Inventory Manager (WMS & Systems Control)
Skills
About the role
Listing reference: 025868
Listing status: Online
Apply by: 9 August 2026
Position summary
Industry: Wholesale & Retail Trade
Job category: Distribution
Location: Cape Town
Contract: Permanent
Remuneration: Market Related
EE position: Yes
About our company
Clicks Group
Introduction
We are seeking to appoint an Inventory Manager (WMS & Systems Control) to support the Clicks Logistics Operations division. This role will be based at Montague Gardens Distribution and report to the DC General Manager.
Job description
Job Purpose
To ensure accurate, resilient, and IFRS-compliant inventory management across distribution centres by embedding strong WMS governance, master data integrity, stock reconciliation, and inventory control processes, while mitigating system-related risks experienced during the WMS rollout and stabilising end‑to‑end inventory performance.
Job Objectives
4.1 Inventory Integrity & Financial Control
Own end‑to‑end inventory accuracy within WMS and integrated systems, ensuring alignment between physical stock, WMS balances, and MMS financial records.
Lead cycle counts, perpetual counts, and wall‑to‑wall stocktakes, including variance investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Ensure accurate valuation of stock, shrinkage, and adjustments in line with IFRS and audit requirements.
Govern duplicate SKU, PO, and pricing anomalies arising from system integration failures.
4.2 WMS Governance & Risk Mitigation
Act as the business owner for inventory‑related WMS functionality, configuration, and controls.
Define and enforce inventory SOPs aligned to the WMS operating model and lessons learnt from rollout issues.
Monitor and resolve inventory task failures (putaway, letdowns, refills, adjustments, penalty stock) that compromise availability or financial accuracy .
Partner with IT and vendors to prioritise and test fixes for critical and high‑severity inventory defects.
4.3 Master Data & Slotting Control
Govern item master data quality (dimensions, cube, slot types, UOMs) to prevent slotting failures, penalty stock build‑up, and task non‑generation.
Oversee cube‑scanning completeness and accuracy to stabilise putaway and replenishment logic.
4.4 Availability & Service Level Enablement
Protect store availability (>96%) by ensuring pick‑face integrity, reserve alignment, and timely completion of inventory tasks.
Identify and escalate inventory constraints that risk DC throughput, picking continuity, or store service.
4.5 Reporting, Analytics & Decision Support
Own daily, weekly, and period‑end inventory reporting, including imbalances, adjustments, ageing, and exception dashboards.
Provide actionable insights to DC leadership, Finance, and IT on inventory health, risk exposure, and improvement opportunities.
4.6 Continuous Improvement & Change Enablement
Embed learnings from WMS incidents into redesigned processes, controls, and training.
Support future WMS rollouts and enhancements through UAT, business readiness, and post‑go‑live stabilisation.
Minimum requirements
Job related knowledge
Essential
Advanced understanding of DC inventory management within WMS environments
Strong knowledge of inventory accounting, reconciliations, and IFRS principles
Deep understanding of warehouse processes (receiving, putaway, slotting, replenishment, picking, adjustments)
Desirable
Knowledge of WMS/WCS/MMS integrations and system controls
Exposure to large‑scale system rollouts or stabilisation programmes
Job related skills
Advanced analytical and problem‑solving capability
Strong system and data literacy (Excel, BI tools, WMS reporting)
Risk identification and control design
Stakeholder management across operations, IT, and finance
Clear written and verbal communication, including executive‑level reporting
Experience
Essential
5–8 years inventory or DC operations management experience in FMCG or retail
Proven experience managing inventory accuracy in system‑driven environments
Desirable
Direct involvement in WMS implementation or recovery
Project or change management experience within logistics
Education
BCom, Supply Chain, or similar degree
Essential Competencies
Analysing & Interpreting
Applying Expertise & Technology
Planning & Organising
Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations
Leading & Supervising
Coping with Pressure & Change
Questions about this role
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