Director of Inventory Control

OVERVIEW

The Director of Inventory Control is a global leadership role responsible for developing and executing the enterprise-wide inventory governance strategy across all distribution centers.

This position establishes and enforces global standards for inventory accuracy, financial integrity, compliance, and operational excellence — ensuring all product movement is accurately accounted for, auditable, and optimized for speed, cost, and reliability.

The Director partners cross-functionally with Distribution, Finance, IT, and Retail Operations to design and maintain world-class inventory control processes, systems, and reporting standards that enable business scalability and data-driven decision-making.

RESPONSIBILTIES 

Global DC Inventory Strategy & Governance

• Define and lead the global inventory control strategy, including policy creation, standardization, and performance governance across all distribution centers in all regions.
• Serve as the company’s subject matter expert on DC inventory management, compliance, and control standards — creating and implementing internal controls to achieve SOX compliance
• Establish and maintain enterprise-wide inventory control policies, audit protocols, and cycle count programs that ensure DC inventory accuracy and financial integrity.
• Partner with Finance, Accounting, and Internal Audit to align on global reconciliation standards, controls, and documentation practices.
• Develop and monitor global KPIs for inventory accuracy, shrink, obsolescence, and reconciliation timeliness; ensure performance transparency through executive dashboards and quarterly reviews.

Process Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Build and sustain global process standards for inventory control points across all DCs.
• Oversee the design and deployment of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all inbound, outbound, and inventory-related transactions.
• Identify process inefficiencies, perform root-cause analysis, and implement structured corrective action and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leverage Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to reduce inventory variance, improve traceability, and optimize material flow throughout the supply chain.
• Lead automation, technology integration, and system enhancement projects (SAP, WMS, LMS) that strengthen data accuracy and visibility.

Operational Oversight & Compliance

• Direct global and regional inventory operations teams to ensure timely execution of physical counts, reconciliations, and adjustments.
• Oversee audit readiness and coordinate internal/external audit activities related to inventory.
• Manage and validate global cycle count programs, scrap and obsolete inventory disposition, and consignment tracking (to and from vendors).
• Ensure compliance with trade, customs, and local regulatory requirements for all inventory control activities.
• Partner with Distribution Center (DC) leaders and 3PL providers to standardize control frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and escalation procedures.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global inventory control team, including regional managers and analysts.
• Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development across multiple geographies.
• Develop succession and capability-building plans that scale with ALO’s business growth.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Logistics, IT, Retail Operations, and Planning to align initiatives and resolve systemic challenges.
• Represent the function in executive operations and finance forums, driving alignment between supply chain performance and financial outcomes.

Data, Analytics & Reporting

• Own the inventory control reporting infrastructure, ensuring consistent and timely visibility to global leaders.
• Lead the development of data-driven insights and predictive analytics to inform decision-making, trend identification, and proactive risk management.
• Partner with IT and Data teams to evolve system integrations and reporting automation for scalable accuracy and real-time monitoring.
• Deliver regular executive summaries highlighting performance trends, risk areas, and ROI of improvement initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Master’s or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive inventory management and control experience, with at least 5 years in a global or multi-site leadership role.
• Proven success designing and implementing global inventory control systems, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of Sarbanes-Oxley controls, audit processes, and financial inventory reconciliation.
• Expertise in ERP/WMS systems (e.g., SAP, Manhattan, Oracle) and data analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Business Objects).
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives that drive operational performance and cost optimization.
• Deep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement practices.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• APICS CPIM or CSCP Certification.
• Experience in a global retail, consumer goods, or lifestyle brand environment.
• Strong understanding of 3PL management, omnichannel operations, and automation systems.
• Experience integrating inventory controls across digital commerce and brick-and-mortar networks.