Global Inventory Manager Jobs in Rhode Island (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary/Objective

Responsible for leading and executing the end-to-end supply chain strategy across the Product Identification (PI) business. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution, including direct ownership of key supplier relationships and procurement activities. The director will oversee supply chain operations supporting manufacturing and distribution across multiple global sites, ensuring cost efficiency, supply continuity, and high customer service levels. This role leads a centralized global purchasing organization with direct responsibility for buyers, while maintaining strong alignment with local plant operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global supply chain strategy aligned with business growth, cost targets, while driving inventory turnover.
• Drive standardization of supply chain processes across all manufacturing and distribution sites
• Optimize global logistics, freight, and tariff strategies to reduce total landed cost
• Directly manage procurement for critical suppliers and strategic categories
• Lead supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding processes
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and long-term agreements with key vendors
• Drive supplier performance management, including quality, delivery, and cost metrics
• Resolve supplier issues, including quality escapes, shortages, and escalations
• Reduce excess and obsolete inventory through disciplined planning, lifecycle management, and cross-functional alignment
• Establish metrics and reporting to monitor service levels, fill rates, and inventory health
• Own supply chain processes, including procurement workflows, vendor setup, and data governance
• Coordinate closely with local plant managers, where buyers maintain dotted-line relationships for site-level execution and support
• Support engineering change orders and new product introduction.
• Align with Commercial teams to support customer delivery and service expectations

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a global team of buyers, with direct reporting responsibility into this role.
• Participate in the hiring and training of departmental managers.
• Organize and oversee the work of departmental managers.
• Conduct performance evaluations that are timely and constructive.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Required Competencies

• Bachelor’s in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field
• 10+ years of supply chain, procurement, or operations experience in a multi-national manufacturing environment
• Proven experience in both strategic supply chain leadership and hands-on procurement
• Experience managing global suppliers and multi-site operations
• Strong negotiation, supplier management, and cost reduction experience
• Demonstrated success improving inventory performance and supply chain processes

Preferred Competencies

• Experience in industrial manufacturing environments supporting a mix of consumables and hardware products
• Exposure to supply chains involving distribution-based sourcing (e.g., inks, coatings, specialty materials, paper) as well as engineered hardware (e.g., fabricated metal components, servo motors, controls systems, PCBAs)
• Experience with global logistics, tariffs, and international trade compliance
• Lean / Six Sigma or continuous improvement background
• NetSuite Experience

Physical Requirements

This position is comprised of mostly sedentary work; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; periods of mobility requiring the ability to walk through manufacturing plants. The role may also exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

Special Working Conditions / Travel Requirements

This job requires being onsite at AstroNova’s headquarters in West Warwick, Rhode Island 5 days per week. This job also requires 25% travel to domestic and international locations. This role requires a valid US Passport Book for intercontinental travel.