Inventory Control Manager

This role offers the opportunity to lead inventory control and loss prevention across a nationwide QCommerce network in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The Inventory Control Manager will ensure the accuracy and reconciliation of physical stock, inventory systems, and financial records by implementing strong governance and controls throughout all inventory movements. Collaborating closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Finance teams, the manager will identify risks, investigate losses, and drive corrective actions to improve stock accuracy, reduce shrinkage, and manage expiry effectively. This position requires translating regional inventory control standards into consistent local execution with clear ownership and measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

- Inventory Governance & Financial Reconciliation: Develop and enforce inventory policies, standard operating procedures, and approval controls across owned and third-party logistics (3PL) facilities. Ensure accurate and timely recording of inventory movements in warehouse management systems (WMS), ERP, and financial records. Lead sub-ledger to General Ledger reconciliations with Finance, resolving discrepancies for timely month-end close. Validate stock adjustments with physical verifications, reason codes, evidence, and approvals while maintaining audit trails for all inventory activities.

- Stock Accuracy & Transaction Controls: Manage the country-wide stocktake and cycle count programs, including risk-based scheduling, variance investigation, and approved adjustments. Reconcile stock transfers, resolving discrepancies and overdue movements. Monitor reserved stock and sales buffers, collaborating with Operations to resolve exceptions. Oversee supplier returns from authorization to credit-note reconciliation. Conduct site audits and ensure corrective actions address control gaps.

- Shrinkage, Expiry & Inventory Risk: Analyze shrinkage, expiry, and damage by site and SKU, assigning and tracking corrective actions. Investigate unknown losses and challenge unsupported adjustments or write-offs. Verify expiry dates and adherence to first-expiry-first-out (FEFO) processes. Identify slow-moving, near-expiry, and high Days-on-Hand stock, coordinating clearance or transfers with relevant teams. Pursue eligible supplier and 3PL claims before writing off losses. Escalate material inventory risks with clear assessments and resolution plans.

- Warehouse & 3PL Assurance: Monitor compliance with inventory service level agreements (SLAs), including stock accuracy, reconciliation timelines, and shrinkage targets. Validate 3PL stock records, investigate discrepancies, and challenge loss claims using contractual terms. Act as the primary escalation point for inventory disputes involving Operations, Finance, and 3PL partners. Drive consistent controls across receiving, storage, picking, dispatch, returns, and disposal processes.

- Systems & Process Improvement: Define inventory control requirements for system enhancements and lead user acceptance testing, pilot validation, and post-launch reviews. Manage inventory-critical master data such as units of measure, expiry parameters, and FEFO settings, coordinating cost-data validation with Finance. Collaborate with Technology and operations teams to resolve system issues affecting stock integrity. Enhance reporting and automate exception detection and control monitoring where feasible.

- Leadership & Performance Management: Lead cross-functional inventory reviews with clear ownership, deadlines, and evidence of action closure. Provide actionable reporting on losses, stock accuracy, financial exposure, and control compliance to senior leadership. Build inventory control capability through training, coaching, and consistent application of standards.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Finance, or a related field.
- Minimum of five years’ experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, or supply chain auditing within retail, FMCG, e-commerce, or darkstore environments.
- Strong expertise in stock reconciliation, financial inventory controls, stocktakes, and 3PL governance.
- Practical experience with WMS/ERP platforms such as SAP and analytical tools like Looker or BigQuery.
- Proven track record of improving inventory accuracy, reducing unexplained losses, and resolving process gaps.
- Excellent analytical, investigative, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to challenge discrepancies and enforce accountability.

About the Company

foodpanda is part of Delivery Hero Group, a global leader in local delivery services operating in approximately 65 countries. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Delivery Hero is publicly listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is included in the MDAX index. The company’s mission is to deliver a fast, easy, and exceptional customer experience right to the doorstep.