Lead Program Manager, Returnable Container Operations & Logistics

Lead Program Manager, Returnable Container Operations & LogisticsRivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free electric adventure vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.Rivian is seeking a highly motivated, floor-focused, and strategically minded Lead Program Manager, Returnable Container Operations & Logistics to architect, direct, and oversee the end-to-end physical lifecycle, strategy, and execution of our reusable packaging and container fleet. This is not a traditional, desk-bound corporate PM role. As a Lead, you will serve as the ultimate subject matter expert and senior escalation point, actively bridging shop floor reality with external partner accountability to ensure our manufacturing facilities have 100% container availability to support production. You will have primary operational and financial authority over our 3rd-Party Logistics (3PL) container management vendor, acting as the strategic liaison between component suppliers, the 3PL, and executive internal teams. Your mission is to drive overarching fleet optimization strategy, establish strict enterprise-wide maintenance and cleaning protocols, design systems to minimize loss, and champion circular economy practices across our supply chain. This role requires leading by example on the floor and mentoring cross-functional peers, and will be onsite in Normal, IL.Responsibilities:Fleet Maintenance, Quality & Asset ControlCleaning & Process Governance: Architect, implement, and govern the standardized processes for cleaning returnable packaging. Set enterprise-wide quality standards, specific procedural steps, and strict cleaning cadences.Preventative Maintenance (PM) Strategy: Design and oversee the strategic rollout of preventative maintenance schedules for all existing and new returnable packaging assets. Lead this initiative from the front, setting the standard for rigorous cadences to maximize asset lifecycle and ROI.Systemic Asset Control: Direct and optimize comprehensive internal and external (parts suppliers) physical asset counts. Develop systemic processes for these intervals (quarterly/semi-annual) to maintain absolute inventory integrity, proactively identify shrinkage trends, and eliminate fleet loss.Shop Floor Operations & Continuous ImprovementGemba Leadership & Floor Presence: Maintain a commanding daily presence on the production and warehouse floor. Act as a senior operational leader to directly observe container utilization, identify systemic bottlenecks, and drive cross-functional process improvements face-to-face with Plant Operations and Material Supply leadership.Data-Driven Optimization: Leverage advanced data analytics to architect a predictive, proactive container planning model, transitioning the network away from reactive "shortage response." Set the benchmark for auditing physical container flows to validate and refine systemic data.3PL Vendor & Supplier AccountabilityVendor Strategy & Enforcement: Command overall operational and cost accountability for the 3rd-party container operations vendor (3PL). Steer strategic vendor relationships and aggressively track performance against strict SLAs regarding container sorting, cleaning, maintenance, and dispatching.Root Cause & Systemic Compliance: Lead complex root-cause analyses for critical supply chain issues and serve as the final authority on escalations. Design and enforce overarching chargeback mechanisms for component suppliers regarding lost, damaged, or misused assets.Financial & TCO Leadership: Direct financial strategy by auditing 3PL billing, dwell times, and inventory accuracy to optimize total cost of ownership (TCO). Champion strategic loop optimizations to drive significant, measurable improvements in CapEx/OpEx budgets.Cross-Functional Program ManagementNPI & Logistics Architecture: Steer the strategic partnership with Packaging Engineering during new product introductions (NPI) to ensure global/regional packaging designs translate seamlessly into highly efficient, scalable, and repeatable logistical loops.Line-Stoppage Prevention: Champion enterprise alignment between Material Planning, Logistics, and Plant Operations to seamlessly synchronize container return loops with dynamic production schedules, ensuring zero downtime and mitigating risk at the highest level.Work Environment & Physical PresenceOn-Site Requirement: This is a 100% on-site role based out of our Normal, IL manufacturing facility. Active Floor Auditing: Candidates must be comfortable splitting their time between high-level strategic planning in a professional office environment and leading active, hands-on audits and investigations of container flows on the high-activity warehouse and manufacturing shop floors.Qualifications:Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field (or equivalent years of experience in lieu of education).Experience: 6+ years of experience (with proven experience in a leadership or senior strategic capacity) specifically focused on returnable asset management, container fleet logistics, or industrial packaging operations—ideally within the automotive, EV, or heavy manufacturing industries. (General project/program management experience without specific container/returnable asset management experience will not be considered).Vendor Governance: Proven track record of strategically managing complex 3PL vendors, driving contract negotiations/enforcement, and holding external partners accountable to stringent physical maintenance, cleaning, and sorting KPIs.Leadership: Demonstrated ability to influence leadership, champion large-scale strategic initiatives, and guide cross-functional floor teams without relying on formal reporting lines.Systems Fluency: Advanced proficiency with ERP/WMS systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle), Asset Tracking software (RFID/GPS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and enterprise data analytics tools (Tableau, PowerBI).Pay Disclosure:The salary range for this role is $102,300 - $127,900 for Illinois based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs. The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian's 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.