Manager - Inventory Control

Role Summary
To lead the inventory management function for GMGs multi-vertical operations in UAE, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and control from inventory planning through reconciliation and system posting. This role demands deep SAP ERP/EWM knowledge, cross-vertical expertise, and strong leadership capabilities to drive stock integrity across warehouses and retail stores.

Responsibilities
Strategic Inventory Planning, Execution & Control:

- Design and execute end-to-end inventory strategies tailored to the dynamics of each business segment.

- Define and own the annual/cyclic stock count calendar by vertical - Collaborate with retail ops, warehouse, and finance to align on scope, resources, and readiness for inventory events

- Ensure team readiness, system setup, and pre-count checks are in place. - Standardize inventory best practices across all divisions while adapting workflows for category-specific requirements.

- Own and manage physical stock counts (cycle, perpetual, and full counts) ensuring adherence to GMG SOPs

- Coordinate with external and internal stakeholders for parallel execution across geographies

- Lead variance analysis (shortages/overages), identify trends, and initiate corrective actions

- Coordinate between stores, DCs, and finance for timely resolution of count discrepancies

- Govern shrinkage investigations and documentation

- Ensure reconciled stock is accurately posted in SAP ERP/EWM within defined SLAs

- Validate that all manual adjustments have proper justification and approvals

- Deliver post-inventory audit reports and improvement recommendations

- Cross functional collaboration across BUs Process Management & System Optimization:

- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of inventory systems (ERP/WMS) across multiple warehouses and retail channels.

- Standardize and document inventory control processes across all categories while allowing for necessary customizations.

- Drive automation and digitization initiatives to enhance inventory visibility, reduce manual errors, and enable real-time stock tracking. Analytics & Reporting:

- Build and manage inventory KPIs: accuracy, shrinkage, aging stock etc.

- Produce detailed inventory performance dashboards for each business line, identifying trends and proposing corrective actions.

- Collaborate with Finance for accurate inventory valuation and reconciliation during audits and financial reporting.

SAP ERP & EWM Mastery

- Own and govern all inventory transactions and flows within SAP

- Monitor real-time inventory updates across SAP ERP/EWM (MM/IM/EWM) - Resolve transaction mismatches (GRNs, STOs, returns, transfers, etc.) and lead system testing for enhancements

- Collaborate with IT to improve process automation, system integrity, and error-proofing

BU/Vertical Specific Control

- Tailor inventory practices based on the nuances of each business:

- Sports Retail: SKU-rich environments, launch management, seasonal push-pull flows

- Supermarkets: Expiry handling, FIFO/FEFO logic, rapid replenishment cycles

- Pharmacy: Regulated items, compliance-led inventory, batch/serial controls - Furniture: Space-bound handling, limited turn inventory, bulky SKUs.