Inventory Specialist

Earthley Wellness•Columbus, OH

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Inventory Specialist at Earthley is responsible for maintaining accurate, audit-ready inventory across all stages of the manufacturing and warehouse environment. This role ensures complete alignment between physical inventory and system records for raw materials, work-in-process (WIP), packaging components, and finished goods. Acting as the operational link between Production and Warehouse functions, the Inventory Specialist owns inventory movement, staging, consumption, and reconciliation while supporting Quality by removing non-compliance-related inventory correction work. Quality retains authority over inspection, release, and regulatory decisions; this role ensures executional accuracy once materials are released.

Requirements

Manufacturing or warehouse experience strongly preferred
Hands-on experience with: Raw material and WIP inventory management Barcode scanning and inventory systems Cycle counting and physical inventory execution
Strong understanding of material flow in a production environment
High attention to detail with consistent documentation practices
Ability to work cross-functionally without creating bottlenecks
Self-directed, organized, and accountable
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and basic data analysis tools
Ability to stand or walk 8 hours a day.
Ability to lift 30 pounds above head.

Responsibilities

Inventory Accuracy & Material Control
Verify Material ID labels, container size, weight, and supplier lot accuracy against ProTracker records.
Ensure one Material ID per physical container (drum, tote, pallet, case).
Identify, consolidate, and manage multiple containers under a single Material ID in accordance with FIFO standards.
Clearly distinguish partial containers, mixed sizes, or repacks prior to storage.
Ensure barcodes are properly applied, readable, and scannable.
Location & Storage Management
Maintain accurate warehouse locations for: Raw materials Labels WIP Packaging components and containers Finished goods staging Designated production support (“North needs”) areas
Ensure all inventory is stored in the correct zone, aisle, bay, and rack as defined in system records.
Ensure all inventory is stored in the correct zone, aisle, bay, and rack as defined in system records.
Eliminate ambiguity between physical placement and system status (“if it’s on the floor, it must be in the system”).
Maintain clean, organized, and compliant storage areas.
Optimize space utilization.
Production Staging & Material Flow
Stage raw materials and packaging components accurately and in advance at designated points-of-use (POU).
Verify that materials issued to production meet all of the following: Correct item Correct lot Correct FIFO/SLED compliance Correct quantity
Prevent undocumented material pulls, shadow staging, or off-system consumption.
Support production teams by ensuring timely material availability without compromising inventory controls.
Work-In-Process (WIP) Inventory
Maintain accurate WIP quantities in all staging and holding areas, including QA and Finishing.
Ensure WIP containers created for visual verification are properly labeled and traceable.
Establish verified baseline quantities at the time WIP containers are created.
Identify WIP inventory with unreliable baselines, investigate root causes, and document findings.
Maintain a detailed WIP issues log, including inventory discrepancies, approvals, and storage concerns.
Packaging Inventory Ownership
Own end-to-end accuracy of packaging inventory, including containers and components.
Prevent negative inventory balances through proactive monitoring and investigation.
Investigate mis-scans, duplicate usage, incorrect Material ID selection, or location errors.
Conduct investigations using physical inventory, ProTracker data, and production history.
Coordinate corrective actions with Production and Warehouse teams and provide clear reporting.
Inventory Counting & Physical Inventory Execution
Plan and execute: Monthly cycle counts for raw materials, WIP, and packaging Full physical inventory counts as scheduled
Define, document, and enforce approved counting methods, including: Weight-based counting with standardized tare weights Case-pack-based counts Unit counts
Reduce physical inventory labor requirements over time through: Effective cycle counting programs Location lockouts and controls Improved staging and material handling practices Targeted reporting for Finishing and QA
System Integrity & Data Accuracy
Ensure ProTracker and ShipBob system records accurately reflect physical inventory.
Report all inventory adjustments following QA material release.
Adjustment reports provided to the Quality team as required
Verify unit-of-measure (UOM) conversions during adjustments and transactions.
Identify recurring system gaps or process failures and escalate to Production Management and IT.
Support continuous improvement initiatives related to inventory accuracy and data integrity.
Inventory Investigation & Variance Resolution
Investigate inventory variances using: Physical verification Usage analysis Production and transaction history
Track recurring issues and corrective actions.
Provide regular variance reports and recommendations to the Production Manager.