Inventory Manager at Smile… · Vancouver

Inventory Manager

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

About Smile Innovations Group

Smile Innovations Group (SIG) is a growing network of dental laboratories committed to delivering exceptional products, service, and innovation to dental professionals across Canada.

Our laboratories combine specialized technical expertise, advanced technology, and a commitment to quality to support dental practices and their patients. As we continue to grow, we are building scalable systems, processes, and teams that enable our laboratories to operate efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of quality and service.

We are looking for an experienced Inventory Manager to join our team and take ownership of purchasing and inventory management across our laboratory network.

Description

The Inventory Manager is responsible for developing and executing purchasing and inventory strategies that optimize cost, quality, service levels, and supply continuity across Smile Innovations Group's laboratory locations.

This role provides strategic and operational leadership for purchasing, inventory management, supplier relationships, inventory controls, and related processes across the organization. The Inventory Manager will establish consistent inventory standards, improve visibility and accuracy, optimize purchasing and stock levels, and ensure our laboratories have the materials and supplies required to operate efficiently without unnecessary excess inventory or waste.

Working closely with Finance, Accounting, Operations, Production, Quality Assurance, and Laboratory Managers, the Inventory Manager will ensure inventory activity is accurately reflected in our financial reporting and that inventory processes support both operational and financial objectives.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker who is equally comfortable analyzing inventory data, negotiating with suppliers, improving processes, working within ERP/MRP systems, and supporting teams across multiple locations.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Inventory Strategy & Planning

• Develop and execute purchasing and inventory strategies across all laboratory locations
• Establish site-level inventory targets, reorder points, minimum/maximum levels, and safety stock requirements
• Forecast demand and proactively identify potential supply shortages, excess inventory, and purchasing requirements
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support uninterrupted laboratory operations while minimizing carrying costs and obsolescence
• Manage raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), finished goods, and dental-specific materials across the organization
• Develop strategies for network-wide stock pooling and allocation to optimize available inventory
• Monitor inventory aging and identify opportunities to redeploy, reduce, or eliminate slow-moving and obsolete inventory
• Balance inventory availability, working capital, product quality, and operational requirements

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Oversee purchasing activities across all laboratory locations
• Consolidate demand across locations to leverage purchasing volume and improve pricing
• Optimize order quantities, purchasing frequency, and supplier lead times
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and vendors
• Negotiate pricing, terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, and other purchasing requirements where appropriate
• Monitor supplier performance, including pricing, quality, reliability, lead times, and service levels
• Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers and standardize products across laboratory locations
• Proactively manage supply chain risks and develop contingency plans for critical materials
• Ensure purchasing activities are aligned with approved budgets and organizational requirements

Inventory Operations & Control

• Direct inventory operations, including receiving, storage, inventory movement, warehouse organization, and inter-site transfers
• Coordinate the redeployment of inventory between laboratory locations to balance supply and reduce unnecessary purchasing
• Establish and maintain standardized inventory processes and controls across all locations
• Monitor inventory accuracy through cycle counts, physical inventories, reconciliations, and regular audits
• Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies in a timely manner
• Ensure appropriate lot tracking and traceability of inventory where required
• Maintain accurate product catalogues, inventory records, units of measure, costs, and other ERP/MRP master data
• Ensure inventory is properly stored, organized, identified, and managed according to operational and quality requirements
• Establish clear accountability for inventory at each laboratory location

Financial & Inventory Reporting

• Partner closely with Accounting and Finance to ensure accurate financial reporting related to purchasing and inventory activity
• Support month-end and year-end close processes, audits, and inventory reporting requirements
• Support accurate inventory valuation and reporting across all laboratory locations
• Monitor standard costing and cost variances and identify significant drivers of change
• Analyze purchase price variance and supplier pricing trends
• Support the accurate accrual of goods received not invoiced (GRNI)
• Monitor inventory-related COGS and margin impacts
• Identify and support appropriate reserves for obsolete and slow-moving inventory
• Ensure inventory transactions are accurately recorded and reconciled within the ERP/MRP system
• Provide management with regular reporting and analysis on inventory performance and financial impacts

Reporting & Performance Management

• Develop and maintain consolidated, real-time visibility into inventory across all laboratory locations
• Establish and monitor key inventory and purchasing KPIs
• Analyze inventory turnover, aging, carrying costs, stock shortages, excess inventory, supplier performance, and purchasing trends
• Provide location-level and network-wide reporting to Management
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities and make data-driven recommendations
• Establish clear inventory performance expectations and accountability at the laboratory level
• Use data and reporting to support purchasing, production planning, allocation, and operational decision-making

Process Improvement & Standardization

• Standardize purchasing and inventory processes across the organization
• Develop, document, and maintain inventory policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices
• Standardize product catalogues, purchasing practices, and inventory management processes across laboratory locations
• Identify opportunities for automation, system optimization, and improved data visibility
• Lead initiatives designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, minimize waste, and improve inventory accuracy
• Continuously evaluate processes and identify opportunities to improve scalability as SIG grows
• Support the implementation, optimization, and ongoing improvement of ERP/MRP inventory functionality
• Ensure changes to inventory processes are effectively communicated and adopted across all locations

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and support purchasing and inventory team members across multiple laboratory locations
• Establish clear expectations, processes, and performance standards
• Provide training and ongoing development related to purchasing, inventory controls, systems, and processes
• Monitor team performance and provide coaching and feedback as required
• Support performance management in partnership with Laboratory Managers, Operations, and HR
• Promote a culture of accountability, accuracy, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
• Ensure purchasing and inventory teams consistently follow established processes and controls

Acquisitions & Integration

• Support SIG's acquisition and integration activities related to purchasing and inventory
• Assess inventory practices, supplier relationships, product catalogues, systems, and inventory controls within newly acquired laboratories
• Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers and leverage network-wide purchasing volume
• Standardize purchasing, inventory, and ERP/MRP processes across newly acquired locations
• Support inventory reconciliation, data migration, product standardization, and system integration
• Implement SIG inventory best practices within newly acquired laboratories
• Travel to laboratory locations as required to support integration and operational initiatives

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Finance and Accounting on inventory valuation, financial reporting, and month-end and year-end close
• Collaborate with Operations and Laboratory Managers to ensure inventory levels support operational requirements
• Work closely with Production and Quality Assurance to ensure material availability, quality, traceability, and compliance
• Partner with Management on strategic purchasing, cost reduction, and working capital initiatives
• Serve as the subject matter expert for purchasing and inventory management across SIG

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of company, supplier, financial, and operational information
• Ensure compliance with applicable company policies, quality standards, and regulatory requirements
• Travel domestically up to 20% of the time to support laboratory locations, operational initiatives, and acquisition integration
• Perform other duties or projects as assigned by Management

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in inventory management, purchasing, supply chain, procurement, operations, or a related field
• Experience managing inventory across multiple locations strongly preferred
• Previous leadership or people-management experience
• Strong understanding of inventory planning, demand forecasting, purchasing, replenishment, and inventory controls
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and inventory master data
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, including an understanding of inventory valuation, costing, COGS, and purchasing impacts on financial statements
• Experience with supplier management, purchasing negotiations, and cost optimization
• Strong understanding of inventory KPIs, reporting, and data analysis
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement standardized processes across multiple locations
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively with Finance, Accounting, Operations, Production, Quality Assurance, and Laboratory leadership
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Experience in a manufacturing, healthcare, medical, dental, distribution, or other regulated environment considered an asset
• Dental laboratory experience considered an asset, but not required
• Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, or multi-site organizational growth considered an asset
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically up to 20%