Inventory Disposition Specialist

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Inventory Disposition Specialist based in the United States.** As an Inventory Disposition Specialist, you will drive inventory optimization by developing and executing strategies to recover value from excess, obsolete, slow-moving, and at-risk materials. You will take ownership of recovery opportunities from initial identification through execution, financial reconciliation, and verified results. Working across Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance, you will identify creative solutions that maximize inventory value while minimizing waste and financial exposure. You will evaluate recovery channels, negotiate suitable arrangements, and coordinate the timely disposition of raw materials and finished goods. Your work will directly contribute to improved inventory performance, stronger financial outcomes, and more efficient supply chain operations. This remote opportunity is ideal for an analytical, commercially minded professional who thrives in a cross-functional environment and enjoys turning complex inventory challenges into measurable business results. ### Accountabilities: - Monitor ERP and inventory data, including aging reports, shelf-life status, demand forecasts, open orders, and inventory classifications, to identify excess, obsolete, slow-moving, short-dated, expired, or blocked materials requiring action. - Validate inventory quantities, condition, availability, and remaining shelf life with site teams, prioritizing opportunities according to urgency, potential recovery value, outlet feasibility, and execution timelines. - Identify and develop inventory recovery channels through existing and prospective customers, former customers, brokers, distributors, supplier returns, inter-site transfers, rework, recycling, and other approved alternatives. - Coordinate with Sales and Customer Service to assess customer demand, product suitability, commercial opportunities, and applicable approval requirements. - Develop creative, compliant disposition strategies that maximize financial recovery, minimize waste, and address operational and customer needs. - Build and maintain relationships with approved recovery partners and market channels to expand opportunities and improve inventory recovery outcomes. - Own disposition opportunities from identification through verified completion by developing action plans, tracking quantities, deadlines, approvals, financial impact, prospective outlets, and execution milestones. - Coordinate cross-functional activities and resolve operational bottlenecks to ensure recovery opportunities are executed before inventory value deteriorates. - Evaluate recovery alternatives by considering expected proceeds, logistics costs, handling expenses, rework requirements, supplier credits, and overall net financial recovery. - Prepare business cases and recovery proposals for management review, negotiate pricing, quantities, and timelines within delegated authority, and obtain the necessary commercial and financial approvals. - Maintain complete and auditable documentation of recovery options, decision rationale, approvals, transactions, and financial outcomes. - Verify physical inventory movements, ERP transactions, customer billing, supplier credits, proceeds collection, and financial reconciliation before closing disposition cases. - Ensure all activities comply with company policies, quality standards, regulatory requirements, customer commitments, contractual obligations, and established approval processes. - Coordinate approved scrap or destruction activities only when viable recovery alternatives have been evaluated and documented, unless immediate disposal is necessary for safety, quality, or regulatory reasons. - Work closely with Planning, Procurement, Inventory Management, Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, and commercial teams to validate inventory suitability and coordinate execution. - Identify recurring inventory risk patterns and recommend opportunities to reduce future exposure, improve recovery processes, and strengthen inventory management practices. - Respect established decision-making authority by ensuring that product release, shelf-life extensions, retesting, rework, write-offs, financial recoveries, and commercial approvals remain subject to the appropriate functional approvals. ## Requirements: - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Finance, Logistics, or a related field. - At least 5 years of professional experience in inventory management, supply chain, operations, materials management, inventory optimization, disposition management, or a related discipline. - Demonstrated success developing and executing strategies to reduce excess and obsolete inventory while maximizing financial recovery and minimizing waste. - Strong understanding of inventory management principles, inventory aging analysis, ERP systems, and material disposition processes; experience with SAP is preferred. - Experience evaluating financial trade-offs, assessing recovery alternatives, calculating expected net value, and developing business cases to support inventory recovery initiatives. - Proven ability to manage complex opportunities from identification through execution, reconciliation, and results reporting. - Experience collaborating across commercial, operational, quality, regulatory, supply chain, and finance functions to achieve shared business objectives. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret inventory data, assess risk, prioritize opportunities, and develop practical recovery strategies. - Commercial awareness and negotiation skills, including the ability to evaluate potential sales channels, coordinate customer engagement, and negotiate recovery arrangements within established guidelines. - Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple opportunities, coordinate stakeholders, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate documentation. - Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, build productive relationships, and drive results without direct managerial authority. - High attention to detail and a commitment to financial accuracy, documentation quality, regulatory compliance, and responsible decision-making. - Ability to exercise sound judgment and recognize when approvals or specialist input are required, particularly for quality-sensitive, regulated, or financially significant decisions. - APICS/ASCM certification, such as CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD, is an advantage. - Experience in regulated manufacturing environments, familiarity with inventory reserve methodologies and inventory valuation principles, and a track record of managing excess and obsolete inventory reduction programs are desirable. ## Benefits: - **Remote work:** A remote position based in the United States, offering the opportunity to contribute from a virtual working environment. - **Healthcare coverage from day one:** Medical, dental, and vision benefits begin on the first day of employment. - **401(k) retirement plan:** Access to a retirement savings plan with company matching contributions. - **Paid time off:** Paid leave to rest, recharge, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. - **Career development:** Access to training, professional development resources, and opportunities to expand your supply chain and inventory optimization expertise. - **Meaningful impact:** Contribute to reducing waste, improving resource utilization, and supporting solutions that help protect the global food supply. - **Collaborative workplace:** Work alongside cross-functional teams in an environment that values innovation, accountability, respect, teamwork, and continuous improvement. - **Professional growth:** Gain hands-on experience in inventory recovery strategy, financial analysis, commercial negotiations, and operational improvement. - **Results-driven role:** Take meaningful ownership of inventory disposition initiatives and directly contribute to measurable financial recovery and reduced inventory exposure.