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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Cargo Inventory Manager

💰 $ - $

LogisticsSupply ChainInventory ManagementWarehouse OperationsFreight

🎯 Role Definition

The Cargo Inventory Manager is responsible for the accurate receipt, storage, tracking and disposition of inbound and outbound cargo across multimodal environments (sea, air, road and rail). This role leads inventory control programs, optimizes inventory flow using WMS and ERP systems, enforces compliance with customs and hazardous materials regulations, manages cycle count and reconciliation processes, and partners cross-functionally with operations, procurement, customer service and finance to ensure inventory accuracy, reduce carry cost, and maximize on-time delivery performance.

Key responsibilities emphasize inventory accuracy, process standardization, team leadership, KPI-driven continuous improvement, carrier/vendor coordination, and systems-driven inventory visibility for both domestic and international shipments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Inventory Control Analyst / Inventory Coordinator
  • Warehouse Supervisor / Logistics Coordinator
  • Freight Operations Specialist / Import-Export Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Inventory Manager / Logistics Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager / Distribution Center Manager
  • Director of Supply Chain Operations / Head of Inventory Control

Lateral Moves:

  • Materials Manager
  • Transportation Manager
  • Customs Compliance Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and own end-to-end inventory management for cargo operations including receipt, put-away, storage, order picking, staging, and shipment; ensure inventory integrity across multiple storage locations and modes of transport.
  • Develop and implement inventory control policies and procedures (cycle count plans, reconciliation protocols, shrinkage controls) to maintain >99% inventory accuracy and minimize write-offs.
  • Plan, schedule and audit regular cycle counts and full physical inventories; analyze variances, identify root causes, create corrective action plans, and report trends to senior leadership.
  • Configure, maintain and optimize Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and ERP inventory modules (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Manhattan, Blue Yonder) to ensure accurate stock records, real-time visibility and efficient put-away/pick workflows.
  • Manage inbound cargo receiving processes including verification of Bills of Lading (BOL), packing lists, Bills of Entry/ASNs, and inspection documentation; coordinate PO matching and exception handling with procurement and vendors.
  • Oversee outbound manifesting and freight staging to ensure correct SKU, quantity, packaging and carrier instructions; reduce order fulfillment errors and expedite dock-to-carrier cycle times.
  • Supervise and coach inventory control staff, warehouse associates and cross-dock teams; establish clear roles, conduct performance reviews, drive training for RF scanner/WMS usage and safe handling procedures.
  • Maintain compliance with customs, import/export regulations, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling rules, and corporate security standards; coordinate with customs brokers and import/export teams on documentation and inspections.
  • Monitor and manage inventory KPIs (turnover, days on hand, stockouts, fill rate, cycle count accuracy, shrinkage) and produce weekly/monthly dashboards and executive summaries for stakeholders.
  • Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives (lean, 5S, Kaizen) to reduce handling costs, optimize space utilization and improve throughput within the warehouse and cross-dock operations.
  • Coordinate vendor managed inventory (VMI) and consignment stock programs, establishing stocking rules, replenishment triggers, and SLA metrics with suppliers and 3PL partners.
  • Manage disposition processes for obsolete, damaged or aged cargo, including quarantine procedures, salvage, returns to vendor (RTV), and inventory adjustments in the system while ensuring audit trail integrity.
  • Oversee inventory forecasting inputs by collaborating with demand planning, procurement and sales to align safety stock levels, reorder points and lead times for critical SKUs and seasonally variable cargo.
  • Facilitate inbound and outbound audit support including external audits, ISO/TC/OSH reviews and carrier audits by maintaining accurate records, documentation and SOPs.
  • Maintain cargo security and loss-prevention programs (access controls, CCTV, seals, tamper-evident packaging) and respond to theft, damage, or loss incidents with incident reports and corrective actions.
  • Ensure packaging, labeling and SKU identification meet regulatory and customer requirements including dangerous goods declarations, country-specific labeling and pallet/mixed loads standards.
  • Collaborate with transportation and carrier operations to plan load consolidation, cross-docking, and routing strategies that reduce lead times and freight spend while protecting inventory integrity.
  • Drive technology adoption such as barcode/RFID tagging, mobile scanning, electronic proof of delivery (ePOD), and integration touchpoints between WMS and carrier/TMS platforms to improve traceability.
  • Manage inventory-related financial processes including cycle count adjustments, monthly closings, inventory valuation reconciliation and coordination with finance for ERP posting and audit-ready records.
  • Establish and manage SLAs and KPIs for internal stakeholders and external partners (3PLs, carriers, vendors), and implement scorecards to monitor performance and corrective measures.
  • Coordinate emergency response and contingency planning for supply chain disruptions (port delays, customs holds, weather events) to mitigate inventory impact and maintain service levels.
  • Negotiate and manage contracts or service agreements with 3PLs, carriers, and warehouse service providers related to inventory storage, handling and value-added services.
  • Provide subject matter expertise on packaging optimization for cargo protection and pallet/build strategies to maximize cube utilization and minimize damage claims.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc inventory and cargo data requests, build custom reports and perform exploratory data analysis to answer operational and financial questions.
  • Contribute to the organization's inventory systems strategy and roadmap, recommending technical improvements and integrations to enhance visibility.
  • Partner with business units (procurement, sales operations, customer service) to translate inventory needs into system requirements and operational procedures.
  • Participate in cross-functional projects, sprint planning and agile ceremonies when implementing WMS/TMS/ERP enhancements and integrations.
  • Assist in vendor onboarding for inventory services, verifying SOP compliance, data exchange formats (EDI/ASNs), and system connectivity tests.
  • Support training programs and create user documentation, runbooks and SOPs for inventory control, cycle counts and hazardous material handling.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) expertise — configuration, transaction flows, cycle count logic and ERP integration (SAP, Oracle, Manhattan, Blue Yonder).
  • Inventory control methodologies — cycle counting, ABC analysis, FIFO/LIFO rotation, expiration management and variance reconciliation.
  • Barcode and RFID technologies, mobile RF scanner workflows, and data capture best practices for real-time inventory accuracy.
  • Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, Power Query) and experience with BI/reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau) for KPI dashboards and root-cause analysis.
  • Familiarity with transportation and carrier systems (TMS), EDI standards, ASNs, Bills of Lading and manifesting procedures.
  • Knowledge of customs, import/export documentation, hazardous materials handling (DOT/IATA/IMDG) and compliance requirements.
  • Experience with cycle count program design, physical inventory execution and system-driven inventory reconciliation and adjustments.
  • Strong understanding of inventory valuation, month-end close processes and coordination with finance for accurate accounting of stock and adjustments.
  • Project management skills for leading WMS/ERP implementations, integrations and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Ability to read and interpret packing lists, commercial invoices, Bills of Lading and customs release notices.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and team development skills, with experience coaching frontline warehouse and inventory teams.
  • Excellent analytical mindset and problem-solving skills, able to perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
  • Effective cross-functional communication and stakeholder management with procurement, operations, finance and external partners.
  • Customer-focused approach to resolve inventory disputes, special requests and expedite urgent shipments.
  • Detail-oriented with high standards for documentation, audit-readiness and process compliance.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, high-volume logistics environments and during supply chain disruptions.
  • Negotiation skills for vendor, carrier and 3PL contract terms related to storage, handling and inventory services.
  • Time management and prioritization abilities to balance operational needs and strategic improvement projects.
  • Continuous improvement mindset with familiarity in Lean, 5S, Kaizen or other operational excellence methodologies.
  • Data-driven decision-making and comfort working with KPIs to drive measurable performance improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree or equivalent in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline.
  • Certifications such as APICS/CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, CILT, or certified in Dangerous Goods handling are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, logistics or cargo management; 1–3 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity preferred.

Preferred: Proven experience managing inventory in multimodal shipping environments (ocean, air, road), strong WMS/ERP background, demonstrated success reducing shrinkage and improving inventory accuracy, and experience with customs/import processes and hazardous materials protocols.

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