Lead Coordinator, Inventory

American Water•Lexington, KY

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Coordinator, Stores & Inventory supports daily warehouse, inventory, and materials management operations to ensure the timely availability of parts, tools, equipment, and critical materials required for water utility operations and maintenance. This role provides day to day work flow direction to Stores Technicians, coordinates inventory control activities, and ensures compliance with safety, procurement, and asset management standards. The Lead serves as the primary point of contact for field crews and internal customers regarding material needs, stock levels, and delivery timing.

Requirements

Strong understanding of inventory control and warehouse best practices.
Knowledge of water/wastewater utility materials, parts, and maintenance/operations support needs
Strong understanding of inventory control concepts (min/max, reorder points, lead times, safety stock, critical spares)
Knowledge of storehouse processes (receiving, put-away, picking/issuing, staging, delivery coordination, returns)
Cycle counting/physical inventory practices and reconciliation methods
Knowledge of CMMS inventory transactions and work order material traceability
Understanding of procurement coordination (approved suppliers, expediting, substitutions, documentation)
Knowledge of Safety and compliance practices (OSHA-aligned warehouse safety, hazard communication/SDS, chemical storage basics)
Knowledge of the regulated water/wastewater business within the region and the regulations impacting the business as well as applicable regulations, requirements, and trends within water/wastewater business.
Previous forklift experience is required
High school diploma or GED required
Microsoft Office experience is required.
5-8 years of experience in warehouse, supply chain, or inventory controls is required
Strong organization management skills (e.g. planning, organizing, directing, monitoring).
Effective quantitative and analytical skills; attention to detail.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to clearly communicate
Ability to collaborate effectively with operations, maintenance, and external contractors.

Nice To Haves

Experience in drinking water, wastewater, and/or laboratory operations preferred
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or related field preferred.
Expert in Excel skills is preferred
Experience in SAP is preferred
Previous experience managing a team is preferred.
Strong leadership skills and the ability to train and mentor others

Responsibilities

Provide daily guidance and task direction to Stores & Inventory staff, ensuring efficient workflow, and productivity.
Serve as the primary point of contact for internal customers, field crews, and supervisors regarding storehouse needs.
Prioritize work assignments based on operational demands, emergency response needs, and planned maintenance activities.
Provide on-the-job training, coaching, and technical guidance.
Order material and oversee receiving, stocking, picking, staging, and issuing of materials, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Coordinate cycle counts, physical inventory, and reconciliation activities to maintain high accuracy of stock levels.
Monitor inventory for critical and long lead-time items essential to water production, distribution, and treatment operations.
Ensure proper care, storage, and tracking of specialized water utility assets such as: valves, meters, hydrant components, pipe materials, and treatment chemicals.
Utilize the organization’s asset management and inventory systems (e.g., SAP) to track inventory movement and maintain accurate records.
Ensure documentation of receipts, transfers, adjustments, and work orders is complete and compliant with company procedures.
Generate reports related to stock levels, usage trends, material availability, and process performance.
Enforce safe work practices in accordance with company policies, OSHA standards, and water utility regulations.
Maintain clean, organized, and compliant warehouse and yard facilities.
Collaborate with operations, maintenance, engineering, and procurement to forecast material requirements and support planned projects.