Director Of Warehouse & Inventory

Position: DIRECTOR OF WAREHOUSE & INVENTORY

Huntsville AL
1 Tranquility Base
Huntsville, AL 35805, USA

Warehouse Operations Management

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all warehouse facilities and storage environments (onsite and offsite), including docks, staging areas, secure storage, cold/dry storage, and distribution points.
• Establish service levels and operational standards that support museum, camp, dining, and retail priorities—especially during peak seasons and major events.
• Set annual objectives, staffing plans, training requirements, and performance expectations for the warehouse team.

Inventory Control Across All Buildings

• Own the institution-wide system of control for all operational inventory categories (e.g., merchandise, food, program materials, operational consumables/equipment), ensuring accurate accountability by building, department, and storage location.
• Design, implement, and enforce procedures that maintain continuous visibility and control for inventory into, out of, and between all USSRC buildings, including:
  • Receiving, inspection, and discrepancy resolution
  • Location assignment/put-away standards
  • Transfers between warehouses and buildings
  • Issuing (requisitions), returns, damaged goods, and disposal processes
  • Asset/equipment check-out and return processes where applicable
  • Access controls (keys/badges), secure cage areas, and restricted inventory policies
• Ensure inventory transactions are executed consistently and recorded accurately in the inventory system(s) so that inventory status is always reliable.

Shipping, Receiving & Internal Distribution

• Oversee all inbound freight/parcel operations and outbound shipments, including carrier relationships, scheduling, documentation, claims, and returns.
• Implement efficient internal distribution routes and replenishment plans for all buildings (museum, camp facilities, dining areas, retail operations, offices).
• Ensure receiving docks and delivery points operate safely, cleanly, and efficiently with clear accountability and chain-of-custody practices.
• Oversee vendor performance related to freight, deliveries, storage services, and warehouse-related equipment.
• Manage warehouse equipment procurement and maintenance plans (forklifts, pallet jacks, dock levelers, shelving/racking).

Systems, Data Integrity, Audit Readiness

• Select, administer, and optimize inventory and logistics systems (TAM/POS inventory modules, barcoding, scanners), in partnership with Finance and IT.
• Establish inventory governance: item master standards, location mapping, user permissions, and reporting cadence.
• Lead cycle counts, spot audits, and annual physical inventories; investigate variances, resolve root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain documentation and controls to support financial audit requirements, inventory valuation needs, and internal policy compliance.

Operational Readiness for Camp, Museum, and Peak Seasons

• Drive seasonal planning and large-scale readiness efforts (Space Camp session ramp-ups, holiday retail peaks, major events, and large group arrivals).
• Coordinate kitting/assembly operations and high-volume staging processes for program materials and supplies.
• Partner with department leaders to forecast demand, reduce stockouts, and improve lead times.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Establish and enforce warehouse safety programs (dock safety, racking inspections, powered equipment training, PPE, incident reporting).
• Ensure warehouse storage environments meet compliance needs across inventory types (e.g., food safety storage principles where applicable; OSHA standards; hazard/chemical storage rules if present).
• Create contingency plans for operational risks (power loss affecting cold storage, severe weather, access issues, and delivery disruptions).

People Leadership & Organizational Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and performance-manage warehouse and logistics staff; develop bench strength and succession planning.
• Create standardized training for receiving, inventory transactions, equipment operation, and building-to-building transfer procedures.
• Build a culture of customer service, accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.

Budget, Procurement Alignment & Cost Control

• Develop and manage the warehousing/logistics operating budget, including labor, supplies, equipment, maintenance, rentals/leases for offsite warehouses, and contracted services.
• Identify efficiency improvements: consolidation of storage locations, improved slotting, route optimization, vendor terms, and reduced shrink/damage.
• Partner with Finance/Procurement to align purchasing processes, receiving accuracy, and contract compliance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Level of Supervision:
Oversees Warehouse Operations, Inventory Control, Shipping & Receiving

Travel Required

No

QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of progressive leadership in warehousing, inventory control, or distribution (multi-site preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to implement and enforce inventory controls and chain-of-custody across multiple locations/buildings.
• Strong working…