Associate Director - Inventory

About the Role:

We are looking for an Associate Director - Inventory to own end-to-end inventory management, inward operations, and warehouse strategy for our Bhiwandi facility.

This is a leadership role responsible for inventory accuracy, storage strategy, inward/receiving operations, and cross-functional coordination across supply chain, procurement, and warehouse teams - with full ownership of process, people, and performance at the site.

Key Responsibilities:

Inventory Management:

- Own inventory accuracy, cycle count planning, and annual physical (wall-to-wall) inventory count for the facility.

- Define and enforce inventory classification and control methodology (ABC analysis, FIFO/FEFO/FMFO as applicable).

- Drive slow-moving and obsolete (E&O) inventory identification and liquidation.

- Own DOH (Days on Hand) and other inventory KPIs; identify and execute working capital optimization levers.

Inward & Receiving Operations:

- Oversee end-to-end inward operations - dock scheduling, GRN processing, quality checks, put-away.

- Ensure ASN accuracy and timely resolution of receiving discrepancies with vendors/suppliers.

- Define and monitor inbound SLAs and turnaround time targets.

Warehouse & Storage Strategy:

- Define warehouse layout, racking, slotting, and storage strategy to optimize space and throughput.

- Own replenishment strategy, pick-face design, and Ti-Hi configuration.

- Lead WMS-related process design, migration, or system enhancements as required.

Supply Chain & Cross-Functional Coordination:

- Coordinate with procurement, planning, and demand teams to align inventory levels with omnichannel (D2C + retail store) demand.

- Partner with transportation/logistics teams to ensure inbound and outbound flow efficiency.

- Support new site setup or inventory transition (HOTO) activities as the company's store and fulfillment footprint expands.

Operations & People Leadership:

- Lead and develop the site inventory/warehouse team (headcount ownership, hiring, training, performance management).

- Own site-level inventory-related P&L inputs, cost control, and reporting (MIS, KPI reviews).

- Ensure statutory and safety compliance across inventory and warehouse operations.

- Drive continuous improvement (Kaizen, 5S, CAPA) on the floor.

Requirements:

- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent preferred.

- Years of experience in inventory management, warehouse operations, or supply chain, with at least 3 - 5 years in a leadership/multi-team role.

- Hands-on experience with WMS and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent).

- Proven experience in inventory accuracy, cycle counting, and inbound/outbound operations at scale.

- Experience in warehouse setup, HOTO, or site transition is a strong plus - especially valuable given the company's rapid store and fulfillment expansion.

- Strong stakeholder management - vendors, cross-functional teams, and leadership.

- Based in or willing to relocate to Bhiwandi.