Inventory Analyst

Michael Foods Inc.•Hopkins, MN

12d

About The Position

The Inventory Analyst supports end‑to‑end inventory management and coordination between Michael Foods and multiple third‑party logistics (3PL) partners. This role is critical to maintaining high standards of inventory accuracy, documentation integrity, and product safety across externally managed warehouse locations. The analyst serves as a key point of contact for inventory visibility, exception management, quality‑related communication, and system accuracy within SAP and related systems. This position requires a strong attention to detail, a natural tendency to question anomalies, and a disciplined approach to verification—particularly where product quality or food safety may be impacted. The analyst works closely with Quality Assurance, internal operating companies, transportation, customer service, and 3PL partners to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely product movement. This is a day shift role (8:00am–4:30pm, Monday–Friday), with flexibility based on business needs. This role will require approximately 6 weeks of on‑site training in Gaylord, MN. Following training, the position may work from Gaylord, MN or the Hopkins, MN corporate office, based on business needs. This position is expected to be based out of the new Jordan, MN warehouse, scheduled to open in Spring 2027.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Minimum 1 year of experience in inventory management, supply chain, logistics, or distribution operations.
Required: Experience working in or supporting a Warehouse Management System (WMS) environment, including inventory movements, adjustments, and reconciliation.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data and inventory accuracy.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a tendency to question anomalies and validate information.
Ability to prioritize work effectively, especially quality‑driven requests and investigations.
Strong communication skills; able to work effectively with internal teams and external partners.
Highly organized, self‑directed, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word, Teams).

Nice To Haves

Preferred: Experience with SAP (ECC or S/4), particularly inventory or logistics modules.
Preferred: 3–5 years of experience working with inventory systems, 3PL environments, or food manufacturing/distribution.
Experience with EDI, TMS, or dock scheduling systems (e.g., E2Open) strongly preferred.
Experience supporting quality, food safety, or regulated products is a plus.

Responsibilities

3PL Inventory Management & System Accuracy
Oversee inventory accuracy across assigned 3PL warehouse locations, serving as the primary inventory contact between Michael Foods and external partners.
Execute, review, and reconcile inventory movements and adjustments in SAP to ensure system accuracy and alignment with 3PL physical inventory.
Investigate inventory discrepancies, anomalies, and variances; question irregularities and require verification before resolution, with a bias toward product safety.
Maintain accurate inventory records, documentation, and audit trails to support internal controls and quality standards.
Support cycle counts, variance analysis, and month‑end inventory close activities, ensuring all transactions are posted and cleared timely.
Quality, Food Safety & Compliance (Top Priority)
Prioritize all communication, requests, and investigations originating from Quality Assurance above other work activities.
Partner closely with QA to investigate inventory issues related to product quality, holds, dispositions, shelf life, or traceability.
Ensure inventory handling, disposition, and documentation comply with food safety requirements, customer specifications, and internal policies.
Escalate potential food safety or quality risks immediately and support root cause investigation and corrective actions.
Communication & Cross‑Functional Coordination
Serve as a primary liaison between Michael Foods, 3PL partners, Quality Assurance, transportation, customer service, and internal operating companies.
Communicate inventory status, issues, and resolutions clearly and timely across all stakeholders.
Maintain dock appointment schedule updates and ensure accurate communication of changes between SAP, E2Open (or similar systems), and 3PL partners.
EDI, Systems & Exception Management
Monitor, investigate, and resolve EDI errors between SAP and 3PL systems on a daily basis to prevent shipment, billing, or inventory inaccuracies.
Coordinate with IT, 3PL partners, and internal teams to clear errors and prevent recurrence.
Maintain data integrity across SAP, E2Open, and related transportation or warehouse systems.
Export & Documentation Support
Prepare and manage export documentation for a limited number of outbound orders shipping on an average weekly basis.
Ensure accuracy and compliance of export documents in coordination with transportation, customer service, and external partners.
Month‑End & Reporting Responsibilities
Support month‑end close activities related to inventory, shipments, and documentation.
Ensure all required postings, corrections, and reconciliations are completed prior to close.
Assist with reporting and analysis related to inventory accuracy and 3PL performance.
Continuous Improvement & Other Duties
Identify process gaps, recurring errors, and improvement opportunities related to inventory, systems, and 3PL interactions.
Support SOP updates, documentation improvements, and cross‑functional process alignment.
Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.