Raw Materials Lead

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

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  Lead by example and reinforce all safety rules, regulations, procedures, and required training during the assigned shift.

  
  

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  Promote 100% safety engagement, complete shift safety routines, and support proactive hazard identification.

  
  

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  Correct unsafe conditions within the scope of the role and promptly escalate incidents or significant risks to the Raw Material Supervisor or appropriate plant leadership.

  
  

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  Ensure environmental compliance and proper housekeeping of raw material receiving areas, silos, railcar areas, and storage locations during the shift.

  
  
• Understand and accumulate working knowledge of Raw Material Attendant job duties, required tasks, and overall scope of work to ensure business continuity and operational performance.

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  Work alongside employees while providing hands-on leadership for raw material receiving, unloading, storage, inventory control, and related shift activities.

  
  

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  Assign daily shift responsibilities, coordinate immediate coverage needs, communicate priorities, and verify completion of assigned work.

  
  

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  Provide real-time coaching, reinforce standard work, and identify training or performance concerns for escalation to the Plant Controller where necessary

  
  

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  Serve as the primary raw material contact during the assigned shift and communicate material availability, delivery delays, equipment issues, and production risks to Operations, Planning team (WHQ based), Third-Party Carriers, Contractors and other stakeholders.

  
  

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  Maintain accurate raw material inventories by ensuring assigned cycle counts and inventory checks are completed accurately and on time.
  
  

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  Verify that materials delivered during the shift, including railcars, trucks and transloaded material, are received accurately and on time in SAP.

  
  

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  Investigate shift-level inventory discrepancies, receiving errors, and transaction issues; resolve within established authority or escalate promptly.

  
  

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  Coordinate railcar placement, unloading, documentation, release, and communication with raw material unloaders and other support functions.

  
  

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  Maintain the railcar tracking log and promptly communicate conditions that may create detention or demurrage exposure.

  
  

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  Monitor inbound deliveries and verify that all items delivered during the shift are received into SAP.

  
  

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  Support timely correction of COGI errors and other transaction issues to help maintain accurate product cost allocation.

  
  

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  Coordinate with Quality and Production when deliveries are damaged, nonconforming, delayed, SMOI or otherwise present a risk to production.

  
  

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  Ensure damaged or rejected product is identified, contained, documented, and recorded according to established processes.

  
  

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  Monitor raw material levels using a just-in-time approach and escalate shortages or abnormal usage that may affect production continuity.

  
  

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  Support adequate Friday and weekend inventory levels and follow established raw material plans for extended downtime and start-up.

  
  

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  Lead shift handoff communication, including inventory status, pending deliveries, equipment concerns, open actions, and production risks.

  
  

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  Monitor shift performance, identify abnormalities, and support corrective and continuous-improvement actions.

  
  

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  Assist with training and cross-training employees on standard work, SAP transactions, safety expectations, and raw material processes.

  
  

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  Escalate attendance, discipline, staffing, and significant performance matters to the Plant Controller for resolution; this role does not independently own formal employment decisions.

  
  

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  Support coverage for raw material operations and perform other duties as assigned by the Plant Controller or plant leadership.

  
  

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  Hands-on leadership style with the ability to direct work while contributing to daily operations.

  
  

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  Strong communication, coaching, organization, and problem-solving skills.

  
  

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  High level of attention to detail and accountability for accurate, timely shift execution.

  
  

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  Ability to prioritize changing demands and make sound decisions within established procedures.

  
  

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  Ability to work effectively with employees, third-party vendors, carriers, suppliers, and cross-functional partners.

  
  

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  Continuous-improvement mindset with a desire to learn, develop others, and reinforce consistent standards.

  
  

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  Demonstrated understanding of inventory controls, receiving processes, and basic SOX requirements.

  
  

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  Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word.

  
  

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  Strong verbal and written communication skills.

  
  

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  Knowledge of warehouse management systems; SAP proficiency is highly desirable.

  
  

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  Demonstrated ability to lead work, coach peers, reinforce standards, and make sound shift-level decisions.

  
  
  Required education:
  
  
  
  
  
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    Minimum: High school diploma or equivalent.

    
    
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
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    Preferred: Associate degree or relevant coursework in Inventory Management, Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.

    
    
  
  

  
  
  
  
  Required experience:
  
  
  
  
  
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    Minimum: Manufacturing, warehouse, logistics, supply chain, or inventory management experience.

    
    
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
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    Preferred: 3+ years of warehouse rail operations, or general operations experience, including lead, trainer, coordinator, or other hands-on work-direction responsibility.