Inventory Manager

Company Overview  

Who is Costa Farms? We’re one of the world’s largest horticultural growers—but without an ego to match our acreage. Our headquarters are in Miami, Florida, where we were founded in 1961. Costa Farms started on just 30 acres, and over the last 60 years, we’ve grown to more than 5,000 acres around the world. We have farms in North and South Carolina, Central and South Florida, and the Dominican Republic, plus an office in China. Costa Farms now employs nearly 6,000 people: engineers, marketers, accountants/analysts, human resources professionals, and of course, growers and plant scientists!    

Here at Costa Farms, we live by the values of H3: being Humble, staying Hungry, and always Hustling. The team rallies to the mission of being a lean, green, growing machine dedicated to enriching the world by bringing plants into everyone’s life.   

True to that mission, we grow more than 1,500 plant varieties. Driven by the spirit of innovation, the team is always testing new plants and developing new solutions to make it easier for retailers and plant parents to enjoy plants. We’re also continuously testing different ways of growing our plants to increase quality and improve their ecological footprint as one aspect of our many sustainability efforts.   

We cultivate plants, as well as a winning culture. Join the team, and you’ll find opportunities to learn and grow. You’ll collaborate with other driven, determined people who together keep Costa Farms an industry leader. You’ll support and be supported by a team that cares about each other, our customers, our consumers, and our community.    

You’ll also find right away that Costa Farms is committed to providing a diverse environment. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, military status, marital status or veteran status, or any other group status protected by federal, state, or local law.   

DESCRIPTION

The Inventory Manager will play a critical role in ensuring optimal inventory availability, accuracy, and alignment with production and sales demands. This role involves close collaboration with various internal teams such as growing, sales, order writing, and farm operations to ensure seamless execution of inventory management processes. The analyst will monitor inventory deviations, track production, and manage work orders while providing insights to improve operational efficiency and minimize disruptions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform regular inventory counts and add products to availability as needed.
• Collaborate with the Horticulture and growing teams to understand production timelines, growth cycles, and any potential challenges that may affect inventory availability.
• Address inventory deviations promptly, ensuring accuracy after pulling.
• Identify products for disposal or other corrective actions when necessary.
• Understand the creation and tracking process for work orders.
• Manage the dispensing of materials into work orders, ensuring proper tracking and allocation.
• Stay informed on upcoming demand and production plans.
• Monitor execution deviations and use them to forecast inventory availability.
• Identify items with low sell-through rates and assess opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct root cause analysis to determine factors impacting performance, such as inadequate spacing, insufficient PPP (Plant Protection Products), or incorrect grow times.
• Identify items that did not meet specifications and recommend actions to enhance quality and yield.
• Monitor for potential issues such as late ad items, overages, or seasonal challenges that require immediate action.
• Understand seasonality and ensure timely exit from categories to minimize losses and optimize inventory turnover.
• Communicate potential risks and opportunities promptly to relevant teams to support informed decision-making.
• Conduct site walkthroughs (from young plants to finished goods) to ensure accurate tracking and alignment with production needs.
• Participate in growing execution meetings to stay updated on growing protocols and potential deviations.
• Estimate the financial impacts of delayed or missed growing steps and provide recommendations.
• Share insights on the retail performance of products with the growing team to ensure alignment with market demand.
• Stay informed about the retail performance of products, seasonal trends, and promotional activities.
• Forecast availability to ensure alignment with sales and customer needs.
• Identify products that can be swapped between customers based on availability.
• Identify opportunities to maximize pack-out efficiency and optimize cart utilization to reduce freight costs.

• Collaborate with operations and logistics teams to streamline packing processes and improve shipment efficiency.
• Support the sales team by providing product images and other relevant details when needed.
• Understand the costs and tasks associated with inventory pulling, as well as other farm operations such as trimming and space management.
• Provide feedback to optimize operations, including recommending products for early shipment to avoid unnecessary additional tasks or delays.

Additional Responsibilities

• Availability for flexible schedule changes based on business needs (including but not limited to seasonal demand and additional hours outside of the regular work schedule, such as weekends, nights, and holidays).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather information or help as required.
• Perform additional duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Horticulture, Logistics, Finance, or a related field
• 2 years in inventory management, production planning, or supply chain roles.
• Previous experience teaching language to adult learners and holding the Alfalit Teacher Certification are preferred.
• Strong understanding of language acquisition principles and cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in Spanish and English.
• Proficient in using technology tools such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), Microsoft Office Suite, and reporting software.
• Flexibility in adapting teaching methods to accommodate various learning styles.
• Familiarity with language assessment tools and proficiency in using educational technology.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work schedules as needed.

Physical Demands

• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects,

Work Environment:

The role involves utilizing standard office equipment, such as computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, telephones, and other essential digital tools required for daily tasks.

• Office outdoors: Office-based settings may feature open environments with background noise from conversations, office equipment, and phone calls. The role may also occasionally require working outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Outdoor setting: Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including exposure to sunlight, rain, wind, and temperature fluctuations (hot, cold, rainy and windy).

SKILLS

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex information to employees.
• Strong problem-solving skills to address and resolve issues related to machinery operation and maintenance efficiently.
• Knowledge of horticulture practices and plant growth cycles is a plus.
• Ability to analyze production and sales data to forecast inventory needs accurately.
• Understanding of demand planning and supply chain principles.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal teams, ensuring effective collaboration.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
• Strong coordination skills and adherence to safety procedures are essential.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues efficiently.

COMPETENCIES

• Inventory Accuracy and Management
• Collaborates
• Communicates Effectively
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Business Acumen

After applying, follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on what’s happening around Costa Farms and to start becoming part of our family. Come Grow with Us™! 

 Costa Farms offers competitive wages and benefits, including:   

• 401(k) Plan   
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions   
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, and Dependent Care 
• Telemedicine/ Mental Health Services   
• Health Insurance   
• Dental Insurance   
• Vision Insurance   
• Pet Insurance 
• Supplemental Insurance (Aflac)   
• Growth Opportunities   
• Challenging and exciting work environment   
• Costa Farms Scholarship
• Employee discounts on plants  

  Costa Farms headquarters also has:   

• On-site gym with showers   
• Subsidized on-site cafeteria, a quiet room, and indoor games   
• Love Where You Work activities throughout the year   

This organization participates in E-Verify 

• E-Verify Notice of Participation / E-Verify Aviso de Participación (English/Español) 
• E-Verify Right to Work Poster / E-Verify Cartel Derecho a Trabajar (English/Español)