Inventory and Research Operations Lead

RTI International; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

RTI International seeks an Inventory and Research Operations Lead at its Research Triangle Park, NC headquarters. You will manage inventory systems, purchasing, warehousing, and quality processes to support complex, multi-site studies and data collection activities.

You will partner with field, warehouse, data capture, biospecimen, and project teams to translate operational needs into IMS requirements, coordinate workflows, and ensure timely follow-through on issues and corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience in inventory/ops.
• Experience coordinating inventory, materials, supplies, equipment, or related operations in research/field data collection.
• Experience using an inventory management system to track activity, maintain records, and resolve discrepancies.
• Experience developing or documenting business requirements, testing system changes, and training users.

Responsibilities

• Lead inventory management processes for materials, supplies, and equipment across field sites and RTI warehouse.
• Define and document IMS requirements, workflows, and enhancements; plan UAT and support implementation.
• Coordinate purchasing, vendor quotes, order tracking, and fulfillment across projects.
• Monitor equipment maintenance, calibration, quality indicators, and budget considerations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure timely data collection readiness and operational excellence.

Skills

Inventory management

Vendor management

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

IMS (Inventory Management System)

Job description

Why RTI

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

About the Hiring Group

RTI International’s Data Collection & Systems department is seeking an Inventory and Research Operations Lead to manage the systems, supplies, equipment, and quality processes that support complex, multi-site research studies and data collection activities.

This role serves as a central operational partner to field, warehouse, fulfillment, data capture, laboratory, biospecimen, programming, and project teams. The successful candidate will translate operational needs into inventory system requirements, coordinate purchasing, fulfillment, and production workflows, monitor equipment readiness and quality indicators, train staff, and drive timely follow-through on issues and corrective actions. The position will support a portfolio of projects as organizational needs evolve. This position is based at RTI’s headquarters in Research Triangle Park, NC.

What You'll Do

Key Responsibilities:

Inventory Systems and Controls

• Lead inventory management processes for materials, supplies, and equipment used across field data collection sites and RTI warehouse operations.
• Partner with programming staff to define and document business requirements, specifications, workflows, and enhancements for the Inventory Management System (IMS).
• Plan and conduct user acceptance testing for IMS enhancements; document results, identify defects, confirm resolutions, and support implementation.
• Train staff on IMS processes and direct field staff in completing scheduled inventories throughout data collection cycles.
• Monitor inventory records, usage, and discrepancies; anticipate needs and coordinate resolution to maintain operational readiness.

Purchasing, Warehousing, and Fulfillment

• Manage ordering of project materials, supplies, and equipment, including obtaining vendor quotes, coordinating client purchase approvals, and tracking orders through receipt and distribution.
• Train and monitor fulfillment staff responsible for receiving, inspecting, stocking, and organizing materials in RTI warehouse space and processing orders from field teams.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal partners to resolve shortages, substitutions, delivery issues, and other supply risks.
• Coordinate respondent and staff mailings across divisions, including schedules, inventory, fulfillment, and quality requirements.

Equipment and Quality Oversight

• Coordinate with physical operations staff to monitor equipment maintenance, calibration schedules, documentation, and associated budgets.
• Monitor quality indicators related to equipment and supplies, data collection, and biospecimen processing and shipping.
• Escalate potential quality or operational issues to project leadership and assist in identifying, documenting, implementing, and tracking corrective actions.
• Conduct quality-control checks to verify compliance with project-specific quality management plans and edit and proofread technical and nontechnical materials for accuracy and consistency.

Cross-Functional Research Operations

• Coordinate regularly with data collection, production, fulfillment, data capture, biospecimen, laboratory, field, warehouse, programming, and project staff to address inventory and operational needs and verify completion of follow-up actions.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, job aids, training materials, system documentation, and inventory records that support consistent operations and audit readiness.
• Contribute to project planning, operational reporting, quality reviews, and continuous improvement activities across research and data collection projects.
• Oversee workflows for coding, keying, scanning, and other data-capture processes to ensure timely and accurate preparation for computer processing.
• Assist with onboarding, training, and cross‑training of Fulfillment and Data Capture staff on roles, responsibilities, and standard operating procedures.
• Must be able to travel occasionally (4 times a year) to field locations to support setup, closeout, inventory reconciliation, or other operational needs.

What You'll Need

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Equivalent experience can be an Associate’s degree and 7 years of experience or a High School diploma and 10 years of experience.
• Experience coordinating inventory, materials, supplies, equipment, warehouse, logistics, or related operations in a research, clinical, public health, laboratory, field data collection, or similarly process-driven environment, strongly preferred.
• Experience using an inventory management system, database, or other operational system to track activity, maintain accurate records, and resolve discrepancies.
• Experience developing or documenting business requirements, testing system changes, and training users on operational processes or systems.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate purchasing activities, vendor interactions, order tracking, or equipment maintenance and calibration processes.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across teams, locations, and schedules.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to provide clear direction, deliver training, document procedures, and collaborate across technical and operational functions.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, escal…

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting federally funded research, large‑scale or multisite studies, mobile research operations, or field data collection.
• Familiarity with laboratory or biospecimen workflows, including supply, equipment, processing, shipping, or quality requirements.
• Experience monitoring operational or quality indicators and supporting root‑cause analysis and corrective action tracking.
• Experience with warehouse fulfillment, vendor quote review, purchase approvals, budget monitoring, or equipment lifecycle coordination.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Education or experience in public health, life sciences, social sciences, supply chain, operations, business, or a related field.
• Training or certification in hazardous transportation 49 CFR Parts 171-180 and air transport of dangerous goods under IATA/ICAO requirements.

EEO & Pay Equity Statements

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work‑life balance.

• competitive base salary
• generous paid time off policy
• merit based annual increases
• bonus opportunities
• robust recognition program
• competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability)
• access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan
• paid parental leave for all parents
• financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments
• financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities
• an employee assistance program
• numerous other offerings to support a healthy work‑life balance

Equal Pay Act Minimum/Range

$80,000 - $98,000