Inventory Control Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Inventory & Warehouse Team: Provide daily direction, training, coaching, and annual performance evaluations for inventory, shipping, and receiving personnel.
• Own Inventory Strategy & Controls: Design and maintain SOPs for cycle counts, physical audits, reconciliation, and variance root-cause analysis; implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Oversee Shipping & Receiving Operations: Ensure accurate inbound inspection, documentation, put-away, and outbound packaging/scheduling; maintain a safe, clean, and organized warehouse.
• Ensure ERP/WMS Data Integrity: Monitor and validate all inventory transactions (receipts, issues, transfers, adjustments) for accuracy and policy compliance; safeguard master data and BOM/lot controls.
• Partner with Production, Procurement, and Logistics to set min/max levels, safety stock, and reorder points aligned to demand and production schedules (resin, film, cores, boxes, pallets).
• Audit Readiness & Compliance: Prepare and maintain documentation and permits/licenses for internal/external audits; manage audit files, logs, checklists, and deadlines.
• Reporting & Analytics: Produce daily/weekly/monthly reports and dashboards on inventory accuracy, losses/shrink, turns, aged inventory, on-time receiving, and audit scores; create special reports—railcar capacity, silo capacity, PCR usage, seal reports, and photo documentation.
• Special Projects Management: Plan, schedule, and execute cross-department projects; document scope/timelines; coordinate stakeholders; track deliverables to completion.
• Packaging Materials Ownership: Design and maintain box specifications for special customers; negotiate pricing and place orders for boxes/pallets to ensure adequate inventory for production needs.
• Warehouse Optimization: Implement 5S, layout/bin-location optimization, material flow standards, and safety procedures to reduce handling, errors, and damage.
• Inventory Performance Improvement: Identify trends, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and standardize best practices to improve accuracy, reduce variance/shrink, and optimize working capital.
• Stakeholder Communication: Present insights and recommendations to plant/operations leadership; escalate risks, constraints, and corrective actions with clear timelines and owners.

Required Skills & Experience

• Education: Minimum of a Highschool diploma
• Experience: 5+ years progressive experience in inventory control/materials management within a manufacturing/production environment; 3+ years of people leadership.
• Skills: Demonstrated success leading shipping & receiving operations and maintaining warehouse safety, organization, and compliance; strong command of inventory control principles, reconciliation techniques, cycle counting, physical audits, and variance root-cause analysis/CAPA; ERP/WMS proficiency (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar) and Advanced Excel skills for data analysis, reporting, and dashboards; experience preparing for and supporting internal/external audits (e.g., FM Global, Storm Water, retailer audits, food safety audits, fire marshal permits/licensing); excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; able to translate data into clear actions and train teams on process discipline.
• Preferred: Experience in plastics/film extrusion/packaging environments, including railcar/silo resin management and PCR usage tracking; familiarity with 5S/Lean practices and safety/OSHA standards in warehouse operations.