Inventory Team Lead

Kee Safety; Town of Cheektowaga (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Kee Safety is seeking an Inventory Team Lead for the Buffalo, NY area. This role oversees the Material Handler/Picker team and Cycle Counter, ensuring accurate inventory locations and proper receiving, storage, and shipment of goods.

You will operate a Toyota turret truck daily and coach the team to maintain safety, accuracy, and productivity. The role requires forklift certification with hands-on turret truck experience, strong leadership, and ERP/WMS familiarity to keep records current and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years forklift turret truck experience.
• Experience leading a small team.
• Experience in warehouse inventory control.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct daily activities of Material Handler/Picker team and Cycle Counter.
• Operate a Toyota turret truck and other equipment to receive, store, replenish, and pick inventory.
• Oversee inbound receiving, verify quantities, resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate stocking and location labeling in supermarket/warehouse.
• Oversee order picking/packing and ensure on-time shipping.
• Coordinate outbound shipping and prepare shipping documents.
• Partner with Cycle Counter to support cycle counts and variances.
• Identify root causes of short ships and mispicks; enforce SOPs.
• Enforce forklift safety and equipment maintenance.
• Train, coach, evaluate team on safety and productivity.
• Maintain ERP/WMS records of receiving and movement.
• Communicate daily priorities to Warehouse Operations Supervisor.
• Perform other tasks as requested.

Skills

Equipment operation

Warehouse operations

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Attention to detail

ERP/WMS proficiency

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Description

The Inventory Team Lead is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Buffalo warehouse's material supply, receiving, and supermarket functions, including the direct oversight of the Material Handler/Picker team and Cycle Counter. This role owns the accuracy and organization of the supermarket and inventory locations, ensures incoming material is received, inspected, and put away correctly, and ensures outgoing orders are picked, packed, and shipped accurately and on time. The Inventory Team Lead is expected to operate material handling equipment, including a Toyota turret truck, as a core part of daily responsibilities, while coaching and directing the team to maintain safety, accuracy, and productivity standards.

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the daily activities of the Material Handler/Picker team and Cycle Counter, assigning work and monitoring priorities throughout the shift
• Operate a Toyota turret truck and other material handling equipment to receive, put away, replenish, and pick inventory in narrow-aisle high-density racking
• Oversee receiving of inbound shipments, verifying quantities and condition against purchase orders and packing slips, and resolving discrepancies
• Maintain accurate stocking of the supermarket and warehouse locations, ensuring product is placed in the correct location and labeled per standard work
• Oversee order picking and packing, ensuring accuracy, proper packaging, and on-time completion to meet shipping schedules
• Coordinate outbound shipping, including staging, verifying orders, and preparing shipping documentation
• Partner with the Cycle Counter to support ongoing cycle count activity, investigate variances, and drive corrective action
• Identify and correct root causes of short ships, mispicks, and picking overages, following established SOPs
• Enforce safe forklift and turret truck operating practices, and ensure equipment is inspected and maintained per company standards
• Train, coach, and evaluate team members on safety, quality, and productivity expectations
• Maintain accurate records in the ERP/WMS system related to receiving, inventory movement, and order fulfillment
• Communicate daily priorities, issues, and progress to the Warehouse Operations Supervisor
• Perform other tasks as requested by the Warehouse Supervisors and Manager

Requirements

Education

High school diploma or equivalent certificate

Experience

• Current forklift certification required, with a minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience operating a turret truck in a warehouse environment
• Previous experience in material handling, receiving, or inventory operations, preferably in a distribution or manufacturing warehouse
• Prior experience leading or directing the work of others preferred

Skills & Abilities

• Equipment skills - proficient and safe operation of a Toyota turret truck and other powered industrial trucks in narrow-aisle, high-density racking
• Warehouse skills - receiving, put-away, cycle counting, order picking/packing, and shipping processes
• Leadership skills - ability to direct, coach, and hold a small team accountable to safety, accuracy, and productivity standards
• Soft skills - detail-oriented, problem solving, self-auditing
• Computer skills - ERP/WMS experience, basic Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
• Communication skills - written and verbal, able to clearly direct a team and escalating issues
• Physical requirements - able to safely operate a turret truck and other material handling equipment, and perform standing, walking, bending, and lifting throughout the shift