Warehouse and Inventory Specialist

About the Oregon Humane Society

Founded in 1868, Oregon Humane Society is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal welfare organization with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. We are working toward our vision of a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness and respect. With campuses in Portland and Salem, OHS is an Oregon-based nonprofit that relies on donor support for its adoption, education, medical and humane law enforcement programs. Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we’re creating a More Humane Society.

The Team

The Centralized Purchasing Department oversees product purchasing, product donations, and subsequent distribution across all OHS departments.

The Position

The Inventory and Warehouse Specialist works collaboratively with all departments at the Portland and Salem campuses, including shelter operations, both OHS medical hospitals (the Animal Medical Learning Center shelter hospital and the client-facing Community Veterinary Hospital), with a primary goal of ensuring that inventory is fully stocked for efficient daily operations. This position is responsible for maintaining appropriate and accurate inventory, increasing turnover and minimizing loss. The ideal candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

The proposed schedule is Tuesday – Saturday or Sunday – Thursday.

Eligible Benefits

We are committed to creating a better future for pets, and we work hard to achieve our goals while offering a rewarding workplace including competitive benefit packages to our employees.

• Medical/Dental/Vision

• Paid Time Off + Sick Time + Holidays

• 401(k) with employer match

• Professional Development Opportunities

• One free OHS adoption/ year

• Perks & Discounts

Essential Responsibilities

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

• Consistently strives to exceed expectations; demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.

• Maintains high ethical standards, including exhibiting behaviors and actions that embrace and align to our organization and customer service values, while treating all people with respect and dignity.

• Demonstrates an awareness of your individual personal strengths and development needs, modeling non-defensive behavior and openness to feedback; builds a culture of feedback and learning.

LEARNING

• Contributes to regular dialogue and accountability with the team and across the organization to review progress and course correct if necessary.

• Utilizes data and insights to identify, understand and articulate the key inputs and metrics that tell the story of the organization/team strategy and its progress.

• Contributes appropriate feedback loops to measure if we are meeting key milestones and if the impact planned is being felt across the organization.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Work with other members of the Centralized Purchasing department to effectively engage and facilitate collaborative communication between all stakeholders.

• Liaise with and maintain productive relationships with all stakeholders, including other departments, and donors; build mutually rewarding professional relationships inside OHS at all levels.

• Leverage our best practices externally and grow OHS’ reputation as a leader in the animal welfare space.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor and maintain appropriate and accurate inventory levels for each assigned department and/or location.

• Maintain systematic, organized stock areas for each department.

• Receive, inspect, verify counts, sort and shelve incoming product deliveries.

• Daily product distribution - Process incoming internal orders accurately and efficiently to ensure on-time fulfillment.

• Conduct expiry tracking and ensure supply turnover is appropriate to minimize loss.

• Process incoming donations in a manner that ensures product safety, cleanliness, and appropriate reporting, pricing, and distribution.

• Assist in ensuring that staff are aware of new products, product obsolescence and other regular updates.

• Utilize inventory management software (IMS) to manage pars and maintain accurate up-to-date warehouse inventory records.

• Conduct regular reconciliations between inventory management software and physical counts to ensure accuracy and maintain inventory integrity.

• Support and monitor effective loss prevention programs to minimize shrink. Maintain effective security measures to ensure product security from loss or damage.

• Effectively utilize volunteer resources and adhere to all OHS volunteer guidelines.

• Assist all related internal and external departments as needed to support OHS, and perform other duties as requested by management.

• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and efficient warehouse layout.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY

Supervises: None

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: Centralized Purchasing Manager

Often Engages Directly With: All departments

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We welcome applicants who bring a diversity of identity, culture, experience, perspective and thought. We encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. You are also encouraged to address how your professional and lived experience, scholarship, mentorship and/or service will contribute to the Oregon Humane Society.

Minimum Requirements

• 1 year related work experience in warehousing, inventory management, and/or distribution.

• 2 years experience using warehouse, inventory management, POS, or similar data-based systems.

• Able to navigate competing priorities, complete tasks, and meet deadlines.

• Able to work independently with high level of accountability.

• Excellent time management skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills - able to communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, confident, respectful, and professional manner.

• Able to effectively respond to and help resolve project workflow issues or complications.

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff and volunteers.

• Able to work evenings, weekends and/or holidays as business operations demand.

• Valid driver’s license w/acceptable driving record.

• Ability to obtain forklift certification within 1 month of hire.

Preferred

• Forklift, pallet jack, hand truck experience.

• 2+ years experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, or logistics.

• Knowledge and experience working with a wide variety of pet products or pharmaceuticals.

• Purchasing, inventory, or retail experience.

• Animal shelter or veterinary hospital experience.

• Working knowledge of medical terminology.

Work Environment Conditions & Physical Requirements

This position interacts and collaborates will all levels of the organization, including OHS staff, executive team members, donors, general-public, external vendors, volunteers, and supporters. Contact and communication is carried out through face-to-face, telephone and digital interactions. Excellent customer service skills are essential to success. Communication must be clear, understandable, professional and respectful in all circumstances.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in warehouse, office, and medical center/animal shelter environments.

• Occasional travel between the two campuses will be required. (vehicle provided)

• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required.

• Animal contact and related injuries may occur.

• Noise exposure varies and sometimes includes uncontrolled barking and other animal vocalizations.

• Pace of work is active and demanding, requiring the ability to adapt to changing priorities while managing concurrent projects/tasks to completion.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequent lifting and moving of inanimate objects weighing up to 60 lbs.

• Frequent pushing and pulling of carted items weighing up to 100 lbs.

• Frequent moving of items above shoulder level.

• Frequent use of hands and arms at or above shoulder level.

• Frequent movement, standing, sitting and/or stooping may occur.

• Manual dexterity, overall coordination, mental alertness, and good balance are required.

• Occasional climbing and bending.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and address and overcome complex challenges and barriers. We strive for a culture of integrity, respect and compassion where every member of our community contributes their perspectives and authentic selves and where everyone reaches their potential as individuals and teams. We recognize that striving for diversity, equity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Oregon Humane Society is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group.

At-Will Employment

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.