Senior Manager, Inventory

Socket.dev; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev in Houston seeks a Senior Inventory Manager to lead the development and administration of a world-class inventory program supporting a fleet of 33 drill ships operating globally. You will supervise a team of inventory management and asset repair professionals, interfacing with operations, finance, supply chain, and engineering.

The role requires strong leadership, ERP expertise, and advanced skills in forecasting, cycle counting, and KPI management to optimize stock, reduce risk, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required.
• Extensive experience in oil & gas or heavy industry inventory management.
• Proven ability to configure ERP inventory modules to fit business processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and administration of a global inventory program across offshore assets.
• Drive governance for Asset Repair and condition-managed inventory lifecycle.
• Develop cycle counting programs and manage KPI dashboards.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Reliability, Procurement, and Finance to align strategy.

Skills

Leadership

ERP

Stochastic modeling

KPI framework

Cycle counting

Data-driven purchasing

Cross-functional collaboration

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA/MS preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

The Senior Inventory Manager is a leadership role responsible for the development, implementation, and on-going administration of a world-class inventory management program supporting a fleet of more than 33 drill ships operating across all major offshore regions globally. The Manager leads a team of inventory management and asset repair professionals. This role sits at the intersection of operations, finance, supply chain, and engineering, and demands both analytical rigor and the leadership presence to drive alignment across a complex, multinational organization. The role also provides governance and leadership for the Asset Repair Program and condition-managed equipment lifecycle; including rotation, defect handling, overhaul execution, traceability, and cost control.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

• Team Development: Build, Lead, and mentor a team of inventory management andasset repair professionalsdistributed across global locations. Recruit andretaintop talent; foster a high-performance culture grounded in analytical thinking, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build and implement a comprehensive inventory management program and centralized policies.Establish and enforce inventory policies, practices, and governance frameworks that balance operational reliability, risk management, and financial discipline.
• Apply stochastic modeling techniques — including demand forecasting, probabilistic safety stock calculations, andtrend analysis— tooptimizeinventory levels across the fleet.Balance inventory investment against operational risk and reliability requirements; quantify the cost-benefit tradeoffs of stocking decisions for stakeholder communication.Identifyand implement opportunities to reduce excess and obsolete inventory while protecting operational uptime.
• Define and monitor ERP-based workflows for requisitioning, receiving, issuing, and reconciliationto understandandadjust forimpacts to inventory.
• Own the governance, execution, and continuous improvement of the Asset Repair Program and condition-managed inventory across the equipment lifecycle.Establish global standards and controls for rotating and defect equipment, including condition status, equipment rotation, ownership transfer, work order closure, andlogisticsflows.
• Design and manage a cycle counting program across all rig locations and shore-based warehouses.Establish andmaintaininternal controls that satisfy audit requirements and supportaccuratefinancial reporting.
• Define, track, and report on a comprehensive set of inventory KPIs covering service levels, fill rates, inventory turns, days on hand, excess and obsolete balances, and total cost of inventory.Define andmonitorasset repair KPIs, includingtimelyownership transfers, equipment rotation cycle time, work order and purchase order closure, repair cost, supplier performance, and equipment availability.
• Build andmaintainstrong working relationships with Operations, Engineering, Reliability, Maintenance, Procurement, and Finance to ensure inventory strategies support broader businessobjectives.Drive the organization to adopt data drivenpurchasing decisions thatimproveinventoryutilizationand avoidrig non-productive time.

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Oil & Gas or other heavy industrial sectors
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in inventory management, supply chain, or materials management
• Demonstrated experience configuring and adapting ERP inventory management modules to specific business processes and operational contexts.
• Expertise in stochastic modeling techniques applied to inventory management, including safety stock optimization, demand distribution modeling, service level analysis, and the creation and enhancement of quantitative inventory models.
• Strong command of inventory metrics and KPI frameworks; demonstrated ability to use data to set targets, drive accountability, and deliver measurable results.
• Track record of building and leading an inventory management organization — including establishing policies, practices, and governance structures — in a complex, operationally intensive environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate quantitative analysis into clear, compelling narratives for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Applied Mathematics, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or closely related quantitative discipline. Advanced degree (MBA, MS) preferred.
• Proven experience designing and managing cycle counting programs, conducting inventory reconciliation, and coordinating with Finance to support accurate financial reporting and audit compliance.
• Demonstrated leadership of asset repair or condition-managed equipment programs, including rotating and defect equipment, overhaul coordination, lifecycle traceability, and repair cost control.

• Active membership in a relevant professional or technical organization (e.g., APICS/ASCM, Institute for Supply Management, Society of Petroleum Engineers) is valued.
• Certifications such as CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent supply chain credentials are a strong plus.

Working Conditions

• Work is largely performed in an office environment. Visits to warehouses, storage yards, and offshore drilling rigs will take place.
• Travel is required to regional offices, supply bases, and rig locations worldwide. Offshore travel will be required periodically.