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Avantor

Global provider of high-purity lab materials

Onsite Supervisor

Inventory Control & Cycle CountingUpdated on Nov 6
Full-timeBoston, MA, USA$94.5k - $104k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • Five to seven years of experience in laboratory services, warehouse, logistics, or inventory management operations is required.
  • Experience working within a current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) supply chain environment and/or with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations is required.
  • Two to three years of formal supervisory experience with direct reports and full performance management responsibility is required.
  • Documented experience leading operational improvement initiatives is required.
  • Experience in a client-embedded services or regulated facility environment is required.
  • Proficiency with inventory management systems such as SAP, Workday, LIMS, Oracle, or equivalent, including reporting and analytics modules, is required.
  • Intermediate Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions, and basic data analysis, are required.
  • Ability to analyze operational data and communicate findings to non-technical audiences is required.
  • Working knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma is required.
  • The role requires the ability to talk, hear, sit, stand, walk, and use a computer for extended periods.
  • The role requires the ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull up to 25 pounds (12 kg).

Responsibilities

  • Own day-to-day operational delivery for the assigned site or functional scope, including scheduling, task prioritization, exception management, and daily warehouse operations management in a cGMP environment.
  • Set and communicate daily, weekly, and monthly operational goals aligned to site and account-level plans.
  • Monitor real-time operational dashboards and proactively reallocate resources to maintain service levels.
  • Lead daily huddles and weekly operations reviews with the team and client contacts.
  • Serve as the escalation point of contact for operational issues during assigned shifts and on-call periods.
  • Coordinate cross-functional responses to high-priority or high-impact customer requests.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce non-value-added steps, and improve service quality.
  • Design and pilot workflow changes within authority, and document and institutionalize successful improvements.
  • Recommend broader enhancements requiring Operations Manager or client approval, supported by data and a business case.
  • Lead or participate in site-level continuous improvement projects using structured problem-solving methods.
  • Partner with peer supervisors across the account to standardize effective practices.
  • Track and report improvement outcomes on productivity, quality, and client satisfaction metrics.
  • Analyze operational data, including service-level reports, cycle-count variances, and customer feedback, to identify trends and root causes.
  • Develop and implement practical solutions for operational issues within scope of authority.
  • Escalate issues requiring broader intervention with fully developed root-cause analysis and proposed corrective actions.
  • Partner with Quality and Compliance teams on Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) activities.
  • Facilitate structured problem-solving sessions with the team using 5-Why, Fishbone, or similar methods.
  • Conduct performance reviews, goal setting, and development conversations for all direct reports on the Avantor Human Resources cycle.
  • Identify and develop high-potential associates and maintain an active advancement pipeline for peer-level and other roles.
  • Design and deliver team-level development activities, including cross-training plans and skill-building exercises.
  • Lead or support hiring activities for associate and specialist roles, and participate in interview panels for peer supervisor openings.
  • Partner with Human Resources on complex employee-relations matters, performance improvement plans, and progressive discipline.
  • Recognize strong performance formally and informally, and nominate team members for awards and advancement.
  • Serve as the site-level point of contact for key vendors and third-party logistics partners.
  • Coordinate inbound delivery schedules, resolve shipment exceptions, and manage vendor performance issues within scope.
  • Participate in vendor performance reviews alongside the Operations Manager and Procurement.
  • Ensure vendor activities on-site comply with client access, safety, and quality protocols.
  • Escalate vendor performance concerns to the Operations Manager with supporting documentation.
  • Serve as a primary day-to-day relationship holder with client lab management and site leadership.
  • Lead regular operational reviews with client stakeholders, presenting service-level performance and improvement initiatives.
  • Capture, log, and respond to client feedback, service requests, and complaints within defined service-level agreements.
  • Support account-level business reviews alongside the Operations Manager with analysis and site-specific insights.
  • Participate in client audits and regulatory inspections as the site operational lead.
  • Own site-level safety performance for the assigned team, and lead incident investigation and CAPA implementation.
  • Conduct regular documented safety walk-throughs and partner with client safety teams on joint audits.
  • Ensure all training certifications are current across the team and prevent assignment of work to associates with lapsed qualifications.
  • Lead team engagement in hazard identification and near-miss reporting.
  • Participate in internal Avantor quality audits and client-led compliance reviews.
  • Partner with the Operations Manager on site-level workforce planning, including headcount forecasting and schedule design.
  • Review and approve timecards, overtime, and paid time off requests within approved budget parameters.
  • Monitor labor hours, overtime trends, and productivity metrics, and flag variances with recommended actions.
  • Support preparation of site-level operating budget inputs and contribute to account-level financial reviews.
  • Manage small discretionary spend, such as team supplies and minor equipment, within delegated authority.
  • Compile and deliver weekly and monthly site operational reports for internal and client leadership.
  • Maintain accurate personnel records, training documentation, and performance files in coordination with Human Resources.
  • Document and maintain site standard operating procedures, work instructions, and training materials.
  • Support new business proposals and site expansion activities with operational input as requested.
  • The role may involve site visits to customer laboratories and warehouses.
  • The role follows one of two listed shifts: Tuesday through Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or Sunday through Thursday, 2:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Desired Qualifications

  • A higher education degree in supply chain, business, or life sciences is preferred.

About the Company

Avantor

Global provider of high-purity lab materials

Avantor supplies high-purity chemicals, lab consumables, equipment, and related services to life sciences and advanced technology customers worldwide. Its products are used across research, development, manufacturing, and quality control to source and apply materials throughout workflows. It differs from competitors by offering a vertically integrated, end-to-end platform that combines materials with extensive lab products and services in one global network. Its goal is to be a trusted partner that enables scientific progress by supporting research and production with high-purity materials and lab solutions.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
IPO
Headquarters
Bristol, PA
Founded
1904

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