Inventory Team Manager

Shepherd Electric Company, LLC.; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Shepherd Electric Supply is seeking an experienced Inventory Control Manager to own accuracy across multiple locations, lead a growing team, and implement robust counting and reconciliation processes.

You will partner with warehouse, purchasing, and branch teams to drive root‑cause investigation, reduce stockouts, and ensure counts stay right as volumes spike.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in inventory control, with at least 1 year in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Extremely detail‑oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Proficiency with computer applications, particularly Microsoft Office; familiarity with warehouse management systems preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel between Mid-Atlantic locations as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and perform the physical requirements of the role.
• Professional and pleasant demeanor, both in person and over the phone.

Responsibilities

• Own inventory accuracy across all locations — cycle counts, physical inventory, bin location maintenance, and discrepancy resolution.
• Develop and implement strategies that keep on‑hand counts accurate day to day, not just at year‑end.
• Treat every discrepancy as a signal requiring root cause investigation, not an isolated adjustment to close out.
• Flag recurring discrepancy patterns for systemic review and drive them to resolution.
• Oversee and coordinate product counts and the staging of materials within designated areas.
• Lead and manage the Inventory Control team, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and efficient work environment.
• Provide training, guidance, and support so team members execute accurately without close supervision.
• Coach and hold team members accountable through direct, consistent feedback — not just documentation.
• Build bench depth so inventory accuracy does not depend on heroics or any single person.
• Set clear expectations aligned with the Shepherd Compass and enforce them fairly.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Warehouse management systems

Job description

About Shepherd Electric Supply

Since 1892, Shepherd Electric Supply has been the first call when complex, time‑critical electrical challenges need to be solved, and reliability truly matters. We move materials accurately and on time, so contractors stay on schedule, projects stay on track, and customers never have to wonder if we will come through. Our success comes from people who take pride in doing things the right way — safely, accurately, and with care for teammates and customers alike. If you want to do work that matters at a company that notices, this is the place.

Why This Role Matters

Inventory accuracy is the foundation everything else at Shepherd stands on. When the count in the system matches what is on the shelf, sales can quote with confidence, the warehouse can fulfill without scrambling, and customers get what they ordered the first time. When it is off, every function downstream pays for it — in rework, in delays, and in trust. The Inventory Control Manager owns that accuracy across our footprint — Baltimore, Laurel, Frederick, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia. This is not a role that counts product and closes tickets. It is the role responsible for building an inventory operation that holds up when volume spikes, when product moves fast, and when the margin for error is zero. You set the standard, develop the team, and own the numbers — not just on the days they are clean, but on the days they are not. When inventory is right, the whole company runs better. Sales trusts the system. The warehouse fulfills clean. Customers keep calling back. That starts here.

Work Shift and Hours

Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 4:00pm or depending on business needs.

Compensation Details

The expected base salary for this position is starting at $55,000 annually, more depending on experience and negotiations.

How This Role Connects to Our Compass

We Keep Our Promises: The number in the system is a promise — to sales, to the warehouse, and to the customer counting on what it says. You own that number. When a count is off, you find out why and you make it right before it becomes someone else’s problem.

We Stay Hungry

You are always asking what could be more accurate, better organized, or caught sooner. You surface patterns, not just one‑off discrepancies, and you push for root cause over a quick adjustment. You do not just maintain the count — you improve how it stays right.

We Grow Together

Inventory does not work in isolation. You coordinate with the warehouse, purchasing, and branch teams across every location. You develop your team so accuracy does not depend on one person — and you share what works so every branch gets better.

We Own It

You do not pass a discrepancy forward or explain it away. When a process lets errors through, you redesign it. When a location drifts out of tolerance, you engage. Ownership here means the whole team knows what the standard is and holds to it.

We Go Above & Beyond

You see the gap before it becomes a stockout or a write‑off. You flag the recurring error before it costs margin. You anticipate the count that will cause trouble at month‑end and you get ahead of it. That is what above‑and‑beyond looks like in inventory control.

Key Outcomes - Organized by what matters, not just what you do.

Inventory Accuracy & Integrity

• Own inventory accuracy across all locations — cycle counts, physical inventory, bin location maintenance, and discrepancy resolution
• Develop and implement strategies that keep on‑hand counts accurate day to day, not just at year‑end
• Treat every discrepancy as a signal requiring root cause investigation, not an isolated adjustment to close out
• Flag recurring discrepancy patterns for systemic review and drive them to resolution
• Oversee and coordinate product counts and the staging of materials within designated areas

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and manage the Inventory Control team, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and efficient work environment
• Provide training, guidance, and support so team members execute accurately without close supervision
• Coach and hold team members accountable through direct, consistent feedback — not just documentation
• Build bench depth so inventory accuracy does not depend on heroics or any single person
• Set clear expectations aligned with the Shepherd Compass and enforce them fairly

Process, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to quality assurance processes and procedures at every location
• Establish and continuously improve inventory controls that catch errors before they reach the customer
• Protect company assets through disciplined counting, receiving, and reconciliation practices
• Perform all other associated tasks as assigned by the leadership team

Warehouse Systems & Documentation

• Utilize and oversee the warehouse management system to ensure accurate maintenance of work documents and inventory records
• Ensure all inbound freight is received accurately, exceptions are documented, and overages, shortages, or damages are resolved before entering inventory
• Maintain organized, audit‑ready documentation that supports reporting and reconciliation
• Manage the safe operation of all necessary warehouse equipment and tools used in inventory work

Cross-Location Coordination & Improvement

• Coordinate inventory processes consistently across Baltimore, Laurel, Frederick, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia
• Surface inefficiencies and recurring errors — and act on them, not just report them
• Recommend and test process changes that improve accuracy, speed, or team capacity

What Success Looks Like - After 90 days, you and your supervisor should both be able to point to these markers:

• Inventory is organized, bin locations are current, and discrepancies are investigated — not ignored
• Cycle counts and reconciliations run on a disciplined, predictable cadence across locations
• Inbound freight is received accurately and exceptions are documented and resolved before end of day
• The Inventory Control team knows what is expected and executes without being managed by the hour
• Recurring discrepancy patterns are identified, root‑caused, and closed — not repeated
• At least one meaningful process improvement has been identified, tested, and implemented in your first 90 days
• Leadership trusts that the count is right when they are not watching

Who Thrives Here - This role is a strong fit if:

• You own outcomes, not just activities — you do not leave a discrepancy for the next shift
• You are extremely detail‑oriented and treat accuracy as non‑negotiable
• You develop your team by raising their capability, not by covering their gaps
• You communicate directly — with your team, with purchasing, with sales, and with branch leadership
• You stay organized and accurate under pressure, especially when volume spikes or staffing is short
• You treat inventory discrepancies as signals, not inconveniences — and you chase the root cause
• You want to build something that stays accurate without you in the room

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in inventory control, with at least 1 year in a supervisory or managerial role
• Extremely detail‑oriented with strong organizational skills
• Proficiency with computer applications, particularly Microsoft Office; familiarity with warehouse management systems preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Professional and pleasant demeanor, both in person and over the phone
• Ability to travel between Mid-Atlantic locations as needed
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and perform the physical requirements of the role
• Ability to successfully complete pre‑employment screening requirements

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals occupying this position of employment. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skill required of all individuals assigned to this job title. Management reserves the right to modify all or part of this job description at its discretion in order to meet location requirements, staffing levels, and/or any other needs of the business. All of the essential functions of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or equivalent state law, may not have been described. All requests for reasonable accommodation(s) will be reviewed and evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.

Why should you join Shepherd Electrical Supply?

At Shepherd Electric Supply, excellence in service, pricing, and products has been our mission since 1892. As the oldest wholesale electrical distributor in the Baltimore/Washington area, we take pride in our exceptional customer service and extensive inventory. We have a rich history of partnering with industry leaders like Siemens and Eaton, and our commitment to quality and innovation has made us a trusted name in the industry. Join our team and be a part of our legacy!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants, including veterans and disabled applicants, are considered for employment.