Material Handler Lead

Come Be Part of a Mission that Matters!

The Material Handler Lead coordinates workflow across assigned warehouse functions, including receiving, putaway, material movement, replenishment, picking, staging, inventory management, and shipping activities. The role ensures that physical material movements are accurately reflected within SAP S/4HANA Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), promotes adherence to established procedures and quality requirements, assists with employee training and development, and identifies operational issues requiring escalation.

1st Shift Schedule

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Daily Execution: Coordinate daily workflow across assigned warehouse functions; establish priorities based on production requirements, customer demand, staffing, workload, and operational constraints; assign and balance work; actively participate in warehouse activities; and escalate delays, bottlenecks, capacity constraints, or material shortages when needed.

SAP S/4HANA EWM Execution: Reinforce proper use of SAP S/4HANA EWM and RF devices during all warehouse movements. Ensure physical movements are accurately reflected through required system transactions. Assist employees with routine EWM questions and escalate unresolved system or transaction issues to the appropriate support resources.

Inventory Accuracy & Material Control: Promote accurate material identification, quantity confirmation, batch/lot control, handling unit accuracy, and location verification. Reinforce FIFO/FEFO requirements where applicable; support cycle counts and inventory investigations; and ensure proper storage, bin organization, space utilization, and material segregation.

Process Compliance & Quality: Ensure warehouse personnel follow approved SOPs, work instructions, quality requirements, material handling procedures, and SAP transaction requirements. Reinforce proper handling and segregation of damaged, expired, non-conforming, restricted, or controlled material and escalate significant process deviations.

Training & Employee Development: Provide hands-on training, coaching, and operational guidance to Material Handlers. Support onboarding and cross-training across warehouse functions. Assist in developing Material Handler I, II, and III employees toward increased technical capability, process ownership, and future leadership responsibilities.

Safety Leadership: Lead by example in all safety requirements, including PPE, Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) inspections, equipment operation, safe travel paths, pedestrian awareness, and housekeeping. Identify unsafe conditions or behaviors and take immediate action within the authority of the role.

Communication & Shift Coordination: Serve as a primary communication link between Material Handlers and Warehouse Supervisors. Communicate priorities, operational changes, material shortages, inventory concerns, equipment issues, process disruptions, and outstanding work. Support clear and effective shift handoffs.

Continuous Improvement: Identify inefficiencies, recurring errors, process gaps, and opportunities to improve warehouse operations. Participate in root cause analysis, corrective actions, and implementation of approved improvements related to safety, quality, inventory accuracy, workflow, and SAP EWM execution.

Skills and Competencies - Required

• Minimum 3 years of warehouse, distribution, logistics, material handling, inventory control, or related operational experience.
  
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of warehouse material handling processes.
  
• Experience using SAP EWM, SAP ERP, or another Warehouse Management System (WMS).
  
• Experience operating RF scanners and mobile warehouse devices.
  
• Strong understanding of receiving, put away, replenishment, picking, staging, inventory movement, and shipping processes.
  
• Strong understanding of inventory accuracy principles, including item, quantity, batch/lot, handling unit, location, and material status verification.
  
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate workflow, provide direction to employees, and escalate operational issues appropriately.
  
• Strong attention to detail, communication, organization, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
  
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, process compliance, and accountability.
  

Preferred

• Experience working within SAP S/4HANA Extended Warehouse Management (EWM).
  
• Previous Material Handler III, senior warehouse associate, team lead, trainer, mentor, or comparable advanced warehouse experience.
  
• Experience supporting inventory investigations, cycle counts, root cause analysis, or employee training.
  
• Familiarity with regulated manufacturing, food safety, life sciences, quality-controlled, or similarly compliance-driven warehouse environments.
  
• Powered Industrial Truck certification or demonstrated experience operating warehouse material handling equipment.
  

Key Competencies

• Operational Leadership
  
• Safety Leadership
  
• Inventory Accuracy
  
• SAP EWM Transaction Discipline
  
• Process Compliance
  
• Quality Focus
  
• Problem Solving
  
• Decision Making
  
• Communication
  
• Coaching and Employee Development
  
• Teamwork and Collaboration
  
• Adaptability
  
• Prioritization
  
• Continuous Improvement
  

KPIs & Success Metrics

Safety Compliance: Adherence to safety procedures, PPE requirements, PIT requirements, and safe material handling practices.

Inventory Accuracy: Accuracy of material, quantity, batch/lot, handling unit, and storage location information.

SAP Transaction Compliance: Accurate and timely execution of warehouse movements within SAP EWM.

Picking and Movement Accuracy: Accuracy of material selection, quantity confirmation, and destination execution.

Process Compliance: Adherence to approved SOPs, work instructions, warehouse procedures, and quality requirements.

Operational Execution: Completion of assigned warehouse workload according to established priorities and operational requirements.

Training Effectiveness: Successful onboarding, cross-training, and competency development of Material Handlers.

Issue Escalation: Timely identification, communication, and escalation of operational, inventory, safety, quality, and SAP-related issues.

Continuous Improvement: Participation in and impact of implemented warehouse process improvements.

Team Development: Demonstrated progress in developing Material Handlers toward advanced operational and future leadership responsibilities.

WHO IS NEOGEN:

From farm to fork, we offer solutions to enhance the quality, quantity and safety of the global food supply. Our food safety diagnostics are used within farming operations to the production facilities of most of the world's best-known food companies. Neogen's solutions are critical to the health and well-being of our customers' operations - and in turn their consumers. What we do matters!

Neogen's culture combines stability with a deep believe in providing professional and personal growth. Our Pillars of Trust - the principles which guide our everyday decision-making, include Openness, Honesty, Credibility, Respect, and Service . It's the belief in these characteristics that provide a consistent, happy and healthy work environment for our employees.