Inventory Strategy & Warehouse Optimization Consultant (1099 Independent Contractor)

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

Success Measures

- Success in this engagement will be measured by:
- Identification of actionable inventory reduction opportunities
- Practicality and operational applicability of recommendations
- Alignment between ERP/system recommendations and operational realities
- Clarity and usability of implementation guidance
- Measurable opportunities identified for inventory accuracy and warehouse efficiency improvement

Engagement Notes

This engagement is intended to support hands-on operational improvement efforts already underway within the organization, including inventory accuracy and cycle count initiatives.

The expectation is for a highly practical and execution-oriented partnership focused on actionable operational improvements and sustainable process enhancements.

Responsibilities

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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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

Requirements

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/or distribution environments; Ability to work collaboratively with operational teams and leadership

Nice to have

SAP WM, EWM, MM, or PP experience; Experience with inventory optimization and warehouse transformation initiatives; Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience; Experience implementing inventory control or warehouse process improvements; Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities