Inventory Team Lead

at  dbrand

THE ROLE

Picture this: you’re working for one of the fastest-growing eCommerce businesses in the world. Your core product is manufactured in-house. It’s highly configurable, allowing customers to select from over twenty different material variations. Oh - and this level of customization is offered across over 200 different electronic devices.
All of these SKUs need to be picked in various combinations by the Order Experience Team, each of whom have the utmost faith that the orders they’re picking are properly stocked. Who do they have faith in? The Inventory Team. Who leads that team? Not you. At least, not yet. Let’s see if we can change that.
Optimization is why you get out of bed in the morning - in fact, you’ve found the optimal way to get out of bed. Whether you’re analysing several months of inventory data, coaching your team on effective techniques, allocating procurement time, or implementing technology driven solutions - you’re the glue holding the ship together and the propulsive wind in its sails. You’re also a key contributor to our brand new ERP solution. We couldn’t figure out how to tie that back to sailing, but it’s a pretty important responsibility.
Our question is: if you were in our shoes, would you hire yourself?
If you answered “yes,” you’re either the candidate of our dreams, or supremely overconfident. Keep reading to find out which it is.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

In order to make a positive impact as part of our team, your focus in this role will be to:

• Coordinate daily departmental activities, such as day-to-day tasks, meetings, ongoing coaching, and performance improvement.
• Exhibit mastery of all Inventory functions and tasks (including receiving shipments; inventory stock putaway and cycle counts; manage accurate inventory levels and data integrity in our WMS; forecasting products and staffing needs; resolving stock shortages and other operational product challenges; ClickUp; data management and reporting), taking ownership of departmental execution, and setting the right example for the rest of the team.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Analyst and Supply Chain Manager to develop warehouse and inventory management plans to support both material and finished goods requirements.
• Lead inventory-related projects and initiatives from conception to execution.
• Communicate and coordinate with other departments to ensure the timely receipt and delivery of products.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for resolving priority issues and escalations, supporting Inventory team members to determine and execute resolution.
• Monitor and analyze inventory levels and demand patterns to establish inventory targets and ordering parameters, and to prevent stockouts and overstocking.
• Prepare inventory reports for Management, including stock levels, ordering trends, and cost summaries.
• Define, implement, and manage key metrics for the team to identify risks and opportunities, and to align with company objectives and growth targets.
• Surface insights from team members during one-on-ones to help drive learning and development opportunities, and process improvements.
• Nurture your direct reports’ talents and encourage them to continuously build their competencies, helping identify and facilitate growth paths.
• Proactively identify both interpersonal or process challenges within the department, working in tandem with the Supply Chain Manager to deliver solutions.
• Keep in lockstep with the Supply Chain Manager to ensure alignment on communication, people, and strategy.
• Manage team workload and delegate tasks amongst the Inventory team, maintaining a healthy and productive work environment while ensuring on-time deliverables.
• Take on and own additional tasks and projects as they present themselves, dependent on shifting departmental priorities.
• Safe operation of reach truck using personal protective equipment, as required.
• Continuously optimize inventory management processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Stay updated with industry trends and best practices in inventory planning and management.
• All team members will participate in cross-training to ensure proficiency in all aspects of the Inventory operations. This comprehensive approach fosters a culture of adaptability and enables team members to seamlessly assist and prioritize tasks and projects as needed for continuously maintaining operational efficiency.
• Follow safety procedures and maintain a safe, clean, and organized inventory receiving, staging, and storage areas.
• Operate equipment in a safe manner, as trained and using personal protective equipment provided.

If you find a box you can’t check, feel free to close the tab and look for a company who demands less from their team leads:

• A degree, diploma, or certificate in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Management, or a related program is considered an asset.
• Minimum 3 years experience working in a manufacturing planning, inventory control, or materials planning role in a modern, eCommerce warehouse environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear and concise guides and documentation.
• An understanding of LEAN principles for warehouse management and process optimization.
• Proven track record of coaching and mentorship in a high-performance environment.
• Considerable working memory and the ability to successfully multitask.
• Honed computer skills, including Windows OS operation, ERP/WMS/IMS, spreadsheet / data analysis, web applications, and task management.
• Outstanding planning and organizational skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Detail-oriented, self-sufficient, resourceful, organized, and proactive.
• Ability or willingness to safely operate a forklift (training provided).
• The instinct to help teammates thrive and the openness to learn from past experiences.
• The ability to solve complex problems (or know where to find the answer).
• Commitment to long-term growth and learning opportunities.
• Insights and engagement with the current state of smartphone and mobile technology.