Strategic Inventory & Procurement Associate

The Darling Effect; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Darling Effect is seeking an analytical, detail-oriented Associate Inventory and Procurement Manager in Grand Rapids, MI. You will forecast demand, manage purchase orders, and control inventory to support growth while mentoring Inventory Coordinators.

You will optimize inventory levels, reduce costs, and strengthen procurement processes across Plytix, ERP/WMS, and sales channels, collaborating with Accounting and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in inventory management, procurement, or supply chain operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, logistics, or related field.
• Experience leading or mentoring direct reports.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with dashboards and data models.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with data-driven decisions.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Oversee procurement from requisition to PO placement to ensure cost-effective, timely acquisitions.
• Identify cost savings through supplier negotiations, terms, and order quantities.
• Coordinate inbound shipments with suppliers and warehouses to ensure on-time delivery.
• Track open POs, update teams on delays and impact on launches.
• Forecast demand, translate into purchasing plans with reorder points and safety stock.
• Build and maintain inventory dashboards covering forecast accuracy and stock levels.
• Lead regular demand reviews with Sales, Operations, and Finance.
• Develop best practices for inventory control and cycle counts.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Excel proficiency

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

ERP/WMS

PIM

Job description

The Darling Effect is seeking an analytical, detail-oriented Associate Inventory and Procurement Manager in Grand Rapids, MI. You will forecast demand, manage purchase orders, and control inventory to support growth while mentoring Inventory Coordinators.

You will optimize inventory levels, reduce costs, and strengthen procurement processes across Plytix, ERP/WMS, and sales channels, collaborating with Accounting and cross-functional teams.