Inventory Specialist

Stella-Jones Inc.; Guelph; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Stella-Jones Inc. in Ontario is seeking an Inventory Coordinator to oversee and optimize utility pole stock across regional plants. The role partners with Plant Managers, Sales, and Procurement to balance supply with demand and prevent stockouts.

You will own the PO lifecycle from creation to receipt, maintain ERP data integrity, and collaborate on schedules, deliveries, and inventory postings. Additionally, you will generate regular inventory and variance reports and support physical counts and

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze utility pole inventory levels across regional plants.
• Forecast demand by comparing on-hand, in-transit, and sales trends.
• Identify shortages or surpluses and propose replenishments or transfers.
• Own end-to-end PO lifecycle in the ERP system and ensure data accuracy.
• Coordinate with plant receiving to verify receipts and posting.
• Generate inventory reports and support cycle counts and YE inventory.

Job description

Position Overview

The Inventory Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and analyzing utility pole inventory levels across designated plant locations. This role works closely with Plant Managers, Sales, and Procurement to balance stock levels against sales demand, ensuring optimal inventory availability while preventing stockouts and overstocking. Additionally, this individual will maintain full ownership of the Purchase Order (PO) lifecycle—from generation and tracking to plant receipt and verification.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Monitoring & Analysis

• Monitor, reconcile, and analyze utility pole inventory levels across regional plant operations on a daily/weekly basis.
• Compare current on-hand and in-transit inventory against historical sales trends and open customer orders to forecast demand.
• Identify shortages, imbalances, or surplus stock and proactively recommend replenishment orders or stock transfers between locations.
• Collaborate regularly with Plant Managers to determine purchasing needs, production schedules, and incoming shipping priorities.

Purchase Order (PO) Management & Ownership

• Own the end-to-end Purchase Order lifecycle within the ERP system, ensuring 100% data accuracy and timely processing.
• Create, issue, and maintain purchase orders for raw materials, poles, and related inventory.
• Track outstanding POs, communicate with vendors/suppliers, and manage expected delivery timelines.
• Liaise with plant receiving teams to confirm physical receipt of goods, resolve delivery discrepancies (quantity, quality, documentation), and ensure accurate inventory posting.

Reporting & Process Improvement

• Generate regular inventory status, variance, and order tracking reports for operational leadership.
• Assist in periodic physical inventory counts and cycle count reconciliations.
• Identify opportunities to streamline purchase order workflows and improve inventory accuracy.
• Physical Counts & Year-End Support: Actively participate in cycle counts, periodic physical yard audits, and dedicated support for annual Year-End (YE) inventory reconciliations.
• Workflow Optimization: Identify bottlenecks in procurement and inventory workflows, proposing practical improvements to drive operational efficiency and inventory accuracy.
• General Operations: Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned to support the broader supply chain and inventory control team.