Director of Inventory Control

Interstate Companies Inc; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Interstate Companies seeks a Director of Inventory Control to provide enterprise leadership for purchasing, pricing administration, and supplier performance across the organization.

You will oversee inventory systems, drive strategies to improve availability and reduce obsolescence, and collaborate with Branch Leadership, Parts Service, Operations, Finance, and senior management to ensure transparency and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in purchasing, inventory control, or supply chain.
• Proven experience with vendor management and negotiating pricing programs.
• Strong knowledge of inventory management principles and ERP/inventory systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute purchasing and inventory control strategies aligned with operational, service, and financial objectives.
• Lead, coach and develop purchasing and inventory control teams across branches.
• Establish departmental goals, performance measures, workflows and accountability standards.
• Oversee daily stock purchasing and ensure product availability to support branches and customers.
• Monitor supplier performance, pricing, and contract compliance; drive improvements.
• Direct inventory control to protect accuracy, availability, and stock health; optimize obsolescence.

Skills

Leadership

Vendor negotiation

Data analysis

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Director of Inventory Control Interstate Companies Eagan MN I On Site Pay Range 130000 160000 annually DOE

Position Summary

The Director of Inventory Control provides enterprise leadership for purchasing inventory management pricing administration vendor performance and inventory related systems and processes across Interstate Companies The position develops and executes strategies that optimize the companys inventory investment improve availability and accuracy reduce excess and obsolescence strengthen supplier value and support profitable growth This role leads daily purchasing and inventory control operations establishes clear performance expectations and partners with branch leadership Parts Service Operations Finance and senior management to drive consistent execution transparency and continuous improvement

Department Mission

Optimize the companys investment in inventory through best in class control of total inventory investment obsolescence and inventory turns while providing the sales organization competitive advantages in technology product availability and cost Accomplish this by challenging current practices promoting innovative solutions and building collaboration across branches

What Youll Do

Strategic Leadership & Team Development

• Develop and execute purchasing and inventory control strategies aligned with operational service and financial objectives
• Lead coach and develop purchasing and inventory control team members; recruit interview hire onboard train and evaluate staff
• Establish departmental goals performance measures workflows and accountability standards
• Develop maintain and communicate policies procedures best practices and training resources including process and vendor documentation
• Foster a culture of accountability collaboration innovation and continuous improvement across corporate and branch teams
• Provide reporting analysis recommendations and transparency to branches executive leadership and other stakeholders

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Oversee daily stock purchasing activities and ensure appropriate products are available to support branch and customer needs
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships; negotiate pricing contracts programs and purchasing agreements to maximize value
• Monitor supplier performance product quality delivery pricing backorders and supply disruptions; lead corrective action and mitigation efforts
• Manage current purchasing tools including RIM and RIMPRO where applicable provide branch support and pursue process and technology improvements
• Standardize product programs and offerings across branches reduce unnecessary vendor complexity and use vendor grading and scorecards to improve performance
• Review purchasing controls and oversee expense purchase orders return purchase orders and vendor discrepancy resolution

Inventory Optimization & Control

• Direct inventory control activities to protect inventory accuracy integrity availability and overall stock health
• Analyze inventory levels usage turns carrying costs forecasting needs excess stock shortages and obsolescence; recommend and implement improvement actions
• Coach branches on right sized purchasing and lead obsolescence reduction returns redistribution and scrap accrual management
• Monitor inventory variances and historical part issues ensuring corrective actions are completed
• Oversee physical inventory and cycle count programs off sheet verification reconciliation and required inventory adjustments
• Ensure new part numbers inventory records costs pricing and related system data are accurately created and maintained

Pricing Financial Controls & Reporting

• Oversee supplier price tape maintenance customer pricing setup and maintenance and consistent price code structures across branches
• Oversee applicable rebate calculations submissions reconciliation and audit support
• Ensure purchase orders packing slips invoices quantities received costs and part numbers are accurately reviewed and reconciled
• Partner with Accounting and Finance to resolve discrepancies strengthen controls and support audits and inventory reviews
• Prepare and communicate inventory purchasing supplier and supply chain performance reporting with actionable recommendations

Core Management Training & Operational Support

• Lead core management processes including training expiration monitoring purchasing of expiring cores return reconciliation and branch reporting
• Create and maintain learning resources for parts personnel including LMS content and centralized process and vendor documentation
• Provide consistent product process system and vendor program training to branches
• Maintain accurate electronic records and support document retention scanning and digital filing requirements
• Provide additional support to the parts sales organization and other business functions as needed

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly manages assigned purchasing and inventory control personnel and oversees the departments daily workflow
• Provides ongoing coaching timely performance feedback and formal performance evaluations
• Addresses employee relations corrective action and termination matters in accordance with company policies

Qualifications Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management Business Administration Operations Management or a related field; equivalent relevant work experience will be considered
• Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in purchasing inventory control supply chain parts operations or a related discipline
• Proven management or supervisory experience including team development and accountability
• Demonstrated experience managing vendors and negotiating pricing programs or purchasing agreements
• Strong working knowledge of inventory management principles purchasing practices ERP or inventory systems and analytical reporting
• Knowledge Skills & Abilities Strong leadership coaching delegation collaboration and change management skillsExcellent verbal written interpersonal and customer service communication skillsStrong analytical financial problem solving and decision making capabilitiesExceptional organization attention to detail prioritization and ability to meet deadlines across multiple initiatives
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel and the ability to learn and improve business systemsAbility to translate data into clear recommendations that improve service inventory performance cost and profitability

Travel Requirements

Occasional travel as needed for business meetings branch support training and vendor visits

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times

Why Join Interstate Companies

At Interstate Companies we are committed to developing our employees delivering exceptional customer service and driving operational excellence across all business divisions As the Director of Inventory Control you will play a critical leadership role in optimizing inventory performance strengthening supplier partnerships and supporting the continued growth and success of our organization