Inventory Program Manager Jobs in Farmington, MN

Director of Inventory Control
Interstate Companies | Eagan, MN I On-Site
Pay Range: $130,000 - $160,000 annually, DOE

Position Summary

The Director of Inventory Control provides enterprise leadership for purchasing, inventory management, pricing administration, vendor performance, and inventory-related systems and processes across Interstate Companies. The position develops and executes strategies that optimize the company’s inventory investment, improve availability and accuracy, reduce excess and obsolescence, strengthen supplier value, and support profitable growth.

This role leads daily purchasing and inventory control operations, establishes clear performance expectations, and partners with branch leadership, Parts, Service, Operations, Finance, and senior management to drive consistent execution, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Department Mission

Optimize the company’s investment in inventory through best-in-class control of total inventory investment, obsolescence, and inventory turns, while providing the sales organization competitive advantages in technology, product availability, and cost. Accomplish this by challenging current practices, promoting innovative solutions, and building collaboration across branches.

What You'll Do

Strategic Leadership & Team Development

• Develop and execute purchasing and inventory control strategies aligned with operational, service, and financial objectives.
• Lead, coach, and develop purchasing and inventory control team members; recruit, interview, hire, onboard, train, and evaluate staff.
• Establish departmental goals, performance measures, workflows, and accountability standards.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate policies, procedures, best practices, and training resources, including process and vendor documentation.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across corporate and branch teams.
• Provide reporting, analysis, recommendations, and transparency to branches, executive leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee daily stock purchasing activities and ensure appropriate products are available to support branch and customer needs.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships; negotiate pricing, contracts, programs, and purchasing agreements to maximize value.
• Monitor supplier performance, product quality, delivery, pricing, backorders, and supply disruptions; lead corrective action and mitigation efforts.
• Manage current purchasing tools, including RIM and RIMPRO where applicable, provide branch support, and pursue process and technology improvements.
• Standardize product programs and offerings across branches, reduce unnecessary vendor complexity, and use vendor grading and scorecards to improve performance.
• Review purchasing controls and oversee expense purchase orders, return purchase orders, and vendor discrepancy resolution.

Inventory Optimization & Control

• Direct inventory control activities to protect inventory accuracy, integrity, availability, and overall stock health.
• Analyze inventory levels, usage, turns, carrying costs, forecasting needs, excess stock, shortages, and obsolescence; recommend and implement improvement actions.
• Coach branches on right-sized purchasing and lead obsolescence reduction, returns, redistribution, and scrap accrual management.
• Monitor inventory variances and historical part issues ensuring corrective actions are completed.
• Oversee physical inventory and cycle count programs, off-sheet verification, reconciliation, and required inventory adjustments.
• Ensure new part numbers, inventory records, costs, pricing, and related system data are accurately created and maintained.
• Oversee supplier price tape maintenance, customer pricing setup and maintenance, and consistent price code structures across branches.
• Oversee applicable rebate calculations, submissions, reconciliation, and audit support.
• Ensure purchase orders, packing slips, invoices, quantities received, costs, and part numbers are accurately reviewed and reconciled.
• Partner with Accounting and Finance to resolve discrepancies, strengthen controls, and support audits and inventory reviews.
• Prepare and communicate inventory, purchasing, supplier, and supply chain performance reporting with actionable recommendations.

Core Management, Training & Operational Support

• Lead core management processes, including training, expiration monitoring, purchasing of expiring cores, return reconciliation, and branch reporting.
• Create and maintain learning resources for parts personnel, including LMS content and centralized process and vendor documentation.
• Provide consistent product, process, system, and vendor program training to branches.
• Maintain accurate electronic records and support document retention, scanning, and digital filing requirements.
• Provide additional support to the parts sales organization and other business functions as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly manages assigned purchasing and inventory control personnel and oversees the department’s daily workflow.
• Provides ongoing coaching, timely performance feedback, and formal performance evaluations.
• Addresses employee relations, corrective action, and termination matters in accordance with company policies.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant work experience will be considered.
• Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in purchasing, inventory control, supply chain, parts operations, or a related discipline.
• Proven management or supervisory experience, including team development and accountability.
• Demonstrated experience managing vendors and negotiating pricing, programs, or purchasing agreements.
• Strong working knowledge of inventory management principles, purchasing practices, ERP or inventory systems, and analytical reporting.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, coaching, delegation, collaboration, and change-management skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and customer service communication skills.
• Strong analytical, financial, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Exceptional organization, attention to detail, prioritization, and ability to meet deadlines across multiple initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, and the ability to learn and improve business systems.
• Ability to translate data into clear recommendations that improve service, inventory performance, cost, and profitability.

Travel Requirements

• Occasional travel as needed for business meetings, branch support, training, and vendor visits.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Why Join Interstate Companies?

At Interstate Companies, we are committed to developing our employees, delivering exceptional customer service, and driving operational excellence across all business divisions. As the Director of Inventory Control, you will play a critical leadership role in optimizing inventory performance, strengthening supplier partnerships, and supporting the continued growth and success of our organization.