Procurement and Inventory Management Specialist

About Us We are a growing manufacturing and e-commerce company that assembles and sells automotive products across multiple sales channels. We are looking for a detail-oriented Procurement & Inventory Management Specialist to help ensure we always have the right materials available while minimizing excess inventory. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with data, building forecasting models, and improving inventory planning processes. Position Overview The Procurement & Inventory Management Specialist will be responsible for forecasting material requirements, monitoring inventory levels, planning replenishment, and coordinating purchasing activities with suppliers and internal teams. The primary objective of this role is to ensure uninterrupted production through accurate demand forecasting and efficient inventory management. Key Responsibilities Inventory Forecasting * Analyze historical sales, forecasts, and production schedules. * Develop weekly and monthly material demand forecasts. * Calculate purchasing requirements for raw materials, components, and packaging. * Monitor forecast accuracy and continuously improve forecasting methods. Inventory Management * Monitor inventory levels across warehouses. * Maintain target stock levels, safety stock, and reorder points. * Identify slow-moving, obsolete, and excess inventory. * Recommend actions to optimize inventory turnover and reduce carrying costs. * Perform inventory analysis and reconciliation when needed. Procurement Planning * Create purchase plans based on forecasted demand. * Prepare purchase orders and coordinate with suppliers. * Monitor supplier lead times and delivery schedules. * Track open purchase orders and follow up on delayed shipments. * Recommend alternative sourcing when supply risks arise. Production & Material Planning * Ensure materials are available to support production schedules. * Coordinate with operations and warehouse teams to prevent material shortages. * Monitor component availability for product assemblies and kits. Reporting & Analysis Develop and maintain reports including: * Inventory status * Material shortages * Forecast vs. actual demand * Inventory turnover * Supplier performance * Purchase order status * Stock coverage (Days of Inventory) Provide recommendations to improve inventory performance and purchasing efficiency. Required Qualifications * 3+ years of experience in procurement, inventory management, supply chain, or materials planning. * Strong experience with demand forecasting and inventory planning. * Advanced Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets skills (pivot tables, formulas, lookups, data analysis). * Experience working with ERP or inventory management systems. * Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. * Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. * Ability to work independently and communicate effectively in English. Preferred Qualifications Experience with one or more of the following is a plus: * Katana MRP * Shopify * eBay * Amazon Seller Central * Manufacturing or assembly operations * Automotive aftermarket industry * Power BI or other reporting tools Success Metrics The successful candidate will help achieve: * Improved forecast accuracy * Reduced stockouts * Optimized inventory levels * Improved inventory turnover * Timely purchasing of materials * Reduced expedited shipping costs * Accurate inventory reporting Work Arrangement * Remote * Flexible working hours with overlap for team meetings * Part-time to start (approximately 15–20 hours per week), with potential to grow into a long-term role.