Inventory Specialist at Stella-Jones in Guelph, Ontario, CA

Position Overview The Inventory Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and analyzing utility pole inventory levels across designated plant locations. This role works closely with Plant Managers, Sales, and Procurement to balance stock levels against sales demand, ensuring optimal inventory availability while preventing stockouts and overstocking. Additionally, this individual will maintain full ownership of the Purchase Order (PO) lifecycle—from generation and tracking to plant receipt and verification. Key Responsibilities Inventory Monitoring & Analysis • Monitor, reconcile, and analyze utility pole inventory levels across regional plant operations on a daily/weekly basis.• Compare current on-hand and in-transit inventory against historical sales trends and open customer orders to forecast demand.• Identify shortages, imbalances, or surplus stock and proactively recommend replenishment orders or stock transfers between locations.• Collaborate regularly with Plant Managers to determine purchasing needs, production schedules, and incoming shipping priorities. Purchase Order (PO) Management & Ownership• Own the end-to-end Purchase Order lifecycle within the ERP system, ensuring 100% data accuracy and timely processing.• Create, issue, and maintain purchase orders for raw materials, poles, and related inventory.• Track outstanding POs, communicate with vendors/suppliers, and manage expected delivery timelines.• Liaise with plant receiving teams to confirm physical receipt of goods, resolve delivery discrepancies (quantity, quality, documentation), and ensure accurate inventory posting. Reporting & Process Improvement• Generate regular inventory status, variance, and order tracking reports for operational leadership.• Assist in periodic physical inventory counts and cycle count reconciliations.• Identify opportunities to streamline purchase order workflows and improve inventory accuracy.• Physical Counts & Year-End Support: Actively participate in cycle counts, periodic physical yard audits, and dedicated support for annual Year-End (YE) inventory reconciliations.• Workflow Optimization: Identify bottlenecks in procurement and inventory workflows, proposing practical improvements to drive operational efficiency and inventory accuracy.• General Operations: Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned to support the broader supply chain and inventory control team.