How to hire an inventory control lead

How to hire an inventory control lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step inventory control lead hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an inventory control lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new inventory control lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an inventory control lead do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an inventory control lead, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An inventory control lead's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, inventory control leads from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents inventory control lead salaries for various positions.

   Type of Inventory Control Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Inventory Control Lead	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$13-34
   Materials Planner	Usually working in a manufacturing setting, a materials planner's role is to manage the supply flow and inventory of materials. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with vendors and other external agencies, processing purchase orders, monitoring the quality of supplies to ensure it is according to the standards, and coordinating with various teams to learn their needs... Show more	$21-35
   Material Coordinator	A material coordinator is in charge of processing requisitions and ensuring that all departments receive necessary goods and materials within a company. Aside from this, they must maintain positive engagements with vendors, suppliers, and business partners, negotiate contracts, manage schedules of deliveries, and prioritize cost-efficient goods... Show more	$14-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Logistics
   • Inventory Adjustments
   • Physical Inventory
   • Inventory Cycle Counts
   • Inventory Control Procedures
   • Pallet Jack
   • Shipping Receiving
   • RF
   • Sales Floor
   • Corrective Action
   • Production Floor
   • Inventory Management
   • ERP
   • Purchase Orders

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage inventory and production reports through WMS for efficiency improvement opportunities.
   • Work with MRP and Macola inventory systems.
   • Report inventory balances and cycle counts in WMS systems.
   • Cycle counted a multi-million dollar cell phone inventory using AS400.
   • Work with AS400 to review and analyze computer data to ensure productivity of tires.
   • Train associates on inventory procedures, product put- away, and order researching, RF scanner experience.

   More inventory control lead duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your inventory control lead job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An inventory control lead salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, inventory control leads' average salary in wyoming is 47% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level inventory control leads earn 61% less than senior-level inventory control leads.
   • Certifications. An inventory control lead with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an inventory control lead's salary.

   Average inventory control lead salary

   $45,155yearly

   $21.71 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level inventory control lead salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average inventory control lead salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$51,863	$25
   2	California	$50,738	$24
   3	New York	$49,413	$24
   4	Colorado	$48,311	$23
   5	Virginia	$46,500	$22
   6	Massachusetts	$45,096	$22
   7	Indiana	$43,944	$21
   8	Maine	$43,446	$21
   9	Texas	$41,511	$20
   10	Arizona	$40,504	$19
   11	Tennessee	$40,191	$19
   12	Delaware	$38,064	$18
   13	Florida	$34,713	$17

   Average inventory control lead salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$93,671	$45.03	7
   2	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$77,351	$37.19	71
   3	Intel	$75,269	$36.19	5
   4	State Street	$75,026	$36.07
   5	Citi	$74,331	$35.74	2
   6	Amazon	$70,061	$33.68	42
   7	Cummins	$62,444	$30.02	1
   8	HRL Laboratories	$59,285	$28.50
   9	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$58,614	$28.18	10
   10	Wayfair	$58,585	$28.17	12
   11	Lenovo	$54,412	$26.16
   12	U.S. Bank	$53,102	$25.53	8
   13	Bank of America	$51,807	$24.91	30
   14	Barry-Wehmiller	$51,408	$24.72	6
   15	Niagara Bottling	$49,731	$23.91	8
   16	Biocare Medical	$49,651	$23.87
   17	HD Supply	$49,415	$23.76	9
   18	Gordon Food Service	$49,239	$23.67	2
   19	Lineage Logistics	$48,277	$23.21	22
   20	Saddle Creek Logistics Services	$47,974	$23.06	4

4. Writing an inventory control lead job description

   A good inventory control lead job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an inventory control lead job description:

   Inventory control lead job description example

   Coordinate the execution and recording of counts, the validation of various inventory processes and reporting of key quality performance indicators. Identify and carry out audit spot checks, resolve and correct for discrepancies related to the IC and QA functions.
   Job Description
   Work with supervisor to allocate assignments to IC reps, IC specialists and auditors each day, including but not limited to Assist supervisor in monitoring task allocation during the day and adjust as necessary Assist supervisor in monitoring execution of tasks by individuals. Assist supervisor in identification and input of counts and customer loads into handhelds/iPads Assist supervisor with training ICQA Reps, Specialists and AuditorsConduct cycle count of assigned pick slots and reserve slots (inventory locations) per handheld device as necessary and identify sample spot checks of floor count checks (audits) and execute as necessary Coordinate the handling of obsolete and at risk inventory (vendor returns, donations, recalls) to include: identifying, communicating, adjusting and validating product Capture KQI information and communicate to ICQA reporting & analysis team Reserve aisle rates - identify aisles requiring higher than average adjustments, review with Operations and agree actions to address Storage reconciliation - resolution of differences occurring on transfer between storage locations Determine resolution in event of order errors and ensure resolution is completed Communicate audit issues to supervisor/customer/operations as necessary Document all procedures and ensure procedures are followed Travel Required: No
   Environment
   Warehouse : Freezer (-20F to 0F) Warehouse : Perishable Warehouse (28F to 60F) Warehouse : Grocery Warehouse (50F to 90F)
   Skills
   Specialized Knowledge :Special Skills :Physical abilities: :Other: :
   Years Of Experience
   0-2 : Related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   
   Qualifications
   Attendance, Initiative, Productivity, Quality, Safety
   
   Shift
   2nd Shift (United States of America)
   
   Company
   ES3, LLC
   
   About Our Company
   ES3 is an experienced team of third-party logistics experts, saving Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturers significant time and money every day. A pioneer of the collaborative distribution model, ES3 provides solutions across all channels, optimizing its supply network to expedite replenishment. ES3 does this by combining warehousing, mixing, and distribution services under one roof in a multi-manufacturer, collaborative model optimized by advanced technology.Working Safely is a Condition for Employment with ES3, LLC. ES3, LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right inventory control lead for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with inventory control leads they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit inventory control leads who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your inventory control lead job on Zippia to find and recruit inventory control lead candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit inventory control leads, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new inventory control lead

   Once you've selected the best inventory control lead candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new inventory control lead. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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