Job Details

Distribution Manager

Avantor is seeking a Distribution Manager. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing a wide variety of material handling activities including receipt/storage/movement/delivery of manufacturing materials & supplies, and general business supplies & parcels. The Supervisor is responsible for maintaining inventory and associated records and people management responsibilities which include hiring and training, planning and assigning daily work, conducting performance appraisals, addressing performance issues, and problem resolution.

This is a full-time position located at our Carpinteria, CA office.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 7am-3:30pm; Saturdays as needed.

How you will thrive and create an impact:

• Supervises daily warehouse & material movement activities including: satisfying internal shipping requirements, receiving incoming material and routing to appropriate area or personnel, filling material requirements for Manufacturing, ensuring inventory transactions are accurately logged and overseeing cycle counts and reconciliation activities.
• Develops and maintains departmental work instructions for all tasks. Adjusts work procedures to meet workload demands as dictated by production schedules and work flow. Continuously improves material handling operations through the use of lean enterprise practices.
• Maintains a safety-focused organization, through identification and reporting of potential hazards, conducting of regular safety discussions, assisting with accident/incident investigations, oversight of equipment maintenance needs, and implementation of safety-focused work flows. Complies with federal & state regulations, and company policies, surrounding the proper labeling, storage, and transportation of all responsible materials.
• Ensures compliance with all company standard operating procedures. Interacts and collaborates with leadership peers and internal customers to recommend, design and implement process revisions to improve throughput, flow, organization, and/or response time. Utilizes established company procedures to update relevant documentation.
• Maintains storage areas by organizing floor space; adhering to storage design principles; recommending improvements.
• Communicates with internal and external contacts on matters that require understanding of complex issues.
• Participates in, and oversees team participation in operational excellence initiatives as assigned.
• Oversees a team of associate-level and senior-level Material Handlers. Accomplishes human resource objectives by selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling, motivating, and disciplining employees; communicating job expectations, planning, monitoring, appraising job contributions; recommending compensation actions, and adhering to policies and procedures.
• Performs administrative & documentation functions relative to supervision of subordinates.

What we're looking for:

• Education:
• High school diploma or equivalent degree; Associates preferred.
• Experience:
• 5 years relevant Warehouse/Material Handling experience (including 1+ year of previous supervisory experience).
• Experience in a chemical or mechanical manufacturing environment preferred.
• Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:
• CPIM (APICS) or CQE (ASQ) certifications are a plus.
• May be required to pass DOT and IATA certification.
• May require California driver's license and eligibility for coverage by company-paid automobile insurance policy.
• May require valid California Class C Driver's License with Hazardous Material certification.
• Additional Qualifications:
• Knowledge of OSHA, NFPC, Hazwoper, California Vehicle Code for Hazardous Material Drivers Program and other governmental requirements (e.g. 21 CFR Part 820, cGMP, ISO, FDA, etc.) required.
• Knowledge of general business computer software and aptitude to learn new software applications. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of business users and subject matter experts.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to effectively supervise people, handle and prioritize multiple tasks, maintain focus upon deadlines and deliverables while surrounded by distractions, and work as a team player.
• Ability to work independently (with limited supervision), and comprehend and follow complex oral and written instructions and orders from management and/or executive staff.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For safety, the use of contact lenses for any reason, cosmetic or corrective, is prohibited on the production floor, in the lab areas, in the engineering shop, or while working on equipment. The company will provide prescription safety glasses with a current (less than 12 months) vision corrective prescription provided by the employee.

While performing the duties of this job, this role is required to regularly stand and work on concrete floors, and is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.

This role must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds, and move loaded 55-gallon drums and pallets with proper material handling equipment.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. This role may also be required to pass pulmonary function testing in order to wear a respirator.