Inventory Manager

Purpose of the Role

The Inventory Manager will take overall responsibility for inventory governance, stock control processes, and the integrity of raw materials and finished goods across Agri Technovation’s businesses in South Africa and other countries.

The role covers inventory held at production sites, warehouses, and other operational locations, as well as stock held by distributors and third-party agents. The role is responsible for implementing and maintaining robust, standardized inventory systems, procedures, and controls across these locations to minimize stock losses, improve stock accuracy, and ensure timely, accurate, and consolidated reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Governance & Control

• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized stock control policies and procedures for raw materials and finished goods held at AT sites and distributor locations across all operating countries.
• Ensure that all movements of raw materials and finished goods within and between AT sites, warehouses, and distributor locations are accurately recorded and tracked to maintain complete and reliable inventory records.
• Monitor the accuracy of raw material and finished goods inventory across AT sites and distributor locations, and investigate variances to identify and address the causes of discrepancies.
• Implement and maintain appropriate controls at all stockholding locations to reduce losses of raw materials and finished goods arising from theft, damage, and administrative errors.
• Ensure that regular cycle counts and annual stock counts are properly planned, coordinated, and conducted across AT sites and distributor locations, with identified discrepancies followed up.

Process Improvement

• Review stock management practices across countries and stockholding locations, identify weaknesses, and implement appropriate corrective actions to strengthen the control of raw materials and finished goods.
• Improve operational discipline by ensuring that processes and documentation requirements for movements of raw materials and finished goods are consistently followed at AT sites and distributor locations.
• Introduce practical and workable controls for raw materials and finished goods that can be applied effectively across country operations, including businesses operating with limited resources.
• Ensure that inventory processes are standardized and scalable so they can be applied consistently across multiple countries, AT sites, warehouses, and distributor networks.

Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare regular consolidated reports that clearly communicate raw material and finished goods variances and overall inventory performance across AT and distributor locations.
• Analyze inventory trends to identify and report on slow-moving and obsolete raw materials and finished goods, as well as inventory shrinkage requiring attention.
• Report key inventory risks across countries and stockholding locations to management, and provide practical recommendations to address identified concerns.
• Assist finance teams with accurate month-end reconciliations of raw materials and finished goods held at AT and distributor locations, and with meeting inventory-related audit requirements.

Oversight of AT Sites, Warehouses & Distributor Stock

• Ensure that appropriate controls over raw materials and finished goods are implemented and consistently applied across AT production sites, warehouses, consignment stock depots, and distributor locations.
• Monitor raw materials and finished goods held by third-party agents and distributors to ensure that quantities are accurately recorded, appropriately controlled, and visible in AT’s inventory records.
• Ensure the accuracy of inventory balances at distributors and consignment locations through regular reconciliation with AT records and follow-up of identified differences.

Minimum Requirements

• A relevant degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Finance, or a related field.
• A minimum of five years’ experience in stock or inventory management.
• Strong experience working with ERP and inventory management systems.
• Strong analytical skills, together with the ability to complete and review inventory reconciliations.
• Experience managing raw materials and finished goods across multiple locations, countries, or distributor networks will be advantageous.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to implement stock control processes effectively.