INVENTORY & STORES MANAGER

Location: Mumbai

Employment Type: Full-Time

Experience: 5–8 Years

Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / STEM field preferred — Electronics, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline.

About The Innovation Story The Innovation Story is building the next generation of innovators through AI, Robotics, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship education. We work with schools, universities, and organizations to create impactful learning experiences that inspire students to solve real-world problems.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced and technically strong Inventory & Stores Manager to take ownership of the inventory, stores, and material management function supporting our robotics, electronics, engineering, STEM education, prototyping, and innovation projects.

The ideal candidate will combine strong inventory and stores management expertise with a STEM/engineering background. The person will be responsible for ensuring the availability, accuracy, traceability, and efficient utilization of technical components, equipment, tools, and project materials across the organization.

This role will work closely with Engineering, Robotics, Program, Procurement, Operations, and Finance teams to forecast requirements, plan inventory, control costs, maintain optimum stock levels, and ensure timely availability of materials for projects and programs.

Key Responsibilities1. Inventory & Stores Management

- Own the end-to-end management of technical inventory and stores operations.
- Establish and maintain systematic processes for receiving, storing, issuing, transferring, returning, and disposing of materials.
- Maintain accurate stock records across electronics, mechanical, electrical, robotics, fabrication, and general technical inventory.
- Develop and monitor minimum, maximum, reorder, and safety stock levels for critical components.
- Ensure proper categorization, SKU creation, labeling, binning, and storage of inventory.
- Conduct periodic physical stock audits and cycle counts.
- Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies, shortages, damages, and stock variances.
- Ensure inventory accuracy across physical and digital records.

1. Technical Inventory Management

- Manage technical components including:
- Microcontrollers and development boards
- Sensors and actuators
- Motors, servos, motor drivers, and controllers
- PCBs, ICs, electronic modules, connectors, and wires
- Batteries, BMS, regulators, and power supplies
- Mechanical components, gears, shafts, bearings, fasteners, and hardware
- Robotics kits and educational kits
- Tools, testing equipment, fabrication materials, and workshop equipment
- Understand basic technical specifications and applications to ensure correct identification, classification, and issue of components.
- Maintain component-level traceability wherever required.

1. Material Planning & Project Readiness

- Work with Engineering, Robotics, and Program teams to understand project-wise Bill of Materials (BOMs) and upcoming material requirements.
- Translate project requirements into inventory and procurement plans.
- Maintain project-wise material allocation and consumption records.
- Ensure materials are available ahead of workshops, student programs, competitions, prototypes, and project launches.
- Prepare and manage project-specific kits and component sets.




- Monitor consumption trends and proactively identify potential shortages.
- Support material planning for multiple concurrent projects and programs.

1. Procurement & Vendor Coordination

- Coordinate with the procurement team and vendors for timely sourcing and replenishment of materials.
- Consolidate requirements across projects to optimize purchasing and reduce unnecessary inventory.
- Evaluate stock availability before initiating new purchase requirements.
- Coordinate with vendors regarding specifications, quantities, quality issues, shortages, replacements, and delivery timelines.
- Verify received materials against purchase orders, invoices, specifications, and quantities.
- Maintain vendor performance records and support vendor evaluation.
- Identify opportunities for alternate components and suppliers while maintaining technical requirements and quality standards.

1. Inventory Optimization & Cost Control

- Develop strategies to maintain optimum inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolete stock.
- Track inventory turnover, consumption, ageing, and slow-moving items.
- Identify opportunities to reduce material wastage and unnecessary purchases.
- Monitor high-value and critical components closely.
- Establish controls for material issue and consumption.
- Support budgeting and forecasting for inventory requirements.
- Prepare periodic reports on inventory value, consumption, shortages, ageing, and procurement requirements.

1. Stores Operations & Infrastructure

- Maintain a well-organized, safe, and efficient stores environment.
- Design storage systems appropriate for small electronic components, mechanical parts, tools, kits, and equipment.
- Implement appropriate binning, labeling, FIFO/FEFO, and material handling practices wherever applicable.
- Ensure proper storage and handling of sensitive components, batteries, electronic equipment, and tools.
- Maintain separate tracking for assets, consumables, project inventory, and reusable components.
- Ensure proper housekeeping and safety standards within the stores area.

1. Systems, Processes & Documentation

- Establish and continuously improve inventory and stores SOPs.
- Implement appropriate inventory management systems, ERP, or digital tracking mechanisms.
- Maintain accurate records for:
- Goods received
- Goods issued
- Material returns
- Stock transfers
- Purchase requirements
- Damaged materials
- Asset movement
- Stock adjustments
- Scrap/disposal
- Create dashboards and periodic MIS reports for management.
- Establish transparent approval and authorization processes for material movement.

1. Team Management & Cross-Functional Coordination

- Lead and manage stores/inventory personnel and ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
- Define responsibilities, processes, and performance expectations for the stores team.
- Train team members on inventory processes, technical component identification, documentation, and safety.
- Coordinate closely with Engineering, Robotics, Program, Procurement, Finance, and Operations teams.




- Act as the central point of contact for inventory and material-related requirements across projects.

1. Audit, Compliance & Controls

- Ensure inventory records are audit-ready and accurately maintained.
- Conduct regular stock verification and reconciliation.
- Establish controls to minimize material loss, pilferage, damage, and unauthorized movement.
- Maintain proper documentation for obsolete, damaged, and scrapped materials.
- Support internal and external audits related to inventory and assets.

Required Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a STEM-related discipline preferred.
- 5–8 years of experience in Inventory Management, Stores Management, Materials Management, Warehouse Operations, or Supply Chain.
- Experience managing technical/engineering inventory is strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of inventory control, stock reconciliation, material planning, and procurement coordination.
- Ability to understand and identify electronic, mechanical, electrical, and robotics components.
- Strong knowledge of Excel/Google Sheets and inventory/ERP systems.
- Experience managing inventory across multiple projects or locations is preferred.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional coordination skills.
- Ability to lead a team and establish structured processes.

Preferred Technical Exposure
- Robotics and automation components
- Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, STM32, and similar development platforms
- Sensors, motors, motor drivers, PCBs, connectors, batteries, and power electronics
- Mechanical components, fasteners, gears, bearings, shafts, and fabricated parts
- CNC machining, laser cutting, and 3D printing materials
- BOM management and project-based material planning
- Prototyping and maker/engineering labs
- ERP/inventory systems such as SAP, Zoho Inventory, Tally, or similar platforms

Key Performance Indicators Success in this role will be measured through:
- Inventory accuracy and stock reconciliation
- Availability of critical components for projects and programs
- Reduction in stock-outs and excess inventory
- Inventory turnover and ageing management
- Procurement planning and material availability
- Reduction in material wastage and obsolete inventory
- Timely completion of audits and reconciliations
- Accuracy of inventory documentation and reporting
- Efficiency of stores operations
- Project readiness and timely material allocation

Key Competencies
- Technical & Engineering Understanding
- Inventory & Stores Management
- Material Planning
- Procurement Coordination
- Cost & Inventory Optimization
- Team Leadership
- Process Development
- Analytical Thinking
- Vendor Management
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Attention to Detail
- Ownership & Accountability

Why This Role Matters The Inventory & Stores Manager will play a critical role in ensuring that The Innovation Story's robotics, engineering, STEM, and innovation teams have the right components, tools, and materials available at the right time. By building a structured, scalable, and technically informed inventory function, this role will directly enable the successful execution of student programs, workshops, competitions, prototypes, robotics projects, and real-world innovation challenges.

Pay: ₹40,000.00 - ₹50,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person

📌 Inventory Manager (Dadar)
🏢 The Innovation Story
📍 Dadar