Inventory and Research Operations Lead

RTI International•Durham, NC

9d•$80,000 - $98,000•Onsite

About The Position

RTI International’s Data Collection & Systems department is seeking an Inventory and Research Operations Lead to manage the systems, supplies, equipment, and quality processes that support complex, multi-site research studies and data collection activities. This role serves as a central operational partner to field, warehouse, fulfillment, data capture, laboratory, biospecimen, programming, and project teams. The successful candidate will translate operational needs into inventory system requirements, coordinate purchasing, fulfillment, and production workflows, monitor equipment readiness and quality indicators, train staff, and drive timely follow-through on issues and corrective actions. The position will support a portfolio of projects as organizational needs evolve. This position is based at RTI’s headquarters in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Equivalent experience can be an Associate’s degree and 7 years of experience or a High School diploma and 10 years of experience.
Experience coordinating inventory, materials, supplies, equipment, warehouse, logistics, or related operations in a research, clinical, public health, laboratory, field data collection, or similarly process-driven environment, strongly preferred.
Experience using an inventory management system, database, or other operational system to track activity, maintain accurate records, and resolve discrepancies.
Experience developing or documenting business requirements, testing system changes, and training users on operational processes or systems.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate purchasing activities, vendor interactions, order tracking, or equipment maintenance and calibration processes.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across teams, locations, and schedules.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to provide clear direction, deliver training, document procedures, and collaborate across technical and operational functions.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, escalate risks appropriately, and follow issues through resolution.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting federally funded research, large-scale or multisite studies, mobile research operations, or field data collection.
Familiarity with laboratory or biospecimen workflows, including supply, equipment, processing, shipping, or quality requirements.
Experience monitoring operational or quality indicators and supporting root-cause analysis and corrective action tracking.
Experience with warehouse fulfillment, vendor quote review, purchase approvals, budget monitoring, or equipment lifecycle coordination.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
Education or experience in public health, life sciences, social sciences, supply chain, operations, business, or a related field.
Training or certification in hazardous transportation 49 CFR Parts 171-180 and air transport of dangerous goods under IATA/ICAO requirements.

Responsibilities

Lead inventory management processes for materials, supplies, and equipment used across field data collection sites and RTI warehouse operations.
Partner with programming staff to define and document business requirements, specifications, workflows, and enhancements for the Inventory Management System (IMS).
Plan and conduct user acceptance testing for IMS enhancements; document results, identify defects, confirm resolutions, and support implementation.
Train staff on IMS processes and direct field staff in completing scheduled inventories throughout data collection cycles.
Monitor inventory records, usage, and discrepancies; anticipate needs and coordinate resolution to maintain operational readiness.
Manage ordering of project materials, supplies, and equipment, including obtaining vendor quotes, coordinating client purchase approvals, and tracking orders through receipt and distribution.
Train and monitor fulfillment staff responsible for receiving, inspecting, stocking, and organizing materials in RTI warehouse space and processing orders from field teams.
Coordinate with vendors and internal partners to resolve shortages, substitutions, delivery issues, and other supply risks.
Coordinate respondent and staff mailings across divisions, including schedules, inventory, fulfillment, and quality requirements.
Coordinate with physical operations staff to monitor equipment maintenance, calibration schedules, documentation, and associated budgets.
Monitor quality indicators related to equipment and supplies, data collection, and biospecimen processing and shipping.
Escalate potential quality or operational issues to project leadership and assist in identifying, documenting, implementing, and tracking corrective actions.
Conduct quality-control checks to verify compliance with project-specific quality management plans and edit and proofread technical and nontechnical materials for accuracy and consistency.
Coordinate regularly with data collection, production, fulfillment, data capture, biospecimen, laboratory, field, warehouse, programming, and project staff to address inventory and operational needs and verify completion of follow-up actions.
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, job aids, training materials, system documentation, and inventory records that support consistent operations and audit readiness.
Contribute to project planning, operational reporting, quality reviews, and continuous improvement activities across research and data collection projects.
Oversee workflows for coding, keying, scanning, and other data-capture processes to ensure timely and accurate preparation for computer processing.
Assist with onboarding, training, and cross-training of Fulfillment and Data Capture staff on roles, responsibilities, and standard operating procedures.
Must be able to travel occasionally (4 times a year) to field locations to support setup, closeout, inventory reconciliation, or other operational needs.

Benefits

competitive base salary
generous paid time off policy
merit based annual increases
bonus opportunities
robust recognition program
competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability)
access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan
paid parental leave for all parents
financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments
financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities
an employee assistance program
numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance