Inventory Control Manager

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery,LLC • Oakbrook Terrace, IL

6d • $85,000 - $115,000

About The Position

The Corporate Inventory Control Manager will be responsible for overseeing corporate inventory control processes related to product holds, releases, disposition, reconciliation, and inventory accountability across the company’s bakeries and third-party logistics (3PL) network. This role will play a critical part in ensuring accurate inventory records, timely product disposition, efficient order fulfillment, and the safe and compliant flow of product into commerce.

The Manager will serve as a key cross-functional partner to FSQA, Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, Finance, Customer Service, Production Planning, and 3PL partners. This position will provide leadership and direction for the management of product holds and releases, inventory reconciliation, disposition activities, recall support, and related systems and processes.

The Corporate Inventory Control Manager will identify opportunities to improve inventory accuracy, streamline processes, strengthen controls, and minimize financial and operational risk associated with held, aged, distressed, expired, or otherwise restricted inventory.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, FSQA, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in inventory control, supply chain, warehousing, distribution, FSQA, operations, or a related function, with demonstrated experience taking ownership of complex processes or leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience in food and beverage manufacturing, distribution, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) required.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, product disposition, warehouse operations, and supply chain processes.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, reconcile, interpret, and analyze data from multiple systems and sources.
• Experience with ERP systems; NetSuite experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of inventory controls, reconciliation, transaction processes, and inventory adjustments.
• Ability to develop and implement standardized processes, controls, routines, and tools that improve business performance.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills with the ability to make sound decisions using incomplete or changing information.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate effectively with frontline teams, peers, senior leaders, and external partners.
• Strong attention to detail and high level of numerical and inventory accuracy.
• Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Demonstrated organizational agility and ability to navigate complex, cross-functional situations.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, including the ability to analyze and present data.

Nice To Haves

• Previous management, supervisory, project leadership, or team leadership experience preferred.
• Experience working with 3PL providers and managing external business partners preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the corporate process for managing product holds, releases, dispositions, and inventory reconciliation across bakeries and 3PL locations.
• Establish and maintain consistent processes, controls, and routines to ensure accurate and timely accountability of held and released inventory.
• Oversee daily reconciliation of hold statuses and inventory data across NetSuite, bakery hold reports, 3PL systems, and other applicable systems.
• Ensure accurate tracking of product lots, quantities, locations, status, and disposition throughout the inventory lifecycle.
• Provide direction and support to bakery hold coordinators and management teams regarding inventory holds, releases, and disposition requirements.
• Serve as the primary corporate point of contact for routine product hold and release activities between FSQA, bakeries, Supply Chain, Sales, and 3PL partners.
• Ensure timely and accurate communication with 3PL partners regarding product holds, releases, inventory status, and disposition requirements.
• Identify and escalate inventory discrepancies, process gaps, and risks and drive resolution with the appropriate stakeholders.
• Oversee the reconciliation of inventory between NetSuite, 3PL records, bakery inventory reports, and other inventory management tools.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of manual 3PL inventory within NetSuite and appropriate inventory adjustments.
• Oversee daily EDI error resolution, including transaction failures involving sales orders, transfers, purchase orders, and other inventory-related transactions.
• Partner with Finance, Supply Chain, IT, and 3PL providers to resolve system and transactional issues impacting inventory accuracy or product flow.
• Identify recurring system and process issues and lead corrective actions to prevent future discrepancies.
• Lead the corporate disposition process for aged, thrift, distressed, expired, damaged, or otherwise restricted inventory.
• Maintain and analyze inventory aging and disposition reports and provide regular reporting to Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, FSQA, and 3PL partners.
• Ensure stakeholders have timely visibility to inventory status, disposition, location, and financial or operational impact.
• Partner with FSQA to determine appropriate disposition of held inventory and ensure established food safety and quality requirements are followed.
• Coordinate destruction activities with 3PLs and ensure required documentation, including certificates of destruction and supporting photographs, is obtained and maintained.
• Partner with Finance to ensure appropriate inventory adjustments are completed accurately and timely in NetSuite.
• Identify opportunities to minimize inventory loss, product aging, unnecessary holds, and avoidable write-offs.
• Serve as the corporate subject matter expert and primary contact for inventory holds and disposition-related matters.
• Provide leadership with timely and accurate reporting on hold status, inventory location, disposition, aging, and potential business impact.
• Partner with FSQA, Production Scheduling, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, Customer Service, and Operations to coordinate planned and unplanned product holds and releases.
• Coordinate with FSQA and Production Scheduling regarding pre-planned holds and releases associated with construction, R&D activities, production changes, or other operational events.
• Provide leadership and support during unplanned product holds, releases, and inventory-related disruptions.
• Provide guidance to 3PL partners regarding product disposition, handling, segregation, release, and destruction expectations.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and influence effective decision-making across functions.
• Serve as a key member of the Corporate Recall Team.
• Lead inventory-related traceability, reconciliation, and documentation activities during product recalls or other significant product events.
• Coordinate with FSQA, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Finance, and 3PL partners to verify product quantities, locations, hold status, and disposition.
• Ensure inventory information is accurate, complete, and readily available to support timely decision-making during recalls and other critical events.
• Participate in audits, inventory verifications, and problem-solving activities at bakeries and 3PL locations as needed.
• Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators related to inventory accuracy, product holds, releases, aging, disposition, reconciliation, and 3PL performance.
• Develop and maintain regular reporting and dashboards to provide visibility to inventory performance and emerging risks.
• Identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement and lead corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop and implement standardized processes, tools, controls, and best practices to improve inventory accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that reduce manual processes, improve data integrity, accelerate product disposition, and minimize inventory loss.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for internal stakeholders and 3PL partners related to inventory control processes and performance.
• Ensure KPI expectations and established performance standards are consistently met and communicate results and action plans to leadership.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision coverage
• tax-advantaged savings accounts (HSA/FSA)
• 401(k) plan with company match
• company-paid life and disability insurance
• access to wellness resources such as virtual healthcare and an employee assistance program
• generous paid-time off program
• company-paid holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager