Inventory Control Manager

Fresh Del Monte Produce Company•Pittsburgh, PA

2h•Hybrid

About The Position

Del Monte Foods, the Foods Division of Fresh Del Monte, is a global grower, producer, and marketer of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable produce with a portfolio of brands including Del Monte®, Contadina®, and S&W®. They are currently seeking an Inventory Control Manager to develop, implement, and sustain enterprise cycle count and inventory control procedures across a multi-site Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) network. This role is responsible for cycle count governance, standards, training, and performance management for approximately 20-25 locations, including ambient and cold storage distribution facilities, manufacturing plants, and co-manufacturing partner sites. The Manager will drive inventory record accuracy, shrink reduction, root-cause elimination, and continuous improvement through data-driven controls, cross-functional partnerships, and disciplined execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
7+ years of inventory control experience in CPG, food & beverage, manufacturing, warehousing/distribution, or similarly complex environments; including ownership of cycle count programs.
Experience supporting multi-site operations (DCs and/or plants) with demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority.
Strong working knowledge of inventory transactions and controls within WMS and ERP environments (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Manhattan, Blue Yonder, SAP EWM, etc.).
Proven ability to analyze inventory variance data, quantify financial impact, and drive root-cause elimination.
Demonstrated knowledge of lot/date control, traceability, and quality hold/release processes.
Proficiency in Excel and reporting/BI tools; ability to build dashboards and communicate performance clearly to leadership.
Ability to travel to sites as needed (typically 25%, depending on business needs).
Experience in temperature-controlled logistics (refrigerated/frozen) and/or food manufacturing with GMP/HACCP requirements.
Experience managing inventory control teams and leading change management across multiple sites.
Lean/Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) or equivalent continuous improvement experience.
Experience with cycle counting optimization methods (ABC/XYZ, statistical sampling, tolerance design, segmentation by velocity/criticality).
Experience with SOX/internal controls, audit support, and formal SOP documentation.

Nice To Haves

Power BI/Tableau/SQL proficiency and experience automating inventory control reporting

Responsibilities

Serve as the enterprise cycle count program owner for 20-25 sites, including ambient DCs, refrigerated facilities, manufacturing plants, and co-manufacturers.
Support various inventory types and locations, such as raw materials, packaging, WIP, finished goods, ingredients, MRO/indirect, and hold/quarantine areas.
Collaborate with Operations, Plant/Distribution Leadership, Quality, Finance/Cost Accounting, Supply Chain Planning, Procurement, Customer Service, and IT to ensure compliant inventory processes and accurate financial reporting.
Utilize ERP/WMS and inventory control tools to standardize transactions, counting execution, and reporting.
Lead a team of inventory analysts and provide functional leadership to site inventory control resources.
Design and govern the cycle count program, defining enterprise standards for count frequency, ABC/velocity segmentation, tolerances, triggers, recount rules, and adjustment approval workflows.
Standardize inventory control procedures by partnering with Sites and Internal Audit to establish and maintain SOPs for receiving, put away, replenishment, picking, production/backflush, returns, holds, rework, transfers, and inventory adjustments.
Drive inventory record accuracy by setting targets, publishing scorecards, and leading corrective actions to improve location, lot/date, and quantity accuracy.
Plan and execute cycle counts by developing count schedules and operational playbooks that minimize service disruption while ensuring counting discipline and completeness.
Lead investigations for variances, negative inventory, aging/obsolete stock, and shrink, partnering with operations to implement sustainable fixes.
Ensure cycle counting and adjustments support SOX/internal control expectations, audit readiness, and accurate period-end reporting; coordinate and support internal/external audits.
Oversee co-manufacturer inventory by defining reporting and cycle count expectations, reviewing partner submissions, reconciling discrepancies, and driving adherence to controls.
Partner with IT to configure and maintain WMS/ERP count programs, reason codes, transaction controls, and reporting; validate master data.
Develop training materials and certify site resources on inventory transactions, scanning discipline, lot/date management, and count execution; coach leaders on best practices.
Monitor and report key metrics and lead monthly business reviews.
Identify and implement process improvements using Lean/Six Sigma tools; lead pilots and scale successful practices.
Support annual/periodic physical inventories, including planning, third-party coordination, reconciliation, and post-inventory lessons learned.
Ensure inventory control activities comply with safety policies, GMP/HACCP and food safety requirements, and product disposition rules.