Inventory Specialist

Description

The Inventory Specialist plays a critical role in maintaining inventory accuracy and supporting the company’s operational, manufacturing, and distribution goals. This position is responsible for performing daily and scheduled cycle counts, investigating inventory discrepancies, and supporting inventory control initiatives. In addition, the Inventory Specialist serves as a company role model for inventory control, mentoring junior team members and coordinating daily inventory activities in collaboration with supervisors. This role ensures inventory accuracy across all stages of receiving, production, warehousing, and distribution, and supports real-time data integrity within the ERP system.

Requirements

Qualifications:

Required

• High school diploma (Grade 12 or equivalent).

• 3–4 years of inventory control, warehouse, or manufacturing experience.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to conduct accurate data entry.

• Experience with ERP systems (Microsoft Business Central or similar).

• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel and email communication.

• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred

• Forklift certification (or willingness to obtain).

• Familiarity with barcode scanners and mobile inventory tools.

• Experience working in lean or 5S environments.

Essential Functions:

Inventory Control & ERP Accuracy

• Perform daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly cycle counts in the warehouse and production staging areas.

• Maintain accurate inventory records in the ERP system (Microsoft Business Central or equivalent).

• Analyze and reconcile inventory discrepancies including overages, shortages, and mislocated items.

• Monitor, consolidate, and retrieve storage to allow maximum utilization of space.

• Assist in maintaining accurate bin locations, lot tracking, and inventory movements.

• Identify and quarantine obsolete, expired, or damaged inventory.

Team Leadership & Coordination

• Act as a team leader by mentoring and training Inventory Team members.

• Support the Inventory Supervisor in coordinating team workloads and monitoring task completion.

• Provide progress reports and communicate status updates on inventory tasks to management.

• Contribute to team efforts and cross-functional projects as needed.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with Receiving, Production, Planning, and ERP/Data teams to ensure material integrity and real-time updates.

• Respond to inquiries regarding inventory availability and location.

• Assist Distribution teams in locating items for orders and organizing items in accessible, properly labeled locations.

• Participate in year-end physical inventories, reconciliation efforts, and internal/external audits.

Compliance, Safety & Organization

• Enforce and follow established inventory control procedures and safety protocols.

• Ensure items are stored neatly with proper rotation and labeling (FIFO, 5S, lean practices).

• Comply with company policies and contribute to a safe and organized work environment.

• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing inventory related tasks and projects as needed.

• Perform other duties as assigned by Management.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position functions independently with no direct reports, however trains and mentors other employees on the Inventory Process.

Success Factors/Job Competencies:

• Organizational skills

• Technical Capacity

• Initiative

• Time Management

• Communication Proficiency

• Thoroughness and Accuracy

Work Schedule:

• Flexible based on workflow and set by Management. Regularly scheduled Monday-Friday, 7a-3:30pm

• Schedules may change depending upon related circumstances related to necessity, flexibility may be required, including during   inventory counts or special projects.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Office and Warehouse work using technology daily to handle fax, email, copier, scanner, phone, label printers, and computer-related tasks and responsibilities. Use also involves ladders, forklifts, or other material handling equipment as needed.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment can be moderate to loud. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Employee must have the ability to walk, stand, and move through warehouse and production area for extended periods.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.  This position is moderately active and requires sitting, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching for the duration of the shift.  The employee may occasionally lift and/or move items over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. May be exposed to weather temperature conditions prevalent at the time.

Occupational Health and Safety

Employees are responsible and accountable for:

• Compliance with workplace policies and procedures for risk identification, risk assessment, and risk control.

• Active participation in activities associated with the management of workplace health and safety.

• Identification and reporting of health and safety risks, accidents, incidents, injuries, and property damage at the workplace.

Performance standards:

• Annual performance appraisal based on established job responsibilities and performance goals.

• Annual performance goal targets established between the supervisor and employee.

• Participation in continuous improvement and professional development expected.

Note:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.  Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.