Inventory Manager

Flowers for Dreams; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Company laptop

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Family leave

Student loan repayment

FSA/HSA

Commuter benefits

EAP

Job summary

Flowers for Dreams, based in Chicago, IL, is seeking an Inventory Manager to lead warehouse and inventory operations at our Chicago facilities. The role oversees receiving, cycle counts, and space optimization, coordinating with Purchasing and Operations to meet fulfillment needs and maintain accuracy.

The position requires building SOPs, training programs, and ensuring safety while supporting seasonal peak demands with a strong on-site presence.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years in a facility, warehouse, materials/inventory management, or operations management role.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop employees and hold teams accountable.
• Proven ability to organize work, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, hire, train and manage warehouse and inventory employees and contractors.
• Update inventory records to reflect breakage, losses and acquisitions accurately.
• Document and track inbound shipments with Purchasing/Buying to prevent stockouts.
• Coordinate cycle counts, audits, and resolution of discrepancies in inventory records.
• Oversee item master management within inventory tracking systems and logs.
• Develop SOPs and training programs for warehouse/inventory personnel.

Skills

Leadership

Inventory management

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Communication

Tools

Excel

WMS

MRP

ERP

Job description

Position:

Inventory Manager

Department:

Operations, Warehouse

Report to:

Head of Operations

Location:

Chicago, IL

Schedule:

Full-time, Salary, Sunday - Thursday during peak season(s) and weekends as needed

Compensation:

Base Salary + Bonuses, Full benefits, Matching 401k

About Us:

Flowers for Dreams is ushering in a craft flower movement. Locally crafted flowers for fair and honest prices across locations in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit, as well as overnight shipping in the Great Lakes region. Every bouquet benefits an amazing local charity. Named one of Business Insider's 20 Most Inspiring Companies in America and a Best for the World B Corporation using business as a force for good.

We are seeking an Inventory Manager to oversee our Chicago facilities/office and warehouse-related operations, including but not limited to building and equipment maintenance, waste management, pick and package processes, safety, warehouse receiving, workflow and space management, inventory management, inventory cycle counts and accuracy. The Inventory Manager will work closely with the Purchasing/Buying department and Operations/Productions teams (Weddings, Events, and Daily Deliveries) to ensure the facility is running smoothly to meet operational needs. In addition, the Inventory Manager will be responsible for utilizing practices to develop standard operating procedures and training programs for warehouse/inventory personnel which may be utilized by other locations and teams. This role is entirely on-site with weekend commitment during seasonal periods of the business.

Responsibilities:

• Recruit, hire, train and manage warehouse and inventory employees and contractors


• Provide performance feedback and address any performance issues and concerns


• Manage schedules and assign duties of direct reports to ensure productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness


• Meticulously update our inventory database based on breakage, losses and product acquisitions


• In partnership with Purchasing/Buying, document and track incoming daily shipments and deliveries to replenish inventory and avoid supply chain risks and potential stock-out issues


• Direct and coordinate physical inventory, including auditing, monitoring cycle counts, and addressing damaged, excess, or unused items


• Assist with item master management within inventory tracking logs and systems


• Interface with internal and external customers on inventory needs, cost feedback, discrepancies, and issues that impact production and budget targets


• Examine systems and controls and provide recommendations for improvement of inventory/space efficiency and accuracy


• Create and implement 5S program for all warehousing areas and identify opportunities of improvement for workflow, space, and material storage optimization


• Work with Operations leadership team to establish goals, recommend operational KPIs/scorecard, and track/report status against objectives


• Oversee processes that ensure all materials, equipment/tools, and products are staged for production teams and returned in a timely manner, e.g. items required for wedding/event design, on-site installation, tear-downs post event


• Oversee and proactively manage the facility, coordinate any required repairs and scheduled maintenance and upgrades as required


• Follows and implements procedural guidelines related to safety and security


• Develop best practices, standard operating procedures, training materials, onboarding program

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years in a facility, warehouse, materials/inventory management, or operations management role


• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop employees and hold teams accountable


• Demonstrates a sense of urgency and proactive approach that is results focused


• Able to organize work for a team, priority schedule and assignments, and engage in a variety of tasks simultaneously and consistently to meet deadlines


• Strong written and verbal skills including ability to deliver well written reports and business correspondence


• Proficient in Word and Excel and warehouse/material management systems, WMS, MRP, ERP and implementation of these systems a strong preferenc


• Strong knowledge of OSHA safety standards


• Able to operate in ambiguous situations and be flexible as the organization changes and grows


• Proven record of process improvement and optimization and budget/cost management


• Able to effectively organize responsibilities to achieve goals and objectives


• Collaborates and communicates easily with all levels of the organization


• Able to stand, walk, reach, climb, kneel, and crouch


• Must be comfortable with heights


• Able to regularly lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move objects up to 30 pounds

Benefits:

• United HealthCare Insurance


• 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer matching


• Company provided computer


• Dental and vision insurance


• Life insurance (Free)


• PTO/Paid Wellness Leave


• Paid holidays


• Family leave


• Student loan repayment


• FSA/HSA


• Commuter benefits


• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Values:

• Do Good - \"Life's Most Persistent and Urgent Question Is, 'What Are You Doing For Others?'\" Martin Luther King Jr


• Take Risks - \"Whoever Dares, Wins\" Sayeret Matkal


• Challenge Yourself - \"Every Artists Was First An Amateur\" Ralph Waldo Emerson


• Make it Beautiful -\"Design is a Behavior, Not a Department\" David Milne


• Act Fast - \"We Have a Strategic Plan, It's Called Doing Things\" Herb Kelleher

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Flowers for Dreams is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and internship. Flowers for Dreams makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the ti