Warehouse Product Supervisor

Voted one of the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber, and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supplies worldwide, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental, fiber, resin, and elastomer products. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), Kuraray operates in 32 countries, employing over 12,000 people, including more than 800 in the United States.

About the role

The Warehouse Product Supervisor coordinates day-to-day warehouse, packaging, inventory, and shipping activities to support safe, efficient, and reliable operations. This role provides direct oversight of Warehouse Coordinator and contractor personnel, ensures inventory accuracy, supports customer order fulfillment, and maintains compliance with safety, quality, and operational standards. The position serves as a key link between warehouse operations and site functions, providing hands-on leadership in a continuous manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Inventory & product management
  • Create and manage packaging work orders in alignment with production schedules and customer demand.
  • Process customer orders, internal material requests, and railcar inventory transactions using warehouse management systems.
  • Monitor packaging and shipping supply inventories to support uninterrupted operations.
  • Serve as a key user for warehouse management systems and support employee training.
  • Maintain inventory accuracy through inventory transactions, cycle counts, reconciliation activities, and FIFO inventory practices.
• Equipment & Process Troubleshooting
  • Troubleshoot packaging and material handling equipment, including conveyors, palletizers, and bagging systems.
  • Coordinate resolution of equipment and packaging material issues to minimize operational disruptions.
  • Coordinate equipment repairs, preventive maintenance activities, and resolution of equipment issues in partnership with maintenance to support reliable operations.
• Safety & Quality Assurance
  • Promote a safety-first culture through employee engagement, housekeeping inspections, and compliance with site procedures.
  • Ensure adherence to SOPs, safety standards, and operational requirements.
  • Investigate incidents and customer complaints, implement corrective actions, and communicate lessons learned.
  • Support site emergency response efforts and on-call responsibilities as required.
  • Support compliance with safety, environmental, ISO, and Responsible Care requirements through audits, investigations, corrective actions, and employee communication.
  • Communicate key learnings from all injury/incident investigations to staff.
• System Management & Reporting
  • Maintain warehouse data integrity and inventory transactions within warehouse management systems.
  • Monitor warehouse performance metrics and prepare inventory, shipping, and operational reports to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Shipping & receiving operations
  • Coordinate receiving, storage, packaging, and shipping activities to ensure accurate inventory management and on-time customer deliveries.
  • Ensure compliance with established workflows, documentation requirements, and shipping procedures.
  • Provide operational support during periods of increased volume or staffing shortages.
• Contractor Management & Operations
  • Coordinate contractor activities, work assignments, and schedules to support safe and efficient warehouse operations.
  • Monitor contractor performance against established service expectations and operational requirements.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact between contractors and KAI management to support communication, workflow execution, and issue resolution.
  • Promote compliance with site safety, quality, and operational standards.
• Team Development & Collaboration
  • Provide supervision, coaching, training, and performance feedback for assigned employees.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable work environment.
  • Collaborate with Product Management, Customer Service, Engineering, and Operations to support customer requirements and process improvements.
  • Support department and site performance objectives through employee engagement, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 10 years of warehouse/materials experience in chemical or manufacturing industry.
• Minimum 3 years supervising warehouse operations.
• Experience with warehouse management and inventory control systems; SAP preferred.
• Working knowledge of inventory management practices, including cycle counting, reconciliation, and material tracking.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Ability to work in a warehouse environment, including standing, walking, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Valid driver's license required.

Skills

• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Business Insight: Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals.
• Cultivates Innovation: Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Difference: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Courage: Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including base pay and an annual incentive program designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.
• Robust healthcare package with wellness reimbursements.
• Three weeks of paid time off.
• Ten company holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• Education reimbursement.
• Matching 401k plan.