Sr Inventory Technican

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

Job Summary 

The Sr. Inventory Technician safely performs the highest-level hourly technical inventory-control work and serves as the working lead and technical escalation point for the Inventory team. The position creates and schedules cycle counts, coordinates daily Inventory work, independently investigates complex discrepancies, performs advanced reconciliation and root-cause analysis, and processes inventory adjustments within established controls and approval limits. 

The Sr. Inventory Technician provides day-to-day work direction, technical guidance, and follow-up to Inventory Records Assistants and Inventory Technicians but does not have formal supervisory or disciplinary authority. The role supports consistent execution, timely completion of cycle-count and inventory-control requirements, audit readiness, and resolution of complex inventory issues. 

The Sr. Inventory Technician may support B2B, DTC, receiving, warehousing, shipping, returns, or other distribution center functions based on business needs and the approved processes at the assigned location. 

Responsibilities 

Network-Wide / All Assigned Inventory Operations 

• Perform all assigned work safely and in accordance with Mattel safety policies, procedures, and established work practices. 

• Identify and promptly report unsafe conditions, product concerns, inventory discrepancies, damaged equipment, or other workplace hazards. 

• Create, schedule, prepare, distribute, and follow up on cycle-count, audit, research, documentation, and special-project assignments. 

• Provide day-to-day work direction and technical guidance to Inventory Records Assistants and Inventory Technicians. 

• Review completed counts, recounts, supporting documents, and system results for accuracy and completeness. 

• Independently investigate and resolve complex, repeated, high-risk, or systemic inventory discrepancies. 

• Perform advanced reconciliation and root-cause analysis to determine whether discrepancies result from shrink, mislocation, status errors, incomplete transactions, replenishment, putaway, picking, shipping, receiving, returns, damage, or other process failures. 

• Research, validate, and process authorized inventory adjustments up to $1,999 and obtain Supervisor approval before processing adjustments of $2,000 or more. 

• Verify adjustment documentation, reason codes, references, approvals, audit trails, and supporting records, and reinforce required separation of duties. 

• Review inventory trends, recurring discrepancies, count-completion performance, adjustment activity, and other applicable KPIs and recommend corrective or preventive action. 

• Coordinate annual, semiannual, monthly, or special physical inventory and cycle-count activities and lead assigned special projects. 

• Provide technical training and process support to Inventory team members. 

• Support audit, SOX, control-narrative, document-retention, and compliance requirements. 

• Perform other related responsibilities and tasks as assigned. 

B2B Responsibilities 

• Schedule and coordinate B2B cycle counts and ensure assigned counts and investigations are completed within established deadlines. 

• Review and resolve significant cycle-count variances, negative inventory, quarantine issues, and complex transaction discrepancies. 

• Process inventory adjustments up to $1,999 and obtain Supervisor approval before processing adjustments of $2,000 or more. 

• Support Claims Department inventory checks, customer-service backorders, toy inspections, water or damage claims, returns, interplant transfers, and other complex B2B inventory processes where assigned. 

• Coordinate special projects and provide work direction to Inventory employees assigned to the activity. 

• Support the accurate preparation and retention of SOX and other control documentation. 

• Use applicable systems such as MIMICS, AS400, RTL, OMNI, or successor systems as the technical Inventory resource. 

DTC Responsibilities 

• Create and schedule DTC cycle counts and audit-count activity and coordinate completion by the Inventory team. 

• Perform advanced analysis of BYWMS transaction history, location activity, inventory movement, count results, and related data. 

• Review complex discrepancies involving shrink, status errors, mislocations, picking, replenishment, putaway, returns, shipping, and damage. 

• Process inventory adjustments up to $1,999 and obtain Supervisor approval before processing adjustments of $2,000 or more. 

• Support major or SOX-controlled adjustments and maintain complete audit evidence. 

• Review inventory KPIs, adjustment activity, count performance, inventory status, and recurring operational errors. 

• Create IPTs, manual outbound shipments, Scrap Trailer bills of lading, and other advanced inventory documents or transactions as assigned. 

• Serve as the technical escalation point for Shipping, Receiving, Returns, Replenishment, Picking, Supply Chain, IT, Finance, and other partners. 

• Support damage, certified scrap, obsolete inventory, material withdrawal, Toy Store, and disposition processes only where assigned under the approved site process. 

• Powered industrial equipment certification is not universally required but may be maintained when needed by the assigned site or operation. 

High school diploma or GED. 

• Three or more years of progressively responsible inventory-control, warehouse, distribution, logistics, or systems experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Advanced proficiency in the inventory, warehouse-management, reporting, and documentation systems used by the assigned location. 

• Demonstrated ability to independently investigate and resolve complex inventory discrepancies. 

• Demonstrated ability to create or schedule cycle-count work and coordinate completion across a team. 

• Ability to provide day-to-day work direction and technical guidance without formal supervisory authority. 

• Advanced analytical, critical-thinking, reconciliation, and root-cause problem-solving skills. 

• Ability to interpret complex transaction histories, control requirements, reports, documentation, and inventory data. 

• Ability to process inventory adjustments accurately within assigned authority and established controls. 

• Knowledge of separation-of-duty, audit-trail, SOX, document-retention, and inventory-control requirements. 

• Ability to identify trends, recommend corrective action, and communicate complex findings clearly. 

• Ability to collaborate effectively with Operations, Shipping, Receiving, Returns, Supply Chain, IT, Finance, Security, Quality, and other partners. 

• Powered industrial equipment certification may be required or maintained based on site and assignment. 

Authorities 

Operates within established procedures and assigned responsibilities. Authorized and expected to stop work for an immediate unsafe act or condition and promptly report safety, inventory, quality, or operational concerns. The role does not independently make personnel decisions, approve policy exceptions, release or reject material, or stop shipments unless specifically authorized by procedure or leadership. 

Physical Demands 

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. 

• Frequently walk, stand, and move throughout the distribution center to coordinate counts, audits, and investigations. 

• Regularly sit, reach, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and use hands and fingers to operate computers, RF devices, and other equipment. 

• Perform repetitive hand, finger, and wrist movements associated with data entry, reporting, and inventory transactions. 

• Lift, carry, push, and pull products or materials weighing up to 50 pounds as required by the assigned operation. 

• Maintain close, distance, peripheral, and depth vision sufficient to inspect inventory, review detailed system information, and safely work around warehouse equipment. 

• Work around moving mechanical equipment, powered industrial vehicles, conveyors, noise, dust, open warehouse doors, and varying temperatures. 

• Where required by assignment, safely enter, exit, and operate approved powered industrial equipment and work at elevated inventory locations. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

How We Work:
We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:

• We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Who We Are:
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.