Inventory Control Process Manager

Job Summary

The Inventory Control Process Manager leads SunOpta’s enterprise inventory control Center of Excellence, setting standards for inventory accuracy, material traceability, transaction integrity, and material flow across manufacturing and warehouse locations. This role develops and governs enterprise processes, procedures, audits, training materials, and system practices related to inventory management, warehouse execution, receiving, scanning, material movement, and inventory transactions. Partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Finance, IT, and Continuous Improvement, the role drives standardization, compliance, system optimization, and continuous improvement to improve inventory visibility, operational efficiency, and financial accuracy.

Essential Functions of the Job

Inventory & Process Governance

Own and govern enterprise-wide inventory control and material management processes across all manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and adjacent storage locations.

Develop, implement, and maintain standardized operating procedures, work instructions, process documentation, and governance standards related to inventory management and material flow.

Serve as the corporate process owner for inventory-related transactions and material movement processes within Oracle ERP, WMS (future), and associated shop floor systems.

Establish enterprise standards for inventory controls, transaction accuracy, material traceability, and inventory-related compliance requirements.

Receiving & Material Flow Management

Define and govern standard processes for raw material, ingredient, packaging, and supply receiving, including receiving transactions, labeling, scanning, and inventory disposition processes.

Partner with operations and warehouse teams to optimize material movement, inventory storage strategies, replenishment processes, and manufacturing material flow.

Establish standards for warehouse scanning, barcode usage, inventory identification, lot control, and transaction execution to ensure material visibility and traceability.

Support standardization of inventory-related processes from receipt of materials through production consumption, finished goods completion, storage, and customer shipment.

Training & Capability Building

Develop enterprise training programs, certification requirements, and process education materials for inventory and warehouse personnel.

Provide leadership, coaching, and continual training to site personnel on inventory management, ERP transactions, warehouse processes, and inventory control best practices.

Ensure new processes, system enhancements, and operational changes are effectively documented, communicated, and deployed throughout the organization.

Audit & Compliance

Design and execute an enterprise inventory process auditing program to assess compliance with corporate standards and identify process gaps.

Conduct periodic site audits evaluating inventory controls, receiving processes, scanning compliance, warehouse execution, cycle count effectiveness, and transactional accuracy.

Develop corrective action plans, monitor closure of audit findings, and drive sustainable process improvements.

Monitor compliance with internal controls, GMP requirements, inventory management standards, and company policies.

Inventory Management & Accuracy

Lead enterprise efforts to improve inventory accuracy through cycle count governance, reconciliation processes, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.

Monitor inventory accuracy metrics, transaction compliance, inventory adjustments, inventory health indicators, and associated KPIs across all sites.

Analyze inventory discrepancies and process failures to identify systemic opportunities for improvement and standardization.

Partner with Finance to ensure inventory transactions support accurate inventory valuation and financial reporting.

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Initiatives

Lead cross-functional initiatives to improve inventory performance, warehouse execution, material flow, inventory visibility, and operational efficiency.

Support implementation and optimization of ERP, WMS (future), scanning, RF, and inventory management technologies.

Partner with Logistics and Operations leadership to improve adjacent warehouse and internal logistics processes that directly impact inventory accuracy and material flow.

Support facility startups, acquisitions, warehouse expansions, network redesign projects, and system implementations by establishing inventory and material management standards.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or related field; equivalent experience considered.

7+ years of progressively responsible experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, manufacturing materials management, or supply chain operations.

Experience developing and implementing standardized business processes across multiple manufacturing or distribution locations.

Experience creating training programs, work instructions, audit processes, and operational governance frameworks.

Demonstrated experience leading inventory accuracy, material management, receiving, warehouse operations, or ERP/WMS process improvement initiatives.

Strong understanding of manufacturing inventory transactions, material traceability, warehouse execution, and inventory accounting principles.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience serving as a corporate process owner or center-of-excellence leader.

Oracle ERP and Oracle WMS experience.

Food manufacturing, ingredient management, or consumer packaged goods experience.

Lean, Six Sigma, APICS/ASCM, CPIM, or CSCP certification.

Experience implementing warehouse scanning, barcode, RFID, or inventory automation solutions.

Knowledge and Skills

Deep expertise in inventory management, warehouse operations, material flow, and inventory-related processes from raw material receiving through finished goods distribution.

Strong knowledge of inventory control principles, ERP/WMS systems, scanning technologies, material traceability, and compliance requirements within a manufacturing environment.

Demonstrated ability to develop, standardize, govern, audit, and continuously improve enterprise-wide business processes across multiple locations.

Proven leadership, coaching, facilitation, and organizational change management skills, with the ability to influence teams and drive results through both direct and indirect authority.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, with a data-driven approach and attention to detail.

Effective communicator with the ability to build relationships, collaborate cross-functionally, and influence positive change at all levels of the organization.

Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and reporting/analytics tools, including Excel, Power BI, and Tableau.

Additional Considerations

Travel up to 50% required. 

Location: This position is onsite at our office in Eden Prairie MN.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Approximately 50% of work is performed in an office environment. 50% of work may involve being in a warehouse or manufacturing environment.

Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods, often on hard surfaces such as concrete floors.

Work may take place in environments that are hot, cold, or noisy.

Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety boots, gloves, and high-visibility vests, may be required.