Inventory Strategy & Warehouse Optimization Consultant (1099 Independent Contractor)
- Full-time
- Employment Classification: Hourly
- Nemera Department: BG Supply Chain
- Contract Type: Contractor
- Legal entity: Nemera Buffalo Grove
Job Description
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
Qualifications
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 implementation guidance
- Measurable opportunities identified for inventory accuracy and warehouse efficiency improvement
Engagement Notes
This engagement is intended to support hands-on operational improvement efforts already underway within the organization, including inventory accuracy and cycle count initiatives.
The expectation is for a highly practical and execution-oriented partnership focused on actionable operational improvements and sustainable process enhancements.
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
POSITION RANGE: $57.00 - $77.00 hourly rate (This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.)
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
For US Benefits, CLICK HERE.
Nemera is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class indication. This company is required by federal law to hire only persons who can establish they are eligible to work in the United States.