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

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

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/or distribution environments

Ability to work collaboratively with operational teams and leadership

Preferred Qualifications

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

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…