Inventory Control Manager

Company: Bilinski’s Sausage Mfg Company

About Us:

We are a mid-sized, values-driven chicken sausage company committed to quality, innovation, and exceptional service. Our customers range from independent retailers to national chains, and our team takes pride in being responsive, proactive, and customer-first in every interaction.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and adaptable Inventory Control Manager to lead inventory operations at our mid-sized sausage manufacturing facility. This role plays a critical part in supporting just-in-time production, managing raw and finished goods across on-site and off-site storage locations, and maintaining tight coordination with purchasing, scheduling, and production teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate and real-time inventory control of raw materials, spices, packaging supplies, WIP (work-in-progress), and finished products.
• Collaborate daily with Purchasing, Scheduling, and Production teams to align inventory levels with production needs and minimize delays.
• Coordinate with the Plant Manager to plan and prepare for daily production.
• Manage just-in-time (JIT) inventory strategies, ensuring timely availability of inputs without overstocking or waste.
  
  
• Coordinate movement and tracking of inventory stored in off-site warehouses or third-party cold storage facilities.
  
  
• Develop and enforce procedures for receiving, storing, and rotating inventory in tight space environments while ensuring compliance with FIFO and food safety standards.
• Ensure appropriate storage conditions for product safety and quality, including monitoring refrigeration.
• Conduct regular cycle counts and full physical inventory audits; investigate and resolve discrepancies.
  
  
• Optimize inventory management system use for reporting, traceability, and real-time visibility.
  
  
• Reduce shrink, spoilage, and obsolete inventory through data analysis and process improvement.
  
  
• Train and lead warehouse and/or inventory staff, enforcing safety and sanitation practices in compliance with USDA and internal QA standards.
  
  
• Prepare for and support audits and inspections (e.g., USDA, Organic, SQF).
  
  
• Continuously assess storage needs and propose solutions to improve layout, flow, or utilization.
• Oversee logistics of incoming and outgoing goods.
• Manage a small team of shipping and receiving, inventory and logistics personnel

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  3–5 years of experience in inventory control or warehouse management within the food industry.
• Familiarity with USDA and food safety regulations, HACCP, traceability, and lot tracking.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to thrive in tight, space-limited environments.
• Experience supporting just-in-time manufacturing with fluctuating production schedules.
• Proficiency in ERP or inventory software systems.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across departments.
• Forklift certification and cold storage experience preferred.
  
  

Working Conditions:

• Work is split between office, warehouse, and dry and cold storage areas.
  
  
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs and operate in cold/hot environments.
  
  
• Will require occasional travel to off-site storage locations.

Performance Metrics (KPIs):

Success in this role will be measured by key inventory-related performance indicators, including:

1. Inventory Accuracy Rate:
   Maintain inventory accuracy through regular cycle counts and reconciliation processes.
   
   
2. Production Downtime Due to Inventory Shortages:
   Ensure that production downtime caused by inventory shortages does not exceed 1% of scheduled production time.
   
   
3. Shrinkage Rate:
   Keep inventory shrinkage due to spoilage, miscounts, or loss below 0.5% of total inventory value.

Benefits include: 

• Health insurance (participatory)
• Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid time off 
• Simple IRA