EAM MRO Inventory Tech, Lead

Ventura Foods; Albert Lea (MN); On-site; USD 35,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision

Profit Sharing and 401(k) matching

Paid Vacation, Sick Time, Holidays

Employee Assistance Programs

Hourly base range of $25.53–$31.77

Job summary

Ventura Foods is seeking an EAM MRO Inventory Tech, Lead in Albert Lea, MN. The role handles parts flow, pricing with vendors, and PM scheduling for maintenance teams onsite.

Responsibilities include using J.D. Edwards EAM, updating time entries, and training staff on standard procedures while ensuring food-safety compliance and accurate kit management.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associates degree preferred.
• 3+ years in maintenance parts/inventory in manufacturing, automotive, or distributorship.
• Experience with computerized inventory systems preferred; MS Office proficiency.
• Knowledge of JDE and AS400 is helpful or can be learned.
• Willingness to pursue further education and training.

Responsibilities

• Process MRO parts in/out using the EAM system and update time entries.
• Negotiate pricing with vendors and coordinate with maintenance staff.
• Provide leadership in parts selection for work orders and manage shift PM schedules.
• Maintain part bin locations, receiving areas, and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and quality policies.

Skills

Inventory control

Excel

Word

Communication

Organization

Procedures

Flexibility

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associates degree preferred

Tools

J.D. Edwards EAM

AS400

Job description

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EAM MRO Inventory Tech, Lead

Location: Albert Lea, MN, US, 56007

Employment Type: Hourly
Shift: Days
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Pay Range: $25.53 - $31.77

Position Summary:

Research, select, and negotiate pricing with existing and new vendors. Assign maintenance staff preventative maintenance duties daily. Issue and receive parts, service the maintenance staff at the parts cage window utilizing J.D. Edwards EAM system. Plan, schedule, monitor , adjust/revise, close out and report on PM, CM, & EM maintenance work orders using the JDE System (Computerized Maintenance Management System) tools. Be the coordination center (using two way radios) for the Maintenance Crew and Staff through out the day Provide backup for the Inventory Technician as required. This employee will engage in the training of the maintenance team on standard operating procedures in the parts room. They will assisting the maintenance team in research of parts, organization of invoices/quote on RFE projects, the creation and upkeep of part's kits, and oversight of equipment manuals (hard copy and digital). Individual will manage rebuildable used parts, rebuild process (internal/external), and reintegration back into inventory.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Process MRO parts in and out of the designated parts bins and kitting area contained within a controlled access parts area (to be enforced by you) using the J.D. Edwards EAM computer system. Collects and enters into the EAM System the completed work orders, as well as completing the respective Time Entry function and post time card journal.
• Select and meet with vendors providing specifications for repairing and ordering new parts to be manufactured. Research new vendors for quality and price comparisons on new and existing parts. Assign maintenance personnel daily preventative maintenance tasks and maintain log database of PM's. Negotiate pricing with contractors and vendors.
• Use maintenance knowledge of the various equipment and parts to provide leadership to the maintenance crew in identifying, selecting and processing of needed parts for their work order jobs while also helping them determine what jobs hold priority. Generates detailed shift by shift schedules of PM, and a constant communications interface with the Production Scheduler.
• Process work orders in their respective status codes for such things as parts check, order fulfilling and parts kitting. Maintain the status update daily and process work orders appropriately.
• Perform good housekeeping practices with respect to the parts area and the timely processing of part disposition.
• Maintain bin allocation for adding new parts, removal of obsolete parts, and changing of bin location as required to provide an efficient put away and fetch parts system.
• Check the designated receiving areas for MRO parts frequently during each day, match shipment against packing slip, note the parts disposition on the blind receiver as binned or assigned directly to a work order and process accordingly.
• Put newly received and returned over-issued parts away recording the put away or return of parts in the EAM system and correcting parts issued on the appropriate W/O. Process returned parts not for restocking but for return to vendor, rebuild or disposal accordingly.
• Monitor inventory for slow moving, obsolete parts, excessive build up, stockouts, or parts with no destination and process accordingly. Monitor inventory systems on a monthly basis for effectiveness, inefficiencies, waste, confusion or areas for better service and provide a summary report of the findings and suggestions for future process improvements.
• Responsible for following all Food Safety policies, procedures and regulatory criterion including the current SQF code, Good Manufacturing Practices, and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and associated Preventive Controls.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent experience. Associates degree preferred.
• 3 or more years of hands-on experience working in a maintenance shop or running a parts inventory in an automotive, manufacturing or distributorship type inventory storeroom.
• 1 or more years of using a computerized inventory system preferred with knowledge of parts usage and relative value.
• Should be proficient in Microsoft Applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Understanding of JDE and AS400 is needed or will have to be learned.
• Incumbent should be willing to acquire further education and training at qualified, accredited seminars, workshops, and institutions to keep abreast of new technologies and enhance existing job skills.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Fundamental knowledge of inventory control and parts management. An applied knowledge of computerized inventory control systems preferred.
• Hands-on experience of Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Good communications skills both written and verbal.
• Excellent organization skills with an applied understanding of mathematics.
• Ability to follow instructions and enforce strict security rules.
• Willing to work the time that is needed to keep the parts room in order.

Why Join Us:

Ventura Foods innovates and manufactures food solutions for foodservice and retail businesses. We make exclusive products for the world's most iconic restaurants and retailers, we provide ready-to-go product solutions for professional kitchens, and we make consumer brands everyone knows and loves. When you work for Ventura Foods, you get a strong foundation of training, a manager who cares about you and celebrates your success, a safe environment, and challenging work. As part of our team, your future is limited only by how much you’re willing to push yourself to get there. We invest in your growth because you invest in ours.

Ventura Foods offers career growth opportunities as well as competitive compensation and benefits:

• Medical, Prescription, Dental, & Vision – coverage beginning on your 1st day for eligible employees
• Profit Sharing and 401(k) matching (after eligible criteria is met)
• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays
• Employee Appreciation Events and Employee Assistance Programs
• Hourly Base Range of$25.53 - $31.77*

*The “base hourly range” provided above is a good faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position in the specified markets. Ventura Foods reserves the right to pay outside of the given range based on a variety of factors including but not limited to: candidate skills and experience, complexity of the job, budgetary factors, and location/geography. Ventura Foods conducts regular reviews of compensation ranges and therefore reserves the right to alter this range at any given time.
Physical Demands:
All jobs require sufficient physical strength and dexterity to perform the required task(s) and typically also require at a minimum: intermittent sitting, standing, walking, climbing, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling. Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds or more with assistance may also be required. Please see the job description for specific requirements.
Work Environment:
Please see the job description for specific requirements of the position for which you are applying.
Typical shifts are 8-12 hours per day. Additional unscheduled time after hours and on weekends may also be required. Employees must be willing and able to wear personal protective equipment as required by Company policy and/or legal requirements. In addition, certain jobs may require employees to:

• Work outside and/or in adverse temperatures which could include extreme heat, cold, and humidity;
• Be exposed to vibrations, chemicals used in operations, fumes and food allergens (may include soy, dairy and other allergens); and
• Be required to work in confined and dark spaces, and at heights in excess of 18 feet.

Our Culture
Our Culture reflects our commitment to treating every employee with respect and creating an environment where people can do their best work. We rely on a variety of strengths, backgrounds, and experiences across our teams to help us innovate, grow, and deliver for our customers. By fostering a workplace that is supportive, collaborative, and grounded in integrity, we continue to attract strong talent and meet the high expectations of a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Ventura Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Ventura Foods may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted tools at certain stages of our hiring process, including identifying & sourcing candidates, reviewing applications and matched candidates on job boards and websites, and generating screening questions to help us work more efficiently and consistently. We regularly review our tools to promote fairness and reduce the risk of bias. However, while these tools support our process, every hiring decision is made by a real person on our team. Applicants in the State of New York may request an alternative process by contacting us at [e-mail] .