Inventory Control Manager

Job Description

Illuminate USA, located in the heart of Central Ohio, is transforming solar panel manufacturing                     from our cutting-edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we’ve rapidly grown to over 1,600 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere.

This is an exciting time to join Illuminate USA as we continue to grow and innovate. We’re not just building solar panels, we’re building a team of dedicated, passionate associates eager to make a real impact. If you’re looking to be part of a collaborative, people-focused, and forward-thinking workplace, we want to hear from you!

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and continuous opportunities for career growth. Come join us on this journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future in the Columbus area.

Illuminate USA is seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized Inventory Control Manager to support warehouse operations at our manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. The Inventory Control Manager is responsible for the accuracy, visibility, traceability, and control of Raw Material, Work-in-Process (WIP), and Finished Goods inventory across warehouse, staging, production, and storage operations. This role serves as the single point of accountability for inventory accuracy, WMS inventory integrity, cycle counting, FIFO compliance, RFID management, inventory reconciliation, inventory reporting, and inventory governance. The Inventory Control Manager partners closely with internal groups to ensure material availability, production continuity, financial inventory accuracy, and operational excellence. The role is responsible for developing and enforcing inventory control standards, improving inventory visibility, reducing discrepancies, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring accurate inventory transactions throughout the end-to-end material flow.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of approximately 20 inventory professionals through two Inventory Supervisors, establishing performance expectations, accountability, and continuous improvement initiatives.

•  Own inventory accuracy, visibility, and control for Raw Materials, Work-in-Process (WIP), and Finished Goods across warehouse, staging, and production operations.

•  Manage cycle count programs, physical inventories, inventory audits, inventory reconciliation activities, and corrective action plans to ensure inventory accuracy and compliance.

•  Oversee WMS inventory accuracy and transaction integrity, ensuring timely and accurate inventory transactions across receiving, put away, storage, picking, transfers, production consumption, and returns.

•  Lead investigations into inventory discrepancies, inventory variances, material shortages, and transaction errors while implementing sustainable corrective actions.

•  Establish and enforce inventory control policies, procedures, and governance standards to support operational and financial objectives.

• Drive FIFO compliance, inventory traceability, and material flow optimization to reduce inventory aging, material handling, and inventory-related disruptions.

• Own RFID governance, compliance, and inventory tracking processes to improve inventory visibility and traceability.

• Partner with Finance to support inventory valuation, audit readiness, financial reconciliation, inventory controls, and period-end reporting activities.

• Collaborate with Planning, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, and Warehouse Operations to improve inventory performance, material availability, and production support.

• Support inventory master data accuracy by partnering with cross-functional teams to standardize SKU and part number structures, eliminate duplicate material records, and improve supplier data quality.

• Develop, monitor, and report inventory KPIs including inventory accuracy, WMS accuracy, cycle count compliance, FIFO compliance, inventory adjustments, RFID compliance, and material shortages.

• Lead inventory review meetings, root cause analysis activities, and continuous improvement projects focused on inventory control, traceability, and operational performance.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Operations, Logistics, Business, Engineering, or related field.

• 8+ years of inventory control, materials management, warehouse operations, or manufacturing experience.

• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams.

• Experience managing Raw Material, WIP, and Finished Goods inventory.

• Strong knowledge of inventory accuracy, cycle counting, FIFO, inventory reconciliation, and audit controls.

• Experience with ERP, WMS, RFID, and inventory tracking systems.

• Proven ability to partner with Finance, Planning, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Operations.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

Preferred

• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP, CLTD).

• Lean Six Sigma certification.

• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments.

• Experience leading inventory accuracy and continuous improvement initiatives.

At Illuminate USA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunity for all, ensuring that all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Your unique background and experiences are valued here, as we believe they strengthen our team and drive our mission forward.

Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.