Materials Inventory Manager

The Materials Inventory Manager is responsible for Inventory Management, Warehousing, and Receiving, with a primary focus on inventory control, material flow, and the accuracy of raw materials, packaging, supplies, and finished goods movement. This role ensures materials are received, stored, issued, transferred, and reconciled accurately to support production and operational needs while minimizing discrepancies, delays, excess inventory, and waste. The Materials Inventory Manager provides oversight of warehouse operations, receiving activities, inventory reporting, ERP transactions, cycle counts, and cross-functional coordination with Procurement, Production, Quality, Finance, and Logistics.

· Oversee daily materials inventory management, including inventory accuracy, cycle counts, physical inventory, variance research, and reconciliation.

· Manage warehouse and receiving operations to ensure materials are properly received, inspected, labeled, stored, rotated, issued, transferred, and documented.

· Maintain a strong focus on material flow to support production schedules, avoid material shortages, reduce delays, and ensure timely movement of raw materials, packaging, supplies, and finished goods.

· Develop, implement, and enforce inventory control procedures, warehouse standards, receiving practices, and material handling processes.

· Monitor inventory levels, material usage, aging inventory, and replenishment needs to support operational demand while minimizing excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory.

· Ensure ERP system accuracy by overseeing timely receiving, transfers, adjustments, consumption, reconciliation, and data entry.

· Investigate inventory discrepancies, receiving issues, warehouse variances, and material movement errors; identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

· Prepare and review inventory, receiving, warehouse, and material flow reports for leadership and cross-functional business partners.

· Partner with Procurement, Production, Quality, Finance, Logistics, and Operations to align inventory availability, storage capacity, receiving priorities, and material flow requirements.

· Provide direct oversight, coaching, training, and performance guidance to warehouse, receiving, and inventory control personnel.

· Support audit readiness, food safety, GMP, safety, traceability, and internal control requirements related to inventory, warehouse, and receiving activities.

· Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities to improve inventory accuracy, warehouse organization, receiving efficiency, labor utilization, and material flow.

· Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, coach, and hold warehouse, receiving, and inventory personnel accountable.

· Advanced knowledge of inventory control, material flow, warehouse operations, receiving processes, cycle counting, reconciliation, and physical inventory practices.

· Strong understanding of FIFO/FEFO, lot traceability, inventory adjustments, material transfers, and warehouse organization standards.

· Proficient with ERP systems, inventory management software, warehouse reporting, and Microsoft Excel, including filters, lookups, pivot tables, and data analysis.

· Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.

· Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize receiving, inventory, warehouse, and production support needs in a fast-paced environment.

· Clear and professional communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with Procurement, Production, Quality, Finance, Logistics, and Operations.

· Ability to enforce warehouse, inventory, safety, food safety, GMP, and audit readiness standards.

· Forklift certification preferred or willingness to obtain, as business needs require.

· Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Logistics, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

· Minimum of 5 years of experience in inventory management, warehouse operations, receiving, materials control, supply chain, or distribution within a manufacturing, food production, or similar environment.

· Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or management experience leading inventory, warehouse, receiving, or materials teams.

· Hands-on experience with ERP systems, inventory transactions, cycle counts, inventory reconciliation, receiving processes, and warehouse reporting required.

· Experience in food manufacturing, cold storage, GMP-regulated, or audit-driven environments preferred.

· Work is performed in both office and warehouse environments.

· Regular exposure to cold storage (average 40°F, occasionally -4°F).

· Requires standing, walking, lifting up to 50 lbs, and operating material handling equipment.

· May require extended hours during inventory counts or audits.