Inventory Disposition Specialist

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The Inventory Optimization & Disposition Specialist is accountable for identifying, developing, and executing value recovery strategies for slow-moving, excess, obsolete, shelf-life-risk, and blocked raw materials and finished goods. This role proactively partners with Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance to identify approved disposition opportunities that maximize inventory recovery and minimize waste.
The role owns each opportunity from identification through verified disposition, including outlet development, stakeholder alignment, approval coordination, execution oversight, system reconciliation, and results reporting. Success is measured by realized inventory recovery outcomes and reduction of inventory exposure, not simply by identifying risk or referring opportunities.

Inventory Optimization & Disposition Specialist

Overview

The Inventory Optimization & Disposition Specialist is accountable for identifying, developing, and executing value recovery strategies for slow-moving, excess, obsolete, shelf-life-risk, and blocked raw materials and finished goods. This role proactively partners with Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance to identify approved disposition opportunities that maximize inventory recovery and minimize waste.

The role owns each opportunity from identification through verified disposition, including outlet development, stakeholder alignment, approval coordination, execution oversight, system reconciliation, and results reporting. Success is measured by realized inventory recovery outcomes and reduction of inventory exposure, not simply by identifying risk or referring opportunities.

The position evaluates a broad range of recovery options, including customer sales opportunities, new market channels, broker arrangements, supplier returns, inter-site transfers, rework, recycling, and approved disposal alternatives. Scrap or destruction is considered only after feasible recovery alternatives have been evaluated and documented, unless immediate disposal is required for safety, quality, or regulatory compliance.

Planning ownership, demand forecasting, purchasing parameters, inventory policies, and systemic process changes remain with the appropriate functional owners.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Risk Identification & Prioritization

• Monitor inventory risk through ERP/SAP data, inventory aging, shelf-life status, demand forecasts, inventory classifications, open orders, and excess inventory reporting.
• Identify slow-moving, excess, short-dated, obsolete, expired, and blocked inventory requiring disposition action.
• Validate inventory availability, condition, and remaining shelf life with site teams.
• Prioritize opportunities based on urgency, remaining usable life, recovery value, outlet feasibility, and execution timelines.

Outlet Development & Value Recovery

• Identify, evaluate, and develop recovery channels for at-risk inventory through existing customers, prospective customers, former customers, brokers, distributors, and other approved channels.
• Coordinate commercial outreach with Sales and Customer Service to assess demand, product suitability, customer requirements, and approval needs.
• Develop creative and compliant disposition strategies that maximize inventory value while supporting customer and business needs.
• Build and maintain a network of approved recovery partners and market channels to improve inventory recovery outcomes.

Opportunity Management & Execution

• Develop and maintain disposition action plans for inventory recovery opportunities.
• Track inventory quantities, shelf-life windows, prospective outlets, approvals, financial impact, key milestones, and execution deadlines.
• Coordinate cross-functional execution activities to ensure timely completion before inventory value deteriorates.
• Escalate barriers, delays, or approval bottlenecks that threaten recovery opportunities.

Financial Recovery & Negotiation

• Evaluate recovery alternatives, considering logistics costs, rework requirements, handling expenses, supplier credits, and expected net recovery.
• Develop business cases and recovery proposals for management review and approval.
• Negotiate inventory recovery arrangements, pricing, timing, and quantities within delegated authority and approved guidelines.
• Partner with Finance and commercial leaders to ensure appropriate financial review and approval of disposition activities.

Compliance, Documentation & Governance

• Maintain complete and auditable documentation for all disposition activities, including options considered, approvals received, rationale for decisions, and financial outcomes.

• Verify physical inventory movement, ERP transactions, customer billing, supplier credits, proceeds collection, and financial reconciliation before closing disposition cases.

• Ensure all recovery activities comply with company policies, quality standards, regulatory requirements, customer commitments, and contractual obligations.

• Prepare and coordinate approved scrap or destruction activities when recovery alternatives are not feasible.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Sales and Customer Service to identify commercial opportunities and support customer engagement activities.
• Collaborate with Planning, Procurement, Inventory Management, Manufacturing, Warehousing, and Logistics to validate inventory availability and execution timing.
• Work closely with Quality and Regulatory teams regarding inventory release, retesting, rework approvals, disposition suitability, and compliance requirements.
• Support continuous improvement efforts by identifying recurring inventory risk patterns and recommending opportunities to reduce future inventory exposure.

Authority & Decision Rights

• Responsible for identifying and driving inventory recovery opportunities through approved disposition.
• May not independently release blocked inventory, extend shelf life, override quality status, or authorize shipment of expired products.
• Quality and Regulatory retain authority over product release, disposition suitability, retesting, rework, shelf-life extensions, and compliance decisions.
• Finance retains authority for inventory reserves, write-offs, financial recoveries, and approval thresholds.
• Commercial and pricing approvals must be obtained in accordance with established approval authorities.

Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Finance, Logistics, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in inventory management, supply chain, operations, materials management, inventory optimization, disposition management, or related disciplines.

• Demonstrated success in developing creative solutions to reduce excess and obsolete inventory while maximizing financial recovery.

• Experience working cross-functionally with commercial, operational, quality, regulatory, and finance stakeholders.

• Strong understanding of inventory management principles, ERP systems (SAP preferred), inventory aging analysis, and material disposition processes.

• Experience evaluating financial tradeoffs and developing business cases for inventory recovery initiatives.

• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive results without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD).

• Experience within regulated manufacturing environments.

• Knowledge of inventory reserve methodologies and inventory valuation principles.

• Demonstrated experience managing excess and obsolete inventory reduction programs.

Why Neogen

At Neogen, we believe that taking care of our employees allows them to do their best work. When you join our team, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work, collaborate with talented colleagues, and build your career with an organization focused on protecting the world's food supply.

Benefits Include

• Benefits Starting on Day One – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begin on your first day of employment.
• 401(k) with Company Match – Build toward your future with retirement savings and company contributions.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) – Take time to rest, recharge, and spend time with those who matter most.
• Career Growth Opportunities – Access opportunities, tools, training, and support designed to help you continue developing your career.
• Meaningful Work – Contribute to work that makes an impact on our customers, communities, and the world around us.
• Collaborative Culture – Be part of an environment that values innovation, respect, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Join Neogen

If you're an analytical and collaborative supply chain professional who enjoys balancing customer needs, inventory, and operational priorities, we encourage you to apply and explore the opportunity to grow your career with Neogen.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accommodations

Neogen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Neogen provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and applicants who require accommodation during the application or hiring process, consistent with applicable law.

Employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of applicable pre-employment requirements, which may include verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States and other job-related screening requirements, as permitted by applicable law.

Apply today and help Neogen protect the world's food supply.

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Come Be Part Of A Mission that Matters!

From inside the farm gate to our dinner plates, Neogen protects the world’s food supply. Through a variety of animal healthcare products, to food safety solutions for dangerous bacteria, allergens, toxins, drug residues and much more, Neogen is there — and you can be too.

Originally posted on Himalayas