Inventory & MRO Analyst

Company Description At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago. We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it. Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks. Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks. Job Description The Inventory & MRO Analyst is responsible for optimizing maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) inventory to ensure maximum equipment uptime in a highly automated, multi-line food manufacturing facility. This role manages a multi-million-dollar repair and maintenance (R&M) budget, drives inventory accuracy, and ensures critical spare parts availability for continuous production in a USDA-regulated environment. The ideal candidate combines data analytics, maintenance planning, and inventory control expertise to reduce downtime, improve asset reliability, and control costs Key Responsibilities – Inventory & MRO Analyst Strategic MRO Inventory Optimization Design and continuously refine inventory segmentation strategy (critical spares vs. consumables vs. long-lead items vs. rarely used insurance spares). Perform criticality analysis (ABC + equipment criticality) to identify parts that directly impact production uptime. Build and maintain dynamic min/max and safety stock models using: Usage variability Supplier lead times (standard vs. expedited) Equipment failure patterns Drive risk-based stocking strategies: Zero-stock tolerance for uptime-critical components Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) where viable Lead SKU rationalization initiatives: Identify duplicates across OEMs or lines Standardize components across similar equipment Actively manage inventory lifecycle: Introduce new parts for new equipment or upgrades Phase out obsolete or end-of-life components Deep Maintenance & Reliability Integration Translate maintenance strategies into inventory requirements: PM (Preventive Maintenance) kits PdM (Predictive Maintenance) replacement profiles Breakdown/spare readiness models Work directly with Maintenance Planners to: Pre-stage parts for shutdowns, rebuilds, and changeovers Build kitted jobs for faster wrench time execution Analyze failure data (via CMMS) to: Identify chronic part failures Recommend higher-spec or alternative components Adjust stocking levels based on real failure curves Support planned outage execution: Ensure all parts are available weeks in advance Create contingency plans for critical equipment Embed reliability concepts: MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) alignment with stocking MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) reduction via parts readiness Financial Ownership & R&M Cost Control Serve as the day-to-day steward of a multi-million-dollar R&M budget. Develop annual MRO spend forecasts by: Asset class (processing, packaging, automation) Maintenance strategy (PM/PdM/reactive) Conduct monthly variance analysis: Identify cost spikes by line, failure type, or supplier Partner with maintenance to correct cost drivers Drive cost-out initiatives, including: Repair vs. replace analytics Use of refurbished/rebuilt components Reduction in emergency purchases and premium freight Monitor and reduce: Inventory carrying costs Excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory Track and improve financial KPIs: Inventory turns Cost per operating hour Maintenance cost per pound produced Advanced Data Analytics & Decision Support Own MRO data governance within CMMS/ERP: Item master accuracy (descriptions, specs, cross-references) BOM (Bill of Materials) integrity for all key assets Build and maintain analytics dashboards, such as: Stockout events vs. downtime impact Parts usage trends by equipment and failure mode Spend by vendor, category, and asset class Perform predictive analysis: Anticipate part demand based on production schedules and historical failures Identify hidden inefficiencies: Overstocked but unused items Frequently expedited parts (poor planning signal) Provide actionable insights to: Maintenance leadership Plant leadership Supply chain teams Vendor Strategy & Supply Risk Management Classify suppliers based on criticality: OEMs for specialized automation components Strategic distributors for high-use consumables Lead supplier performance management: On-time delivery Lead-time consistency Pricing competitiveness Negotiate: Blanket POs for high-usage items Consignment/VMI programs Emergency supply agreements Develop multi-sourcing strategies for high-risk parts Mitigate risk of: Single-source dependency Long-lead imported components Coordinate rapid-response sourcing during uptime emergencies Warehouse & Inventory Control Excellence Establish best practices for MRO storeroom operations: Logical bin locations aligned to usage frequency Clear labeling and barcoding standards Lead and enforce cycle counting programs: Daily/weekly cadence based on criticality tiers Investigate and resolve discrepancies: Root causes (process gaps, improper usage tracking, etc.) Drive 5S and visual management in storeroom areas Improve technician experience: Fast part identification and retrieval Reduced time searching for materials Implement controls for: Unauthorized withdrawals Untracked parts usage (key data integrity risk) Cross-Functional Leadership Act as the bridge between Maintenance, Operations, Finance, and Procurement. Participate in: Daily production/maintenance meetings Weekly reliability reviews Budget reviews and capital planning sessions Educate internal stakeholders on: Inventory implications of maintenance decisions Cost vs. reliability trade-offs Influence behavior: Reduce “just-in-case” hoarding or over-ordering Promote planned vs. reactive maintenance culture Regulatory, Food Safety & Audit Readiness Ensure all MRO processes comply with: USDA requirements Food safety standards (GMPs, HACCP support) Manage proper storage of: Food-grade lubricants Chemicals and maintenance materials Maintain audit-ready documentation: Inventory transactions Supplier traceability where required Support internal and external audits: Provide immediate visibility to inventory records Demonstrate control over maintenance materials Continuous Improvement & Digitization Lead or support Lean / Six Sigma initiatives such as: Storeroom optimization Inventory reduction without increasing risk Implement: Barcode/RFID solutions Mobile technician part issuance Drive CMMS maturity improvements: Increased technician adoption Improved data capture quality Benchmark against industry best practices for: MRO inventory turns Maintenance cost as % of asset value What “Strong Performance” Looks Like in This Role No production downtime due to part unavailability Significant reduction in emergency purchase orders Improved maintenance efficiency (more planned work, less reactive) Inventory reduced without increasing operational risk Clear, data-backed decisions driving reliability and cost control Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Inventory accuracy ≥ 98% Stockout rate reduction Equipment downtime attributable to parts availability Inventory turns improvement R&M budget adherence Obsolescence reduction Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience) Experience 3–7+ years in MRO inventory, maintenance planning, or supply chain roles in manufacturing Experience in high-speed, automated production environments required Food manufacturing or USDA-regulated experience preferred Technical Skills Strong knowledge of MRO inventory management and spare parts planning Experience with CMMS/ERP systems (SAP PM/MM preferred) Advanced Excel and data analysis skills (Power BI/Tableau a plus) Understanding of reliability concepts (MTBF, MTTR) Core Competencies Analytical and data-driven decision-making Strong cross-functional collaboration Cost control and financial acumen Continuous improvement mindset (Lean/6 Sigma preferred) Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills Why This Role Matters This position is critical to ensuring uninterrupted production in a large-scale automated facility, directly impacting uptime, cost control, and operational efficiency. Effective MRO management in this role drives both bottom-line performance and plant reliability. Additional Information The pay range for this role is $44 - $47 (Hourly). Actual wage will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the Team Member will be required to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (i.e. beard/hairnet, ear plugs, frock, boots, etc.), stand for extended periods of time, and use hands/arms to push, pull, reach and occasionally lift above head. The Team Member must occasionally lift, push, pull up to 25 pounds and 50 pounds infrequently. Team Members are requested to visually inspect equipment and/or product. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant setting with wet/slippery floors, varying degrees of temperatures with an average temperature of 40 degrees in the production area. Team Members will be exposed to raw and/or cooked meat products and moving equipment and will be required to follow all Food Safety Quality requirements. EEO Statement: Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law. Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For information about the E-Verify program, please visit: Disclaimer: This job description is intended to generally describe the nature and level of work to be performed by team members in this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of team members performing this role.

Sub-Department: Engineering & Maintenance Department: Operations