Inventory Strategy & Warehouse Optimization Consultant (1099 Independent Contractor)

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Inventory Strategy & Warehouse Optimization Consultant (INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 1099) to support the assessment, development, and initial execution of a comprehensive inventory and warehouse improvement program within a manufacturing environment.

This role will focus on evaluating current inventory levels, warehouse material placement, SAP inventory/planning parameters, and operational material flow to identify opportunities for improved inventory accuracy, reduced excess and obsolete inventory, and increased warehouse efficiency.

The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of analytical capability and operational experience and has successfully implemented measurable inventory and warehouse improvements in manufacturing or distribution environments.

This is a highly execution-oriented engagement. The successful consultant must be capable of developing practical, actionable solutions grounded in operational reality, not simply delivering high-level assessments or theoretical recommendations.

This is a 1099 Independent Contractor position.  The candidate will be responsible for their own taxes and will receive a Form 1099 instead of a W-2

Scope of Work

Inventory Strategy & Stock Level Assessment

• Evaluate current inventory levels across materials, SKUs, and warehouse locations/buildings
• Assess inventory segmentation, stocking strategies, and inventory health
• Identify excess, obsolete, slow-moving, and duplicate inventory opportunities
• Develop recommendations for target inventory levels, stocking policies, and inventory optimization opportunities
• Review inventory placement and storage strategy across buildings and operational areas

Warehouse Material Flow & Storage Optimization

• Assess warehouse material flow between receiving, storage, production, and shipping areas
• Identify inefficiencies related to material movement, storage practices, location management, and inventory accessibility
• Evaluate warehouse layout, slotting practices, and storage utilization
• Recommend operational improvements to improve material flow and reduce handling inefficiencies

SAP / ERP Inventory & Planning Parameter Assessment

• Review current SAP inventory and planning parameters including safety stock, reorder points, lead times, lot sizes, storage locations, and material master data accuracy
• Identify gaps between system settings and actual operational practices
• Recommend parameter adjustments and process improvements to improve alignment and inventory performance

Inventory Governance & Operational Controls

• Evaluate inventory transaction processes and operational controls
• Assess inventory discrepancy trends and potential root causes
• Support improvement of inventory governance, reporting, and operational accountability processes
• Provide recommendations to improve long-term inventory process sustainability

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Supply Chain, Warehouse, Production, Procurement, Finance, Quality, and Customer Service teams
• Facilitate operational discussions and working sessions as needed
• Support prioritization of improvement opportunities based on operational and financial impact

Expected Deliverables

• The consultant will be expected to provide practical, implementation-oriented outputs including:
• Current-state inventory assessment
• SKU/building-level inventory and storage analysis
• Inventory segmentation and stocking recommendations
• Excess and obsolete inventory identification
• SAP parameter assessment and recommended changes
• Warehouse material flow observations and improvement recommendations
• Prioritized operational improvement opportunities
• Root cause analysis of key inventory and warehouse issues
• KPI recommendations and reporting framework
• Action-oriented implementation roadmap with operational considerations

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in inventory management, warehouse operations, supply chain optimization, or manufacturing operations
• Strong experience working within SAP or similar ERP systems
• Demonstrated experience improving inventory accuracy and reducing excess inventory
• Experience evaluating warehouse operations and material flow processes
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and operational assessment skills
• Experience working within manufacturing and/