Inventory Control Manager

US Foods; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pre-tax spending accounts

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Employee stock purchase plan

Life insurance

Job summary

US Foods in Allentown, PA, is seeking a Manager of Inventory Control to lead a growing team and partner with Finance and Supply Chain. This role delivers targeted inventory metrics and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

You will drive labor planning, coaching, and process changes while ensuring SOX controls and safe operations. A strong track record in supervisory roles and excellent communication are required.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in inventory control or warehousing.
• Strong understanding of inventory control procedures.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Intermediate Excel and Office proficiency.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience with timekeeping, warehousing and distribution back‑office systems.

Responsibilities

• Labor planning and scheduling of inventory control staff – Ensure all activities are completed timely, as labor availability and priorities change.
• Associate coaching and development – Attract, develop, and lead a highly skilled and motivated team, instilling accountability through clear expectations and performance metrics.
• Apply root cause analysis to drive continuous improvement – Work with cross-functional partners to identify opportunities for improvement and develop/implement best practices/routines.
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence – Identify and resolve root causes of inventory losses, working with cross-functional partners to problem solve and implement preventive measures.
• Reclamation of vendor packaging issues – Takes ownership of the reclamation process, collaborating with buyers for billback and/or on-site repackaging of product.
• Manage non-saleable (suspense) inventory – Takes ownership of inventory placed into suspense and effectively partners with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure timely resolution.
• SOX compliance – Effectively perform controls such as Inventory report review, open delivery route aging and reconciliation reports and 100% quarterly cycle count completion.
• Lead with a safety, service and cost mindset that ensures that every US Foods associate remains injury free.
• Discuss Inventory Clerk performance with Area Directors, Finance and create plans to address gaps. Drive associate engagement, retention, and create a culture that embodies US Foods values.
• Create a cohesive organization by keeping lines of communication open and directing workforce to ensure efficient workflow.
• Build high-performing teams by reviewing staffing requirements and monitoring the interviewing and hiring of inventory personnel.
• Identify and stop waste - Improve processes to complete work more safely and efficiently.
• Accountable for delivering on our Key Results by collaborating with Operations, Replenishment, Sales, and Merchandising on the Key Outcomes and actions to achieve Inventory Adjustment results.
• Other duties assigned by manager.

Skills

Inventory control

Analytical skills

Excel

Office Suite

Supervisory experience

Communication skills

Timekeeping systems

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Associates degree in management or supply chain (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

SharePoint

PowerPoint

Job description

The Manager, Inventory Control is responsible for managing inventory and is a leader to the Finance and Supply Chain functions. This role is a key partner, which cross-functionally collaborates with other areas of the organization to continuously improve processes, drive results, and safeguard the assets of the company. This role is accountable for delivering on specific inventory metrics that directly align to and impact key results. In addition to results, this role is a people leader, responsible for building and developing a high performing team. The role models US Foods’ Cultural Beliefs and demonstrate critical leadership behaviors to drive the right results through their team in the right way.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Labor planning and scheduling of inventory control staff – Ensure all activities are completed timely, as labor availability and priorities change, utilizing all personnel effectively. Includes prioritizing and delegating ad hoc requests in cooperation with warehouse operations personnel.
• Associate coaching and development – Attract, develop, and lead a highly skilled and motivated team, instilling accountability through clear expectations and performance metrics.
• Apply root cause analysis to drive continuous improvement – Work with cross-functional partners to identify opportunities for improvement and develop/implement best practices/routines. Continuously measure impact and ROI of improvement measures.
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence – Identify and resolve root causes of inventory losses, working with cross-functional partners to problem solve and implement preventive measures. Consistently analyze and report Inventory Adjustments on a weekly basis, with special attention on trends and key variables impacting inventory performance.
• Reclamation of vendor packaging issues – Takes ownership of the reclamation process , collaborating with buyers for billback and/or on-site repackaging of product. Review data and analyze for trends.
• Manage non-saleable (suspense) inventory – Takes ownership of inventory placed into suspense (Fresh to Frozen, recall, damage, etc.) and effectively partners with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure timely resolution.
• Review and approve customer credit requests; determine root causes for process improvement and prevent duplication.
• SOX compliance – Effectively perform controls such as Inventory report review, open delivery route aging and reconciliation reports and 100% quarterly cycle count completion.
• Lead with a safety, service and cost mindset that ensures that every US Foods associate remains injury free, always. Champion safety procedures, processes and training to create and maintain a safety‑first culture in the warehouse.
• Discuss Inventory Clerk performance with Area Directors, Finance and create plans to address gaps. Drive associate engagement, retention, and create a culture that embodies US Foods values.
• Create a cohesive organization by keeping lines of communication open and directing workforce to ensure efficient workflow.
• Build high-performing teams by reviewing staffing requirements and monitoring the interviewing and hiring of inventory personnel. Review performance, coach to achieve productivity and safety targets, and deliver disciplinary action.
• Identify and stop waste - Improve processes to complete work more safely and efficiently.
• Accountable for delivering on our Key Results by collaborating with Operations, Replenishment, Sales, and Merchandising on the Key Outcomes and actions to achieve Inventory Adjustment results.
• Other duties assigned by manager.

SUPERVISION

• Management of up to 9 employees depending on market size and complexity.

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Works closely across all functions including Ops, Replen, Cat Man, Finance, Legal and other various departments
• External: Works closely with vendors, suppliers and third‑party consultants, contractors and regulatory bodies

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Onsite: The associate in this role is expected to perform assigned responsibilities inside a US Foods office‑based environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in inventory control or warehousing
• Strong understanding of inventory control procedures
• Excellent analytical skills
• Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Excel
• Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs (Outlook, SharePoint, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Demonstrated supervisory experience and time management skills
• Ability to inspire followership of peers and team members
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience with timekeeping, warehousing and distribution back‑office systems

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• Associates degree with management or supply chain background preferred

CERTIFICATIONS/TRAINING

• Forklift and HAACP training will be provided; certification within 1st 90 days required

LICENSES

• N/A

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in leading continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, etc.)
• Experience in foodservice distribution

Physical Qualifications

OCCASIONALLY: 1% - 33 / FREQUENTLY: 34% - 66% / CONTINUOUSLY: 67% - 100% or NEVER

JOB REQUIRES WORKER TO:

• STAND: FREQUENTLY
• WALK: OCCASIONALLY
• DRIVE: NEVER
• SIT: FREQUENTLY
• LIFT
• 1-10 lbs (Sedentary): OCCASIONALLY
• 11-20 lbs (Light): OCCASIONALLY
• 21-50 lbs (Medium): OCCASIONALLY
• 51-100 lbs (Heavy): NEVER
• Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): NEVER
• CARRY
• 1-10 lbs (Sedentary): OCCASIONALLY
• 11-20 lbs (Light): OCCASIONALLY
• 21-50 lbs (Medium): NEVER
• 51-100 lbs (Heavy): NEVER
• Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): NEVER
• PUSH/PULL 1: NEVER
• CLIMB/BALANCE: NEVER
• STOOP/SQUAT: NEVER
• KNEEL: NEVER
• BEND: NEVER
• REACH ABOVE SHOULDER: OCCASIONALLY
• TWIST: OCCASIONALLY
• GRASP OBJECTS 2: OCCASIONALLY
• MANIPULATE OBJECTS 3: FREQUENTLY
• MANUAL DEXTERITY 4: CONTINUOUSLY

This role may also receive annual incentive plan bonus.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre‑tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short‑term and long‑term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance.

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between $70,000 - $115,000.

• EOE– Race/Color/Religion/Sex/SexualOrientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Age/Genetic Information/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***