Leading Hand - Inventory

Rocket Lab; Auckland; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, NZ is seeking an experienced Inventory Leader to guide daily operations for stock control, kit delivery, and issue resolution. You will oversee Inventory Coordinators, ensure accurate ERP records, and drive safe, efficient warehouse practices in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include leading a small team, maintaining 5S standards, and collaborating with Production and Logistics to meet urgent orders while embedding continuous improvement across the function.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree, Bachelor’s degree, or High School Diploma.
• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading a small team in a high-paced environment.
• Must be a competent and experienced forklift and reach truck operator.
• Strong organizational skills and IT/ERP familiarity.
• Effective communication and relationship-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead & Support: Provide daily direction to Inventory Coordinators, driving throughput.
• Stock Accuracy: Maintain inventory accuracy and reflect real-time movements.
• Production Delivery: Deliver production kits and components on time, including urgent orders.
• Issue Resolution: First escalation point for inventory issues, resolving non-conformances.
• Warehouse Standards: Maintain a tidy warehouse aligned with 5S principles.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and embed process improvements across the function.
• Customer Service: Provide service to Production Assembly teams, Logistics, and stakeholders.
• Safety Leadership: Enforce safety policies, PPE use, hazard management, and incident reporting.

Job description

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

About Supply Chain at Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab’s Supply Chain team is responsible for the flow of all materials, products, and components through the business. With many of our own products functioning as critical components to our own and our customers’ missions, the Supply Chain team has a direct impact on the success of our rocket and satellite programs. They set up the assembly kits that enables our technicians to put together our Electron rockets, manage inventory, look after shipping and receiving, manage direct and indirect procurement, and inspect and ensure that all of our materials and products are compliant and up to standard. They are the chain that links our teams together, and are critical to our success.

What You’ll Do

• Lead & Support: Provide daily direction and support to Inventory Coordinators, driving throughput and DIFOT outcomes.
• Stock Accuracy: Maintain inventory accuracy and ensure systems reflect real-time movements.
• Production Delivery: Deliver production kits and components on time, including fast-track and urgent orders.
• Issue Resolution: Act as the first escalation point for inventory-related issues, resolving non-conformances promptly.
• Warehouse Standards: Maintain a tidy, orderly warehouse environment aligned with 5S principles.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify, lead, and embed continuous improvement initiatives across the function.
• Customer Service: Provide exceptional service to Production Assembly teams, Logistics, and other stakeholders.
• Safety Leadership: Lead a safe workplace by enforcing policies, PPE use, hazard management, and incident reporting.

What You’ll Bring

• Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or High School Diploma.
• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading a small team in a high-paced environment.
• Must be a competent and experienced Forklift and Reach Truck Operator.
• Strong organizational skills, a can-do attitude, and comfort working with IT systems and ERP platforms.
• Effective communication and relationship-building abilities.

Preferred Experience

• Background in aerospace, automotive, heavy manufacturing, or rapid-growth environments.

Why Rocket Lab?

You’ll work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry, in a culture that values innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement. At Rocket Lab, every day is a chance to make a real impact.

What To Expect

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important Information

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail] dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.