA, and inventory compliance requirements.
• Strong organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in supply chain, logistics, operations, or related field.
• Forklift certification.