Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Operations Support Outfitter

🎯 Role Definition

The Operations Support Outfitter is a hands-on operational role responsible for outfitting teams with the right equipment, managing inventory and supply chains, coordinating logistics for field deployments, and ensuring gear readiness and safety compliance. This position blends inventory management, shipping and receiving, preventive maintenance, vendor relations, and documentation to support field operations, special events, and recurring mission deployments. The ideal candidate brings strong logistics systems experience, attention to detail, and the ability to translate operational needs into reliable supply and maintenance processes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Inventory Clerk / Warehouse Associate with experience in shipping/receiving and asset tagging
Field Support Technician or Equipment Technician supporting outdoor or field teams
Logistics Coordinator or Junior Procurement Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Outfitter / Lead Operations Support
Logistics Manager / Supply Chain Supervisor
Field Operations Manager or Program Operations Lead

Lateral Moves:

Procurement Analyst
Asset Management Specialist
Quality Assurance / Safety Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Maintain end-to-end inventory management for field equipment and supplies, including cycle counts, stock reconciliations, forecasting reorder points, and minimizing stockouts and overstock through data-driven inventory control policies.
Coordinate logistics for domestic and international field deployments: plan transport, consolidations, freight forwarding, customs paperwork, and last-mile delivery to ensure timely arrival of gear and consumables.
Receive, inspect, and process inbound shipments including quality checks, damage assessments, serial number verification, asset tagging, and accurate ERP/WMS data entry to ensure full traceability of equipment.
Issue, stage, and kit equipment for projects and deployments using standardized packing lists and checklists; prepare and verify return manifests and reconciliation reports after deployments.
Create, update, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists for gear handling, staging, crating, and field issue/return processes to reduce loss and improve operational consistency.
Plan and execute preventive maintenance schedules for mission-critical gear and vehicles, coordinate with maintenance vendors, schedule repairs and calibrations, and track maintenance histories in asset management systems.
Manage vendor relationships and service-level agreements (SLAs), negotiate pricing and lead times for equipment, coordinate warranty claims and repairs, and evaluate supplier performance through scorecards and KPIs.
Operate and administer inventory and logistics systems (ERP, WMS, CMMS) including barcode scanners, handheld devices, and integrated reporting tools to maintain accurate real-time inventory visibility.
Prepare and process purchase orders, receiving documents, invoices, and expense reconciliations; collaborate with procurement and finance to ensure budget control and timely payments.
Lead outbound logistics and shipping preparation: cartonization, labeling, consolidation, hazardous materials documentation (if applicable), carrier selection, and freight bill reconciliation.
Conduct routine gear inspections, safety checks, fit testing, and field readiness assessments; document deficiencies and coordinate corrective actions to comply with regulatory and internal safety requirements.
Provide direct support to field teams during mission staging: on-site issue/return processing, emergency resupply coordination, and troubleshooting of equipment failures in high-pressure environments.
Configure, kit, and customize equipment packages to meet mission-specific requirements, ensuring compatibility of components and documenting kit manifests for rapid deployment and reconstitution.
Track and report operational KPIs including order fill rates, on-time shipments, inventory accuracy, equipment downtime, repair turnaround times, and cost-per-asset metrics to drive continuous improvement.
Lead periodic audits and reconciliations of physical inventory versus system records, investigate discrepancies, implement corrective actions, and prepare audit reports for leadership and auditors.
Train staff and temporary personnel on outfitting procedures, safety protocols, equipment use, logo/branding handling, and proper documentation to ensure consistent execution across operations.
Develop packing and transport solutions to protect high-value or fragile assets, including custom crating, shock mitigation, moisture protection, and secure storage solutions for long-term deployments.
Maintain accurate asset lifecycle documentation: procurement records, serial numbers, warranties, maintenance events, depreciation schedules, and disposal/warranty returns.
Support cost-control initiatives by identifying sourcing alternatives, consolidating shipments, optimizing packaging for weight/volume reduction, and recommending process improvements to reduce operational spend.
Provide customer-facing support for internal stakeholders and external clients: respond to outfitting inquiries, create equipment lists and quotes, facilitate training sessions, and ensure satisfaction with outfitting services.
Ensure compliance with local, national, and international regulations including DOT, IATA, customs/import/export rules, hazardous materials handling, and workplace safety standards such as OSHA or company-specific directives.
Implement and maintain a system for lost/damaged/stolen gear reporting, track insurance claims where applicable, and recover costs through internal chargebacks or vendor warranty processes.
Collaborate cross-functionally with program management, field operations, procurement, finance, and quality assurance to align outfitting activities with project timelines and deliverables.
Lead or participate in continuous improvement projects using Lean, 5S, or Kaizen methodologies to optimize workspace layout, reduce cycle times, and improve equipment throughput and turnaround.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist with seasonal inventory planning and surge staffing coordination for peak deployment windows.
Maintain and organize gear storage facilities to maximize space utilization and minimize transit damage.
Serve as point of contact for incident reports related to gear failure, coordinating root cause analysis and preventative measures.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Inventory Management: cycle counting, FIFO/LIFO, stock replenishment, ABC analysis.
Logistics & Shipping: freight management, carrier negotiation, bill of lading, incoterms, customs documentation.
Asset Management Systems: experience with ERP/WMS/CMMS platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Infor, Fishbowl, Asset Panda).
Equipment Maintenance: preventive maintenance scheduling, repair coordination, vendor management, calibration.
Packing & Crating: custom crating, palletization, shrink wrap, dunnage selection and packaging optimization.
Safety & Compliance: knowledge of OSHA, DOT, IATA, hazardous materials handling, and international shipping compliance.
Procurement & PO Processing: issuing POs, vendor onboarding, invoice reconciliation, budget tracking.
Data & Reporting: Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP), Google Sheets, basic SQL or BI tools for KPI dashboards and inventory analytics.
Quality Control: inspection criteria development, non-conformance reporting, handling warranty returns.
Field Support: staging, kitting, issue/return processing, on-site troubleshooting, and field resupply coordination.
Technical Documentation: creating SOPs, packing lists, checklists, maintenance logs, and audit records.
Tools & Equipment: proficiency with barcode scanners, label printers, handheld devices, and basic workshop tools.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and methodical approach to inventory accuracy and gear readiness.
Excellent communication skills to liaise with vendors, field teams, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Problem-solving orientation with the ability to manage competing priorities under tight timelines.
Time management and organizational skills to coordinate multiple deployments and maintenance tasks.
Customer service mindset and the ability to manage expectations and provide clear status updates.
Flexibility and adaptability for irregular hours, travel, and rapid response during field deployments.
Leadership and training capability to onboard seasonal staff and enforce standard procedures.
Analytical mindset to use data to drive inventory optimization and cost reduction decisions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
High school diploma or GED; relevant technical certificates in logistics, supply chain, or equipment maintenance preferred.

Preferred Education:
Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Mechanical Technology, or Outdoor Recreation/Environmental Science (for field outfitting contexts).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Business Administration or Operations Management
Mechanical or Industrial Technology
Outdoor Recreation Management or Environmental Studies
Aviation or Transportation Management (where applicable)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
2 - 7 years of progressive experience in inventory control, logistics, field support, or equipment maintenance.

Preferred:
3+ years in outfitting, field operations support, warehouse operations, or military/expeditionary equipment management with hands-on experience in ERP/WMS systems, vendor management, and compliance with shipping/regulatory requirements.