Associate Director/Director-Inventory Controller

Role: Director/ Associate Director-Inventory Controller

Role Overview

We are looking for a highly analytical and execution-driven Inventory Controller to own end-to-end inventory strategy and execution across our national fulfilment network. This role will drive service levels, optimize working capital, improve forecast accuracy, and build scalable replenishment systems across thousands of SKUs and multiple warehouses. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for balancing growth, availability, and profitability. The Inventory Controller will own the management of end to-end inventory and ensure accuracy, control, and hygiene across fulfilment centre operations, ensuring 100% accuracy in stacking, picking, batch, and expiry handling in a regulated E-Pharmacy environment. This role is a blend of both execution and control. This role operates in an evolving-tech setup, requiring strong inventory fundamentals, process discipline, and hands-on execution to maintain accuracy and compliance. The role has a direct impact on customer satisfaction, regulatory adherence and inventory losses.

Key Responsibilities

Own and lead the overall Inventory strategy and execution across all warehouses.

Inventory Control & Accuracy

• Own inventory health and physical vs system accuracy across PAN INDIA warehouses and ensure adherence to batch segregation, expiry control, and regulatory requirements.

• Drive inventory accuracy through operational rigor, process optimization, and selective tech or product interventions

• Own the cycle count program, ensuring accuracy, coverage, and minimal operational disruption. Improve cycle count efficiency through process redesign, rigorous on ground execution and selective tech enablement

• Build strong controls and SOPs for inward, outward, transfers and returns.

• Audit Readiness: Act as the primary point of contact for external and internal auditors during half-yearly and annual stock audits.

Inventory Loss Reduction

• Own inventory loss and shrinkage reduction, including damages, expiries, pilferage, and process leakages

• Track inventory losses and drive root cause–based corrective actions Process & Tech Enablement • Design and standardize inventory SOPs and partner with tech and product teams to build practical, scalable inventory controls and ensure data discipline as systems evolve Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with procurement function to plan and execute the procurement and replenishment cycles.

• Act as the single point of accountability for inventory-related escalations

• Work closely with warehouse operations, logistics, finance and tech to align inventory plans with business goals.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5-8 years of experience in inventory management, supply chain, or operations, preferably in e commerce/q-commerce.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field

• Experience in managing a team of supervisors/managers and handling 300+ contractual bluecollar workforce in a large warehouse setup

• Hands-on experience with ERP/WMS systems and advanced Excel / data analysis.

• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• High ownership mindset with strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

• Experience in scaling operations in a high-growth environment is a plus. Strong exposure to multi location inventory management and experience of managing large warehouses

What We're Looking For

• Strong structured problem-solving ability

• Deep understanding of inventory math and its management

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity • Strong people leadership and cross-functional influencing capability