Inventory Associate

Job Level : JL-3

Job Title : Inventory Associate

Years of Experience : 3+

About Ilara Health

At Ilara Health we are building a network of technology-enabled primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) delivering affordable, quality healthcare to Africas under-served communities by partnering with local providers across the continent. Founded by entrepreneurs passionate about the role technology can play in improving health outcomes, Ilara Health helps over 2,000 clinics spread across Kenya to deliver care to over 3 million patients each year. Ilara Health is a venture-backed company on an aggressive growth path and this is an opportunity to get into an exciting, early stage startup that is bound to make an impact on healthcare outcomes in Africa.

Ilara Health brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, including biochemists, data scientists, computer scientists, journalists, marketers, cybersecurity experts, and finance professionals. We are seeking team members who share our passion for primary healthcare, embrace bold questioning, and thrive on creating impactful solutions using technology. Committed to building a network of primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) that provide affordable, high-quality care to low and middle-income demographics in Africa, we are guided by our core values. These values shape our culture and actions. 'Get it done' reflects our dedication to excellence and delivering results for our clients. 'Growth is life' signifies our holistic approach to growth, embracing trial and error in our pursuit of excellence. 'Remember why we exist' anchors our focus on customers' needs, while 'Heart of a champion' propels us to go the extra mile. Our passion for 'Do it now' fuels innovation and learning, driving our commitment to improve healthcare access in Africa.

The Role

The Inventory Associate will be responsible for optimizing inventory levels across our brand of pharmacies to ensure consistent stock availability, minimize out-of-stock scenarios, and support pharmacy operations. This role involves forecasting demand, demand planning and order placement, coordinating with the procurement team, and strategizing inventory replenishment. Additionally, the role oversees tracking and reporting to improve efficiency and maintain high service levels across our pharmacy network.

Responsibilities

• Demand Planning and Inventory Management.
  • Conduct ongoing demand planning reviews to determine restocking needs for each pharmacy.
  • Communicate restocking needs to Pharm-techs and gather feedback for enhanced demand planning.
  • Prepare and share in a timely manner orders detailing items for supply and monitor fulfilment of orders, including orders from suppliers.
  • Identify out of stock items and create a plan to manage these items.
• Demand Planning Management and Inventory Optimization
  • Review inventory levels continuously to anticipate urgent restocking needs and take preemptive actions.
  • Regularly review and refine the demand planning process for inventory optimization.
  • Identify and implement improvement plans for inventory optimization in the demand planning process but also more widely in the pharmacy operations.
  • Maintain a lean inventory, leveraging internal resources and optimizing stock levels.
  • Develop and implement strategies to manage stock-outs.
  • Standardize SKUs and product names across all pharmacies.
  • Establish strategies for liquidating short-expiry or slow-moving products.
  • Analyze stock take report outcomes to inform demand planning adjustments and process adjustments to ensure reduction in inventory variances.
• New Pharmacy Launch Planning
  • Accurately forecast inventory requirements for upcoming pharmacy launches.
  • Set up inventory items in the HMIS including product names, category, SKUs, and pricing in advance of each launch.
  • Coordinate with relevant teams to ensure stock availability and timely delivery at new locations.
• Tracking and Reporting: Create tracking systems and control towers to monitor inventory management and order processing.

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience in demand planning, inventory management, or supply chain roles.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and demand forecasting tools.
• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration across cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented and able to work under tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of healthcare inventory management practices is an advantage.