Job Title: Materials Manager
Location: Wilmington, MA 
Duration: 6 months with possible extension
Shift: (40 hrs/week)

Role Overview
The role supports our rapid prototyping and low-rate production facility where we take products from early prototype through pre-production builds. The facility handles a high diversity of parts, materials, and components across multiple product programs — from precision machined parts and 3D-printed components to purchased assemblies, electronics, and raw materials.

We are seeking a Warehouse Manager to own all shipping, receiving, inventory management, and warehousing operations for the facility. This is a unique role: you will be building and managing warehouse operations in a dynamic R&D and pre-production environment without a fully mature ERP system, with high part variety, frequent engineering changes, and rapidly evolving inventory needs. You will need to create practical systems for tracking, storing, and staging thousands of unique SKUs while maintaining the speed and flexibility that a development environment demands. This role requires someone who can build structure from ambiguity and thrive in a fast-paced setting.

Key Responsibilities
Shipping & Receiving
• Manage all inbound receiving operations: verify shipments against purchase orders, inspect for damage, and process receiving documentation
• Coordinate outbound shipping for returns, transfers, and supplier exchanges
• Process a high volume of diverse incoming materials — from small electronic components to large machined castings and raw stock
• Work with carriers and freight services to schedule deliveries, manage dock appointments, and resolve shipping discrepancies
• Maintain accurate receiving logs and ensure timely communication to production planning when critical materials arrive
Inventory Management
• Establish and maintain inventory tracking systems for a high-variety, low-volume environment with thousands of unique part numbers
• Develop practical inventory management processes that function effectively without a mature ERP — using spreadsheets, barcode systems, or lightweight tools as appropriate
• Conduct cycle counts, reconcile inventory discrepancies, and maintain accuracy targets
• Manage inventory locations, bin assignments, and storage organization to enable rapid retrieval for production kitting
• Track lot/serial numbers for critical components requiring traceability
• Flag aging inventory, excess stock, and obsolete parts for engineering review and disposition
• Adapt inventory processes as engineering changes drive BOM revisions, part number changes, and new material introductions
Warehousing & Staging
• Organize warehouse layout for efficient storage, retrieval, and flow of materials to production areas
• Kit and stage materials for upcoming build campaigns in coordination with the production planner
• Manage storage of hazardous materials, ESD-sensitive components, and temperature-sensitive items per applicable requirements
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe warehouse areas following 5S principles
• Optimize space utilization as inventory types and volumes change with evolving product programs
• Manage overflow storage, off-site storage coordination, and material transfers between facilities as needed
Team Leadership & Coordination
• Lead and develop a small team of material handlers and receiving specialists
• Coordinate daily with production planning, supply chain, and engineering to align material availability with build schedules
• Communicate proactively when inventory issues, receiving delays, or space constraints may impact production
• Support production readiness reviews by confirming material availability for upcoming builds
• Drive accountability for inventory accuracy, on-time staging, and receiving throughput
Process Development & Systems
• Build warehouse processes from the ground up in a new facility — define workflows, create SOPs, and establish operating standards
• Evaluate and recommend inventory management tools and systems as the organization scales
• Develop labeling, barcoding, and location management standards
• Support future ERP implementation by establishing clean data practices and process discipline now
• Identify and implement continuous improvements to reduce handling time, improve accuracy, and increase throughput

Basic Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 5+ years of experience in warehouse management, materials management, or shipping/receiving operations
• Experience managing inventory in a high-mix, low-volume environment with a large number of unique SKUs
• Demonstrated ability to build and improve warehouse processes — not just operate within existing systems
• Experience managing a small team (material handlers, shipping/receiving associates)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency with inventory tracking tools (spreadsheets, barcode scanners, lightweight WMS, or similar)
• Comfort working without a mature ERP system and building practical solutions with available tools
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand/walk for extended periods

Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, logistics, operations management, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in warehouse or materials management, preferably in R&D, prototype, aerospace, or defense manufacturing environments
• Experience standing up warehouse operations in a new or greenfield facility
• Experience with ERP/WMS systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and understanding of data requirements for future implementation
• APICS CPIM, CSCP, or similar supply chain certification
• Experience managing inventory for complex multi-level BOMs with frequent engineering changes
• Experience handling ESD-sensitive electronic components and hazardous materials storage
• Knowledge of lean warehousing principles, kanban, and visual management systems
• Experience with cycle counting programs and root cause analysis for inventory discrepancies
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to create structure in ambiguous, rapidly changing environments
• Track record of implementing process improvements that measurably increased accuracy or throughput 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws.This position's pay range is $50.00/hr - $55.00/hr.