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Inventory Control Specialist

The Spice & Tea Exchange
2 days ago
Full-time
On-site
Palm Coast, Florida, United States
Benefits:
  • Health insurance
  • Opportunity for advancement
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave
  • Training & development
  • Vision insurance
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
Does every detail matter to you? Are you organized, great at cross-collaboration, and willing to go the extra mile to make it happen? If so, this may be the perfect role for you.  Go ahead, submit your resume. We'd love to have you join our Spicey Tea-M!

You must complete a Predictive Index assessment before you are considered for the role.  Follow this link to complete the assessment.


Position Purpose

The Inventory Control Specialist maintains the accuracy, integrity, and organization of inventory across The Spice & Tea Exchange® warehouse, distribution, and production operations. This hands-on position ensures reliable physical and system inventory records to support production, franchise distribution, and e-commerce fulfillment.

The position owns cycle counting, inventory reconciliation, transaction verification, lot traceability, and the investigation and resolution of discrepancies. It works across Warehouse Operations, Supply Chain, Production, Quality Assurance, and Finance to strengthen inventory controls and operational performance.

The position also oversees the daily work of designated inventory personnel, reinforces standard operating procedures, and promotes accuracy and accountability. Success requires analytical thinking, sound judgment, communication, and the initiative to prevent recurring errors.

Essential Job Functions

Inventory Accuracy and System Management

  • Maintain accurate inventory quantities, product information, lot details, and storage locations within NetSuite and applicable Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications.
  • Monitor and validate inventory transactions, including receiving, internal and interfacility transfers, production consumption, picking, shipping, and adjustments, ensuring transactions are timely, accurate, and properly documented.
  • Verify inventory placement, warehouse zones, labeling, barcode scans, and storage records to ensure products can be located, identified, and traced accurately.
  • Review production job documentation for completeness and accuracy; verify that material usage, finished goods, and related inventory movements are correctly reflected in the system.
  • Research inventory differences, incomplete transactions, shortages, overages, and damaged goods; coordinate with the Buyer, IT, and other departments to resolve issues and confirm corrections.
  • Ensure all inventory adjustments follow established documentation, approval, and authorization requirements.
  • Monitor excess, slow-moving, obsolete, and potentially unavailable inventory; communicate accurate information and emerging risks to Supply Chain and appropriate operational leaders.
  • Support inventory-system testing, implementations, reporting enhancements, and improvements to transaction accuracy and controls.
Cycle Counting and Inventory Reconciliation

  • Plan, coordinate, and conduct daily cycle counts and scheduled physical inventories across warehouse, storage, production, and distribution locations.
  • Develop and maintain count schedules by inventory category, established priorities, and operational needs; assign count activities and verify timely completion.
  • Investigate variances between physical counts and system balances; determine root causes, document findings, and implement or recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
  • Maintain accurate count records, discrepancy investigation logs, inventory adjustment support, and evidence of final resolution.
  • Analyze recurring variances, adjustment frequency, and discrepancies by product or process to identify trends and strengthen inventory controls.
  • Support full physical inventory counts, internal and external inventory audits, and reconciliations with Finance and Accounting as required.
Warehouse Inventory Control and Operational Coordination

  • Work with Receiving, Warehouse, Production, Blending, Shipping, and Fulfillment teams to maintain inventory integrity from receipt through storage, production, transfers, and final shipment.
  • Monitor product placement, proper storage, and inventory rotation practices, including first-in, first-out (FIFO) and first-expired, first-out (FEFO) methods where applicable.
  • Coordinate and verify inventory transfers between facilities and franchise distribution locations in accordance with established priorities and approved procedures.
  • Verify inventory and material availability for scheduled production; communicate shortages, discrepancies, and constraints promptly to Supply Chain and Production Planning.
  • Identify storage and space utilization concerns, picking errors, and incorrect stock movements; coordinate with warehouse leadership to resolve operational issues.
  • Provide accurate information about shortages, receiving discrepancies, and inventory availability to Purchasing and Supply Chain for supplier follow-up and related decisions.
  • Analyze inventory control workflows, develop and maintain standard operating procedures, and recommend and support authorized process improvements to reduce errors and improve efficiency.
Team Leadership and Accountability

  • Coordinate, supervise, train, and coach designated inventory personnel; assign daily responsibilities, establish priorities, and monitor completion and quality of work.
  • Establish and reinforce expectations for inventory accuracy, productivity, documentation, timely transaction processing, and consistent adherence to procedures.
  • Review team performance, investigate repeated errors, provide coaching, and elevate unresolved performance or resource concerns to the Supply Chain Manager.
  • Coordinate inventory activity coverage and identify training, staffing, system, or workflow gaps affecting accuracy and timeliness.
  • Reinforce ownership of discrepancies through investigation, corrective action, verification, and timely closure.
Quality, Traceability, and Compliance

  • Maintain lot-level traceability, expiration dates, and accurate product identification; support product rotation and shelf-life requirements.
  • Identify expired, damaged, or nonconforming inventory and ensure items on quality hold are properly identified, segregated, and controlled.
  • Coordinate with Quality Assurance on inventory holds, product disposition, lot tracking, audits, and product recall activities.
  • Follow applicable food safety, good manufacturing practices (GMP), quality standards, documentation requirements, and warehouse safety procedures.
Cross-Functional Communication and Reporting

  • Serve as a primary point of contact for inventory questions and discrepancies involving Warehouse Operations, Supply Chain, Production, Quality Assurance, Customer Service, and other departments.
  • Provide clear, timely updates on inventory investigations, exceptions, corrective actions, and outstanding issues; escalate material risks that could affect production or fulfillment.
  • Review adjustment reports, count results, and inventory valuation variances; partner with Finance and Accounting to investigate and reconcile differences.
  • Prepare and communicate inventory accuracy reports, discrepancy summaries, process observations, and key performance information to management.
  • Support related warehouse and distribution activities as needed to meet operational requirements.
Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications

Education and Experience

  • High school diploma or GED required.
  • Minimum of three years of experience in inventory control, inventory management, warehouse operations, or a related distribution environment.
  • Minimum of one year of experience leading, supervising, or training employees.
  • Demonstrated experience with cycle counting, physical inventories, variance investigations, and inventory adjustments.
  • Experience with an ERP system, WMS, or comparable inventory platform; NetSuite and barcode-scanning technology preferred.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel, for inventory tracking, reporting, and data analysis.
  • Experience in food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, or distribution and familiarity with lot tracking, FIFO/FEFO, and GMP practices preferred.
Required Skills and Competencies

  • Attention to Detail: Maintains accuracy when checking inventory records, performing counts, reviewing labels, and processing inventory transactions.
  • Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Investigates variances, identifies underlying causes, interprets data, and develops practical corrective actions.
  • Accountability and Ownership: Takes responsibility for inventory accuracy and follows issues through investigation, correction, verification, and resolution.
  • Leadership and Coaching: Assigns and monitors work, provides clear direction, reinforces procedures, and develops the effectiveness of inventory personnel.
  • Organization and Time Management: Balances counts, investigations, reporting, and operational priorities while meeting established deadlines.
  • Communication Skills: Conveys accurate inventory information and escalates risks clearly and professionally across departments.
  • Collaboration: Works effectively with Warehouse Operations, Supply Chain, Production, Quality Assurance, Finance, and other internal stakeholders.
  • Process Improvement: Recognizes recurring issues, evaluates controls, and recommends sustainable improvements to workflows and operating procedures.
  • Technical Aptitude: Effectively uses WMS/ERP systems, reporting tools, inventory equipment, and new operational technology.
Key Performance Indicators

  • Inventory accuracy percentage between physical inventory and system records.
  • Cycle-count schedule completion rate and count accuracy.
  • Number, aging, and dollar value of unresolved inventory discrepancies.
  • Frequency and dollar value of inventory adjustments.
  • Timeliness of discrepancy investigations, corrective actions, and confirmed closure.
  • Accuracy and timeliness of inventory transactions and interfacility transfers.
  • Inventory availability to support scheduled production, franchise distribution, and e-commerce fulfillment.
  • Inventory team productivity, training completion, and compliance with documented procedures.
Scope of Responsibility

This role is accountable for inventory accuracy, inventory control procedures, inventory-system integrity, discrepancy investigation, and day-to-day direction of assigned inventory personnel. Purchasing decisions, demand forecasting, supplier management, and inventory-replenishment authorization remain the responsibility of Supply Chain. The Inventory Control Specialist supplies accurate information and coordinates execution in support of those functions.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The following describes the physical demands and work environment associated with the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

  • Ability to work in a warehouse environment requires periods of standing, walking, and sitting throughout the workday.
  • Ability to perform physical activities including bending, reaching, squatting, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling as necessary to complete assigned responsibilities.
  • Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds as required by the position, with appropriate equipment or assistance when applicable.
  • Ability to navigate warehouse storage areas, including the use of stairs and approved ladders when required and in accordance with established safety procedures.
  • Ability to perform repetitive hand and finger movements necessary for handling materials, operating computers, and utilizing inventory-related equipment.
  • Ability to examine product labels, inventory identifiers, documentation, and materials to verify accuracy and identify discrepancies.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and other stakeholders to coordinate work activities and convey inventory-related information.
  • Ability to operate standard office equipment, computers, and applicable warehouse technology.
  • Ability to work in an environment where spices, herbs, teas, extracts, fragrances, and other product ingredients are stored, handled, or processed. Exposure to product aromas and airborne particles may occur during normal warehouse operations.
  • Ability to follow established safety procedures and properly utilize required personal protective equipment.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The Spice & Tea Exchange® is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable employment laws.

Due to the nature of the Company's products and operations, TSTE is unable to accommodate sensitivity or allergy to various spices, ingredients, scents and aromas contained in our products. This is core to our business and cannot be avoided.

The Company will consider requests for reasonable accommodation on an individualized basis to enable qualified applicants and employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their positions, unless doing so would create undue hardship or otherwise be inconsistent with applicable law.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement 

The Spice & Tea Exchange® provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  
The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

 Drug Free Workplace

The Spice & Tea Exchange® is committed to maintaining a safe and productive work environment. The company policy states, all applicants must complete a drug screening test if accepting an offer of employment. Employment offers are contingent upon a negative drug screening test result.