Now Hiring: FSQ Inventory Analyst
Salary Range: $75,000K - $90,000K
Reports To: VP of FSQ
Position OverviewReporting to Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) leadership, this role ensures the timely release of finished goods while maintaining food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. The position manages routine releases and product holds, tracks release cycle time and inventory value, and evaluates the impact of delays on production schedules and customer service. Working cross-functionally with FSQ, Operations, Supply Planning, Customer Service, Purchasing, and Finance, this role helps resolve release bottlenecks, supports SIOP planning, and keeps product moving efficiently through the supply chain.
Key Responsibilities- Manage and monitor the end-to-end release process for routine finished goods and products placed on hold.
- Maintain a live release/hold tracker covering status, aging, quantity, reason for delay, and financial value.
- Proactively expedite releases that could impact production schedules or customer shipments.
- Partner with FSQ, R&D, and Operations to resolve testing, documentation, investigation, and disposition issues.
- Quantify inventory value and financial exposure associated with delayed or held product.
- Assess the impact of release delays on production schedules, inventory availability, customer service, and fill-rate targets.
- Develop and communicate daily, weekly, and monthly KPIs covering release cycle time, aging inventory, value at risk, and service impact.
- Lead cross-functional release/hold reviews and escalate issues requiring timely resolution.
- Identify recurring causes of release delays and support corrective actions and continuous improvement.
- Monitor finished goods inventory and participated in SIOP Supply Review activities.
Requirements
Minimum Requirements- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Food Science, or related field.
- 3+ years of experience in production/supply planning, quality, or food safety within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience with product release, quality holds, non-conformance, or disposition processes.
- Working knowledge of production planning, master scheduling, MRP/ERP systems, and inventory management.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to quantify financial, production, and customer-service impacts.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience developing reports and performance metrics.
- Strong organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to manage multiple time-sensitive priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Preferred- 5+ years of relevant manufacturing experience, preferably within the food industry.
- APICS/CPIM and/or ASQ certification.
- Experience with SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, or other GFSI-benchmarked systems.
- Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM experience.
Salary Description
$75,000K - $90,000K
