Full Job Description
Imagine owning the source of truth for every iPhone, Mac, and every accessory that moves through Apple's supply chain. Inventory Control is where operational precision meets financial integrity. We are looking for a transformative leader who can use this function as a strategic lever to unlock the next wave of autonomous capabilities across our supply chain network.\n\nIn this role, you will elevate the standard for how Apple counts, reconciles, and reports inventory across the Americas. You will lead a team of analysts embedded across our supply chain, transform manual workflows into intelligent autonomous ones, and reshape how we partner with Planning, Finance, and Systems teams. If you combine a relentless attention to details with the vision to see around the AI corners, and you want your work to be felt across every channel Apple serves, this is your opportunity to leave a lasting mark on how Apple delivers.\n\nMore broadly, this role sits within the organization responsible for resolving inventory and shipping discrepancies across the Americas, partnering closely with our Delivery Exception Management (DEM) team to keep product, data, and dollars aligned end to end.
The Inventory Control Manager owns the end-to-end inventory accuracy and quality programs for Americas Logistics. You will lead a team of analysts aligned to specific DCs and product flows, driving consistent execution of R&R cadence, root-cause investigation of variances, and resolution of aged and exception inventory. You will set the standard for how we count, reconcile, dispose, and report inventory across the network, and serve as the inventory control point of contact for Finance, Logistics Operations, OEM partners, and Systems teams.
You will also lead the function's transformation agenda: scaling agent driven automation, modernizing EDI failure triage and SAP transactional workflows. You will define the metrics that matter, build the dashboards that make performance visible, and mentor a team that operates with precision and curiosity.
While the primary focus of this role is Inventory Control, you will also engage with and support the DEM function as needed, including stepping in to help cover priorities during peak periods, leaves, or critical escalations. We are looking for a leader who sees inventory and shipping discrepancy resolution as two sides of the same coin and is willing to flex across both to keep the network running.
What You'll Own:
Team Leadership and Coverage
-Lead a team of inventory control analysts aligned to Americas DCs and 3PL sites; ensure clear ownership across Finished Goods and AppleCare variances, West Coast, East Coast, Genesis, and Quality functions
-Develop analysts through coaching, cross-training, and rotation; build bench strength and a culture of accountability and continuous learning
R&R Cadence and Quality
-Own the rhythm and quality of recurring reconciliation reviews across all sites; establish a tiered review cadence with consistent agendas, owners, and exit criteria
-Drive variance root-cause analysis to closure and ensure findings are codified into process and training
RTV / OTV and Aged Inventory
-Plan and execute Return-to-Vendor flows end to end; in collaboration with planning teams, ensure timely disposition, financial accuracy, and audit readiness
-Partner with Operations, Quality, and Finance to minimize aged devices exposure and reserve impact
Automation and Systems
-Lead the Agentic roadmap for inventory control; identify, prioritize, and deliver bots that eliminate manual reconciliation work and accelerate ETA visibility
-Sponsor the IC Portal build-out and DC integration milestones; partner with IS&T to shape requirements, UAT, and rollout
-Lead EDI triage for failures and SAP transactional remediation; partner with OEM and Systems teams on the Back-Out Program from DS to FD at OEM
Metrics and Reporting
-Define and publish the inventory control scorecard, anchored on LBR and supporting KPIs including variance percentage, count accuracy, RTV cycle time, aged inventory dollars, EDI failure rate, and RPA hours returned
-Build leadership-ready dashboards and run the operating cadence that turns data into decisions
Cross-Functional Partnership
-Serve as the inventory control single point of contact for Logistics Operations, Finance, OEM, Reseller, and Retail partners
-Partner with Quality to align inventory integrity with broader quality and compliance objectives
Broader Discrepancy Resolution and DEM Support
-Operate as part of the broader Americas team responsible for resolving inventory and shipping discrepancies; partner closely with DEM peers on shared root causes, systems issues, and customer-impacting exceptions
-Provide hands-on support to the DEM function as needed, including coverage during leaves, peak events, or high-priority escalations; bring an inventory-accuracy lens to shipping discrepancy resolution and vice versa
What Success Looks Like (6 to 12 Months)
-A standardized R&R cadence is operating consistently across every site, with clear tiered review structure, owners, and documented variance closure
-Inventory health and quality metrics are published weekly to leadership; trend lines show measurable improvement in count accuracy and aged inventory exposure
-DC integration is delivered on plan with the IC Portal supporting day-one analyst workflows
-The Back-Out Program from DS to FD at OEM is live and stable, with EDI failure triage time reduced and SAP transactional accuracy improved
-An RPA pipeline is delivering quantified analyst hours back to higher-value work; ETA visibility for the team is automated end to end
-The team is operating as a single Americas function with clear site coverage, documented SOPs, cross-trained analysts, and a visible development plan for each team member
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Finance, Accounting, or a related field
8+ years of progressive experience in inventory control, distribution operations, supply chain, or logistics finance, including 3+ years leading teams
Hands-on expertise with SAP inventory and movement transactions and WMS environments; strong understanding of EDI flows and exception handling
Demonstrated success leading a multi-site inventory accuracy program with clear cadence, governance, and audit readiness
Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and at least one BI tool such as Tableau or Power BI; comfort writing and reviewing SQL queries
Proven ability to partner with Finance on variance, reserve, and disposition decisions
Excellent communication and stakeholder management; able to translate operational detail into executive-ready narrative
Experience leading RPA, workflow automation, or systems integration projects in an operations or finance setting
Prior ownership of RTV/OTV, aged inventory, or battery and component aging programs at scale
Experience working directly with 3PLs and OEM partners on inventory reconciliation, back-out, and disposition flows
Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience
Background supporting Reseller, Retail, and Online channels in a multi-DC Americas footprint
Experience building and launching internal portals, dashboards, or analyst tools in partnership with IS&T
Track record developing analysts into senior individual contributors and future leaders
Familiarity with DEM workflows or shipping discrepancy resolution; willingness and ability to flex across inventory and shipping discrepancy work as business needs evolve.