Sr. Manager, Inventory Control and Warehouse Operations 1st Shift

Airlite Plastics is a premier, privately held, family-owned manufacturer headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Our family style and personal culture is what makes Airlite an amazing place to grow and build a successful career. Airlite’s company values of unquestionable integrity and respect and appreciation for each other are at the core of our success! These values set a strong foundation to build on where we can ‘wow’ our customers with innovative products and sustainable solutions, and continuously improve our processes and efficiencies.

Our product lines include rigid plastic containers and lids for food packaging and cosmetics, dry powder scoops, plastic drink cups, shipping containers, industrial strength insulated concrete forms (ICF) and sustainable permeable paving systems. As pioneers in our industry, focused on sustainable solutions, we strive to provide our customers with top-notch service and quality, which aligns with our award-winning products.

How would you contribute?

This role is a contributing member of our Airlite Plastics Team, located in Omaha, NE. As a Sr. Manager, Inventory Control & Warehouse Operations you are a key to continued growth and success of Airlite. The Sr. Manager, Inventory Control & Warehouse Operations provides leadership for the systems, processes, and teams responsible for ensuring materials and inventory move effectively through Airlite's manufacturing operations. This role connects inventory control, materials management, and warehouse operations to the needs of the business, ensuring production teams have the right materials available at the right time while maintaining strong inventory accuracy, effective use of space and disciplined movement and storage of goods.

Working closely with cross-functional teams, this role collaboratively develops an integrated approach to material flow—from receipt and storage through production support and the movement of finished goods between manufacturing locations. This leader is expected to look beyond the day-to-day operation, identify where processes or systems create unnecessary complexity or risk, and build scalable practices that improve visibility, accountability, and operational performance.

Essential Duties:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for assigned functions supporting the effective flow, management, and control of materials and inventory across manufacturing operations.

• Using strong leadership tools, build organizational capability across assigned functions by establishing effective leadership structures, developing management talent, and creating an environment where leaders are empowered to grow, make decisions, and deliver against shared expectations.

• Manage the transportation or finished goods, raw materials, equipment, and supplies between assigned operational locations.

• Maintain accountability for inventory accuracy and integrity, including cycle counts, physical inventories, FIFO practices, ERP transactions, reconciliation, and resolution of inventory discrepancies.

• Manage processes and controls to ensure raw materials, work-in-process, packaging, components, and other production materials are accurately managed and available to support manufacturing requirements.

• Partner closely with Production and Scheduling to anticipate material requirements, identify constraints, and ensure materials are positioned appropriately to support production plans.

• Provide leadership for the storage, organization, and movement of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods, including space utilization, material flow, receiving, staging, and shipping activities.

• Establish and continuously improve processes for the movement of materials and finished goods between Airlite manufacturing locations, ensuring inventory visibility, transactional accuracy, and operational efficiency.

• Develop and monitor key performance indicators related to inventory accuracy, material availability, space utilization, productivity, cost, service, and other measures appropriate to the function.

• Evaluate inventory and warehouse capacity, processes, staffing, equipment, and systems to ensure the function can effectively support changing manufacturing requirements and business growth.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on material flow, inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, safety, cost effectiveness, and effective use of warehouse space.

• Identify opportunities to improve and automate inventory, material handling, and warehouse processes through technology, systems integration, and improved operating practices.

• Provide leadership for ERP and warehouse management processes impacting inventory accuracy, material movement, and operational visibility.

• Partner cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Scheduling, Logistics, Quality, Customer Service, Finance, and other teams to resolve issues and align inventory and material flow with business priorities.

• Partner with Logistics on the coordination of transportation required to move materials and finished goods between manufacturing locations while maintaining functional accountability for inventory accuracy and material readiness.

• Establish appropriate controls and operating practices for third-party storage locations when utilized, ensuring inventory accuracy, visibility, and alignment with Airlite requirements.

• Support planning for new or expanded manufacturing and warehouse operations, including material flow, storage requirements, inventory processes, systems, staffing, and operational readiness.

• Develop and manage departmental budgets, operating expenses, and capital requirements within the function's area of responsibility.

• Ensure inventory, warehouse, and material handling operations maintain appropriate safety standards and comply with applicable company policies and regulatory requirements.

• Build strong relationships with manufacturing leadership and serve as the senior functional resource for inventory control, materials management, and warehouse operations within the role's scope.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Do you have what it takes? Airlite Plastics is a versatile employer; complacency is not one of our strengths! We work hard each day to ensure that equipment efficiency and customer satisfaction never leave our line of sight. Successful candidates for the role will possess the following:

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Logistics, or a related discipline preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience in inventory control, materials management, warehouse operations, or related manufacturing functions.
• Experience leading inventory and material flow within a manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing managers and teams.
• Experience working across multiple manufacturing operations or complex operational environments preferred.
• Experience implementing process improvements, systems enhancements, or operational standardization across a manufacturing organization.
• Strong knowledge of inventory control principles and practices, including cycle counting, physical inventories, FIFO, inventory reconciliation, and transactional accuracy.
• Strong understanding of materials management and material flow within a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of warehouse operations, material handling, storage optimization, and inventory movement.
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems and the processes required to maintain inventory integrity and visibility.
• Ability to translate manufacturing and business requirements into effective inventory, material flow, and warehouse strategies.
• Ability to analyze operational data, identify trends and root causes, and implement sustainable improvements.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to establish priorities and provide leadership across multiple operations and competing business needs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through others, develop strong teams, and create accountability for results.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build partnerships and influence across functions and levels of the organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability to lead change and operate effectively in a growing and evolving manufacturing environment.
• High ethical standards and ability to maintain confidentiality when working with sensitive information.
• Strong sense of urgency with the ability to balance immediate operational needs with longer-term functional priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Provides leadership, direction, and development to managers and team members within the function. Establishes clear expectations and accountability while building organizational capability and supporting the continued development of the team. Responsibilities include workforce planning; selecting and developing talent; establishing priorities and performance expectations; evaluating performance; coaching and developing employees; addressing performance and workplace concerns; and creating opportunities for continued growth and success.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hand dexterity to operate office equipment including computer keyboards, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

This position regularly works within and around manufacturing and warehouse environments and may be exposed to moving mechanical equipment and varying noise levels.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS

All positions must have a current Job Hazard Analysis attached to the job description. See the applicable Job Hazard Analysis located on the Company Intranet.

Our Core Values Drive Us!

• Do you conduct yourself with unquestionable integrity?
• Do you demonstrate respect and appreciation for those around you?
• Are you innovative and strive to challenge the status quo?
• Do you strive for continuous improvement and to deliver the “wow” factor?
• Do you care about environmentally sustainable solutions?
• Do you take meaning and pride in a job well done?

What’s in it for you? As a Full-Time employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Company paid life insurance
• Company paid short term disability
• Generous 401k match
• Generous Time Off
• Annual company activities