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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Cargo Inventory Supervisor

💰 $45,000 - $75,000

LogisticsSupply ChainWarehouseInventory Control

🎯 Role Definition

The Cargo Inventory Supervisor is a hands-on frontline leader responsible for accurate control, reconciliation, and physical stewardship of cargo inventory across airport terminals, warehouses, and distribution centers. This role combines operational oversight, inventory control best practices, regulatory compliance (IATA/ICAO/CBP), team leadership, and continuous improvement to reduce shrinkage, speed throughput, and ensure safe, documented handling of inbound and outbound freight. The Cargo Inventory Supervisor works closely with operations, cargo agents, carriers, customs brokers, and IT to maintain real-time inventory visibility and meet KPIs for accuracy, on-time shipments, and cost control.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Inventory Control Specialist / Inventory Clerk
  • Warehouse Associate / Material Handler
  • Cargo Agent / Freight Handler

Advancement To:

  • Inventory Manager / Senior Inventory Supervisor
  • Warehouse Operations Manager
  • Cargo Operations Manager or Supply Chain Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Freight Operations Supervisor
  • Customs Documentation Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise and execute daily inventory control activities for all cargo inventory locations, including receiving, put-away, storage, order pick, staging, and shipping, ensuring no disruption to flight and ground operations.
  • Lead and coach a team of inventory clerks, cargo handlers, and receiving personnel; create daily assignments, monitor performance, and provide on-the-job training to ensure procedural compliance and high morale.
  • Plan, schedule and execute regular cycle counts and annual physical inventory counts, reconcile count variances, investigate root causes, and implement corrective actions to improve inventory accuracy.
  • Manage inventory reconciliation between Warehouse Management System (WMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) data, carrier manifests, and physical stock, producing clear variance reports and recommended adjustments.
  • Maintain custody and chain-of-custody documentation for high-value and sensitive cargo items, ensuring proper security seals, logging, and restricted access controls are enforced.
  • Enforce regulatory and safety requirements for cargo handling, including IATA, ICAO, TSA, and local customs directives, and coordinate with compliance teams for audits and inspections.
  • Coordinate inbound and outbound manifests with carriers, freight forwarders, and ground handling agents to ensure accurate inventory booking, timely release, and correct billing.
  • Develop, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as inventory accuracy, shrinkage rates, on-time shipping, order cycle time, and storage utilization to senior management.
  • Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies, loss, and damage claims; interact with carriers, insurers, and customers to determine liability and recommend resolutions.
  • Implement and maintain bin locations, zoning strategies, and slotting plans to maximize space utilization and minimize handling time for high-turn and high-value cargo.
  • Oversee hazardous materials (HAZMAT) segregation, labeling, and handling procedures for cargo items subject to dangerous goods regulations, and ensure proper documentation and training for staff.
  • Approve and manage inventory transfers between terminals, warehouses, and cross-dock locations; coordinate transportation and confirm receipts at destination.
  • Configure and maintain barcoding, RF scanning, and label printing processes to support real-time inventory updates and error reduction across receiving and shipping lanes.
  • Lead continuous improvement projects to streamline inventory workflows, reduce cycle count variances, and improve first-time-right rates using Lean methodologies and data-driven analysis.
  • Maintain accurate records for customs clearance and bonded cargo, prepare documentation for customs brokers, and coordinate inspections or holds as required.
  • Control and reconcile packing material and consumables inventory, forecasting supply needs and initiating replenishment to avoid operational downtime.
  • Manage return-to-vendor (RTV), salvage, and disposition processes for damaged, expired, or unclaimed cargo, ensuring compliant disposal and proper accounting adjustments.
  • Collaborate with IT and WMS implementers to design reports, dashboards, and integrations that enhance visibility of inventory status, exceptions, and trends.
  • Supervise the onboarding and offboarding procedures for cargo that requires special handling (temperature control, oversized, perishable), ensuring SOPs are followed and documentation is complete.
  • Coordinate emergency response and contingency inventory plans for disruptions such as weather events, strikes, or equipment failures to maintain continuity of cargo operations.
  • Prepare and present weekly and monthly inventory performance reviews, variance analyses, and improvement roadmaps to operations leadership and finance partners.
  • Ensure cost controls and budget adherence for inventory-related expenses including storage fees, spoilage, and handling labor while recommending opportunities to reduce cost-per-shipment.
  • Maintain a secure and safe inventory environment through regular inspections, CCTV spot checks, and enforcement of access controls and loss-prevention procedures.
  • Serve as primary liaison for internal stakeholders (operations, customer service, finance) and external partners (carriers, customs, brokers) to resolve complex inventory and shipment issues.
  • Implement seasonal staffing plans and cross-training programs to scale inventory coverage during peaks while maintaining inventory accuracy and service levels.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc inventory data requests, KPI deep-dives, and exploratory analysis for special projects or audits.
  • Contribute to the cargo organization’s inventory strategy, digital transformation initiatives, and roadmap for WMS/ERP improvements.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate operational needs into system requirements and process design that improve inventory visibility and throughput.
  • Participate in cross-functional project planning, sprint planning, and agile ceremonies when implementing WMS enhancements or integrations.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise for RFPs or vendor evaluations related to inventory management, WMS modules, or automated storage systems.
  • Mentor junior supervisors and act as backup for warehouse operations manager during absences, ensuring continuity of inventory oversight.
  • Assist finance with inventory valuation queries, month-end closings, and support audit requests with documented inventory evidence and variance explanations.
  • Lead periodic risk assessments for inventory handling and storage to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities or regulatory non-compliance.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient in Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) such as Manhattan, Blue Yonder (JDA), SAP EWM, or Oracle WMS for inventory transactions, slotting, and cycle counts.
  • Strong experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft) to reconcile inventory financials and coordinate cross-functional postings.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, Power Query, and data visualization for inventory analysis and reporting.
  • Hands-on experience with RF scanning devices, barcode labeling systems, and mobile data terminals used in cargo receiving and shipping workflows.
  • Solid understanding of air cargo documentation (air waybills, house airwaybills, manifests), customs procedures, bonded cargo, and bonded warehouse operations.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements for dangerous goods (IATA/ICAO), TSA cargo security protocols, and local customs regulations.
  • Proven ability to conduct and manage cycle counts, full physical inventories, reconciliation processes, and root-cause variance investigations.
  • Familiarity with inventory costing methods (FIFO, LIFO, weighted-average), inventory valuation, and impacts to financial reporting.
  • Experience with inventory reporting and dashboard tools (Power BI, Tableau, or Looker) to visualize KPIs and trends.
  • Basic SQL or data-querying skills to extract inventory datasets for analysis and operational improvements.
  • Experience managing damage, claim processing, returns, and disposition workflows for cargo and high-value items.
  • Knowledge of logistics metrics and KPI frameworks for inventory control, on-time performance, and shrinkage reduction.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people-management skills with experience guiding multicultural and shift-based teams in fast-paced environments.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact with carriers, customs brokers, internal stakeholders, and customers.
  • High attention to detail and analytical mindset for identifying discrepancies and driving accurate inventory reconciliations.
  • Problem-solving aptitude and decisive judgment in triaging exceptions, claims, and operational disruptions.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance cycle counts, receiving surges, and shipment deadlines.
  • Customer-service orientation focused on timely resolution of shipment issues and clear stakeholder updates.
  • Continuous improvement mindset with proven ability to lead process change and embed new standard operating procedures.
  • Resilience and adaptability to handle peak seasons, unexpected disruptions, and shifting regulatory requirements.
  • Conflict resolution and coaching skills to manage disciplinary issues, performance improvements, and cross-functional disagreements.
  • Initiative and accountability for delivering results against KPIs and financial targets.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Aviation Management, or related field preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Aviation/Aerospace Management
  • Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3 to 7 years of progressive experience in cargo, freight, or warehouse inventory roles with at least 1–3 years in a supervisory capacity.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of cargo inventory management or warehouse supervision experience with demonstrated success in WMS-led environments.
  • Prior experience in air cargo operations, freight forwarding, or airport ground handling strongly preferred.
  • Experience with regulatory compliance (IATA/ICAO/TSA/Customs), hazardous materials handling, and bonded cargo operations.
  • Proven track record of driving inventory accuracy improvements, reducing shrinkage, and implementing process improvements or automation.
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