Operations Specialist

Operations Specialist | Carrier Enterprise | Houston, TX

Company Description

Carrier Enterprise (CE) is a premier national distributor specializing in residential and light commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) products, parts, and supplies. We serve licensed HVAC/R dealers and contractors, ensuring top-quality HVAC solutions across 28 states, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Mexico, and Canada. With over 200+ locations, we are well-positioned to meet or exceed our customers' HVAC/R needs.

Additional details about CE can be located at our website www.carrierenterprise.com.

Job Summary:

The Operations Specialist is responsible for ensuring inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, and process excellence across the region. This position oversees end-to-end cycle count management, investigates and reconciles inventory variances, executes inventory adjustments, and leads the preparation and administration of physical inventories. The role also supports unavailable inventory resolution, manages self-insured warranty adjustments, and partners closely with Finance on damage reporting, capital appropriation requests, and other business-critical inventory activities.

In addition, the Operations Specialist may oversee fleet management for powered industrial equipment and administer key safety and compliance programs, including SafetyPlus, Kinetic, and forklift certification tracking. This role contributes significantly to operational integrity by identifying process gaps, implementing best practices, and driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance accuracy, safety, and overall organizational performance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Cycle Count and Physical Inventory Management
  • Conduct weekly cycle-count audits to ensure inventory accuracy.
  • Collaborate with branch teams to investigate and report on inventory variances, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
  • Prepare and manage the annual physical inventory counts, ensuring thorough and accurate execution.
• Inventory Adjustments & Management
  • Control, run, and report on all inventory adjustments to maintain accurate records.
  • Manage aged-inventory reserves and shipped/not-billed reporting and follow-up.
• Unavailable, Damage, Direct and Non-Stock Inventory Support
  • Run damaged inventory reports and collaborate with the finance department on pricing guidelines.
  • Lead the daily and monthly resolution of issues with Direct and Non-Stock inventory using the ICRON report
• Claims Management
  • Manage and resolve all factory claims using the A5554 form.
  • Work with Planning department to manage the Receiving Exception Report (RER) and Purchase Order (PO) maintenance, including handling supersedes, substitutions, and standard pack quantity discrepancies.
  • Track and manage all freight claims.
  • Assist in resolving Carrier claiming issues.
• Credit and Rebill Transactions
  • Manage all credit and rebill transactions for the region.
• Powered Industrial Equipment Fleet Management
  • Oversee the fleet management of company-owned and leased powered industrial equipment, ensuring optimal utilization and maintenance.
  • Track and report on forklift certifications, ensuring compliance with safety regulations
• Safety Initiative Administration
  • Administer and report on Safety Plus and Kinetic initiatives, promoting a safe working environment. Track Kinetic usage and utilize dashboard for reporting.
  • Attend and engage in monthly Safety Plus and Kinetic calls. Set up new hires with the necessary Kinetic hardware and provide training on Safety Plus software.
  • Verify OSHA hours are being inputted into the site by region.
  • Ensure all digital EH&S (Employee Health & Safety) binders are up to date for each branch.
• Process Improvements
  • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Share best practices and provide training to team members to foster continuous improvement.

*Responsibilities may vary depending on the specific needs of the organization. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, but rather a general overview of the position. CE reserves the right to modify or change job responsibilities at any time, and associates may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated change management skills
• Proven proficiency in problem solving, root cause, processes, and concepts (Six Sigma or like approach a plus)
• Strong team player and leader with the ability to work across multiple functions and disciplines
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to investigate and resolve inventory variances.
• Proficiency in inventory management systems and reporting tools.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of SafetyPlus and Infor/Cloudsuite Distribution software is a plus

Education/Experience Min/Preferred Education Level Description

• Preferred -2 Year / Associate Degree
• Required Minimum - High School or GED
• 3 Years relevant experience in e-commerce, customer service or operations discipline as well as at least 3 years of demonstrated experience leading and facilitating continuous improvement initiatives.

Physical Requirements Warehouse
Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time throughout an 8–10 hour shift. Regularly lift, carry, push, or pull objects up to 50 pounds unassisted; occasionally more with assistance or equipment. Frequently required to bend, stoop, kneel, climb ladders, and reach overhead. Repetitive use of hands and arms to handle, move, and position products or equipment. Must be able to operate warehouse equipment including forklifts, pallet jacks, and RF scanners. Tolerance to a warehouse environment including fluctuating temperatures, noise, dust, and moving machinery.

EEO Statement

Carrier Enterprise, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, race, religion, disability, sex, or national origin. We support a diverse and inclusive workplace where we employ, retain, terminate, and otherwise treat all associates and job applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence.

Education/Experience Min/Preferred Education Level Description

• Preferred -2 Year / Associate Degree
• Required Minimum - High School or GED
• 3 Years relevant experience in e-commerce, customer service or operations discipline as well as at least 3 years of demonstrated experience leading and facilitating continuous improvement initiatives.