Assistant Manager - Inventory in Ernakulam, भारत

Assistant Manager - Inventory 

Location : Angamaly

Qualification : Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, or a related field

Experience : 6+years, preferably in inventory/warehouse management within a manufacturing or food/FMCG environment.

About Bayfield

Bayfield Food Ingredients Pvt. Ltd. is a fast-growing food solutions company specializing in seasonings, culinary solutions, and food ingredients for the HoReCa and institutional markets.

As Bayfield scales its operations, we are looking for a hands-on Inventory Manager who will bring discipline, accuracy, and traceability to raw material, packaging, and finished goods inventory, supporting uninterrupted production and reliable order fulfilment.

This position offers a strong opportunity for an inventory/warehouse operations professional to build robust systems from the ground up and grow into broader supply chain leadership as the organization expands.

Purpose of the Role

The Inventory Manager will be responsible for the accuracy, availability, and traceability of Bayfield's inventory across raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. The role requires a hands-on professional who enjoys building systems, tightening processes, and working closely with Procurement, Production, and QC in a fast-growing entrepreneurial environment.

Working Style

The Inventory Manager is expected to be a hands-on professional who enjoys working in a fast-growing business. The role requires ownership, attention to detail, and the willingness to work across functions to build robust inventory processes rather than operate within a large corporate structure.

Key Responsibilities

The Inventory Manager will be the custodian of Bayfield's inventory accuracy and warehouse discipline, ensuring stock records, documentation, and logistics coordination are accurate, timely, and fully compliant at all times.

1. Inventory Planning & Stock Management

● Maintain optimal stock levels of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.

● Plan replenishment cycles in coordination with Procurement & Strategic Sourcing and Production.

● Implement and monitor FIFO/FEFO practices to minimize wastage and expiry-related losses.

● Track slow-moving and obsolete stock, and recommend corrective action.

2. Warehouse Operations

● Oversee receiving, storage, put-away, and dispatch across the warehouse.

● Ensure proper handling and storage conditions for temperature- and humidity-sensitive ingredients.

● Maintain warehouse layout, safety, and hygiene standards in line with food-grade storage norms.

● Supervise day-to-day warehouse activities and staff task allocation.

3. Documentation & Traceability

● Maintain accurate batch/lot traceability records for all inbound and outbound stock.

● Ensure inventory documentation meets QC/FSQR compliance requirements.

● Maintain GRNs, stock ledgers, and dispatch documentation without gaps.

● Support internal and external audits with timely retrieval of records.

4. Inventory Audits & Reconciliation

● Conduct regular cycle counts and periodic full physical stock audits.

● Investigate and resolve discrepancies between system and physical stock.

● Maintain stock accuracy within the agreed threshold (target: 98%+).

5. Procurement & Logistics Coordination

● Coordinate inward logistics with vendors, tracking shipments and resolving delays.

● Liaise with Procurement & Strategic Sourcing on reorder points and lead times.

● Coordinate outward dispatch with Sales/Customer Experience teams to meet order timelines.

6. Costing & Reporting

● Support accurate inventory valuation and stock reconciliation for Finance.

● Generate periodic inventory reports — stock ageing, turnover, wastage, and open orders.

● Present inventory MIS to the Operations Lead for management review.

7. Team Supervision

● Supervise warehouse staff (Warehouse Incharge, Stacker Operators, and similar roles).

● Allocate daily tasks and monitor team performance.

● Train staff on inventory processes, safety, and hygiene practices.

8. Systems & Process Improvement

● Ensure effective utilization of inventory/ERP systems for stock tracking.

● Identify and implement process improvements to reduce manual errors.

● Support digitization of inventory records where applicable.

9. Cross-Functional Coordination

● Work closely with QC/FSQR on compliance and inspection requirements.

● Coordinate with Production on material availability for planned batches.

● Support the Operations Lead with data for demand planning and forecasting.

Desired Skills

● Strong understanding of inventory and warehouse management practices.

● Working knowledge of ERP/inventory management systems.

● Proficiency in Excel for stock reconciliation and reporting.

● Understanding of FIFO/FEFO and batch traceability practices, ideally in food/FMCG.

● High attention to detail.

● Strong integrity and ownership.

● Leadership and team supervision experience.

● Ability to work independently in a fast-growing entrepreneurial environment.

Preferred Background

● Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, or a related field.

● 3–5 years of experience in inventory/warehouse management.

● Experience in food, FMCG, or ingredients manufacturing preferred.

● Experience managing a small warehouse team.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 6–12 months, the Inventory Manager should:

● Achieve stock accuracy of 98%+ between system records and physical inventory during audits.

● Ensure zero or near-zero stockouts of critical raw materials that disrupt production schedules.

● Reduce wastage from expiry/spoilage consistently, quarter over quarter.

● Run inward and outward logistics on schedule, with delays flagged and resolved proactively.

● Deliver inventory reports (ageing, turnover, open orders) on time, giving the Operations Lead a reliable picture of stock health.

● Maintain batch/lot traceability that holds up cleanly during QC or compliance audits.

● Run a warehouse team that operates safely and efficiently, with low error rates in picking, storage, and dispatch.

Career Opportunity

● Bayfield offers a strong opportunity for an inventory/warehouse operations professional to grow with the organization. As the company scales, the role is expected to evolve into broader supply chain and operations leadership responsibilities, offering significant professional growth for the right individual.