Manager Inventory Management Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Inventory Manager will be responsible for leading and overseeing comprehensive inventory management operations across the distribution network. This critical role requires an expert-level professional capable of driving inventory accuracy, optimizing warehouse automation, and ensuring regulatory compliance in a fast-paced food distribution environment.

The successful candidate will serve as the primary architect for inventory process redesign, lead cross-functional teams, and maintain the highest standards of efficiency within our warehouse management systems. This position offers the opportunity to drive operational excellence while working closely with senior leadership. This role carries regional responsibilities, overseeing multiple distribution centers and requiring extensive travel.

Essential Job Functions:

• Strategic Inventory Control & Compliance: This role oversees the entire lifecycle of stocktaking, from permanent and fixed-date procedures to expert-level offset analysis. A central responsibility involves maintaining the highest standards of regulatory integrity, specifically ensuring adherence to SOX, FDA, and SOP requirements through meticulous audit preparation and root-cause investigation of variances.
• Systems Architecture & Data Integrity: As a technical expert in WMS and Oracle ERP, the Inventory Manager manages the digital footprint of the distribution network. This position is responsible for optimizing warehouse automation, overseeing barcode and RF technologies, and ensuring absolute data integrity across all reporting platforms to provide management with a "single source of truth" for inventory levels.
• Operational Excellence & Process Redesign: The successful candidate acts as the primary architect for process improvements, identifying inefficiencies in the supply chain to drive cost reduction. By developing and implementing best practices for receiving, storage, and distribution, the Manager ensures that the movement of Asian food products is both lean and compliant with modern food safety standards.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Development: This position leads and mentors a diverse team, fostering a culture of engagement and technical proficiency. Beyond direct reports, the Manager builds authentic relationships across the distribution center to ensure that warehouse staff are expertly trained in inventory handling and safety procedures.
• Stakeholder Liaison & Business Analytics: The Inventory Manager serves as a critical link between the HQ, Sales, and Operations. By utilizing advanced analytic tools to monitor trends in cost and quality, the role provides senior leadership with the actionable insights necessary to balance optimal stock levels with the need to minimize obsolete or expired inventory.

Experience/ Training/ Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Professional certifications in inventory management (APICS, CSCMP) are a plus.
• 3 to 5 years of experience as an Inventory Manager or similar role in a food distribution or retail environment.
• Proven track record in inventory control with demonstrated expertise in problem-solving and deep-dive analysis.
• Expert-level experience in identifying and resolving inventory discrepancies through offset analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with warehouse management systems (WMS) and Oracle ERP.
• Experience with permanent and fixed-date stocktaking procedures.
• Proven experience operating within less mature organizations and successfully scaling them into highly structured, mature environments. Ability to identify gaps in existing processes and implement the foundational frameworks necessary for sustainable growth.

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Proficiency in inventory management software, WMS platforms, and Oracle ERP systems
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis and comprehensive reporting
• Knowledge of stocktaking methodologies and industry best practices
• Understanding of food safety regulations, FDA requirements, and inventory compliance
• Experience with barcode scanning systems and inventory tracking technology
• Familiarity with operations and inventory analytics tools
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with the capability for deep-dive analysis
• Excellent organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Leadership skills, including coaching and developing teams, and employee engagement
• Ability to work under pressure and consistently meet tight deadlines
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with relationship-building capabilities
• Ability to work independently and effectively manage multiple priorities
• Proven capability to bridge gaps between different departments and functions

Working Conditions:

This position is based in office facilities in proximity to senior management; however, it is a high-travel role requiring 50% or more travel to various regional distribution centers. The Inventory Manager must be prepared for frequent overnight stays and cross-country travel to support the Western and Eastern regional networks.

The role typically requires a standard forty-hour work week; however, additional shifts or extended hours are often necessary during peak operational periods or site visits. The dynamic nature of multi-regional inventory management requires a high degree of adaptability to changing schedules and the ability to work effectively under pressure while consistently meeting established deadlines and performance objectives.

Due to critical system maintenance requirements and warehouse management system (WMS) support needs, the position may require on-call availability with irregular scheduling, which may include weekends, early morning hours, evening shifts, and holiday coverage. Travel to other branch locations may be required periodically to support company-wide inventory operations and initiatives.