Material Handler Lead

neogen; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Neogen in Lansing, MI seeks a Material Handler Lead to coordinate daily warehouse workflows across receiving, putaway, movement, replenishment, picking, staging, inventory, and shipping. You will ensure SAP S/4HANA EWM alignment and guide operators in RF device use, accuracy, and safety.

Responsibilities include training Material Handlers, escalating issues, and driving continuous improvement in inventory control and process compliance.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily workflow across assigned warehouse functions; establish priorities based on production requirements, customer demand, staffing, workload, and constraints; assign and balance work; escalate delays, bottlenecks, capacity constraints, or material shortages.
• Reinforce proper use of SAP S/4HANA EWM and RF devices; ensure movements are reflected in system transactions; assist with routine EWM questions.
• Promote accurate material identification, quantity confirmation, batch/lot control, handling unit accuracy, and location verification; reinforce FIFO/FEFO; support cycle counts and investigations.
• Ensure warehouse personnel follow SOPs, work instructions, quality requirements, material handling procedures, and SAP transactions; manage damaged or restricted materials.
• Provide hands-on training and coaching to Material Handlers; support onboarding and cross-training; develop employees toward leadership.
• Lead safety with PPE, PIT inspections, equipment operation, safe travel paths, and housekeeping; identify unsafe conditions and take action.
• Serve as primary communication link between Material Handlers and Warehouse Supervisors; communicate priorities and changes; support shift handoffs.
• Identify inefficiencies, conduct root cause analyses, and implement improvements related to safety, quality, inventory accuracy, workflow, and SAP EWM execution.

Skills

Warehouse leadership

Inventory control

Attention to detail

Safety compliance

RF scanner operation

Problem solving

Tools

SAP EWM

RF devices

SAP ERP

Job description

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.

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 **elevate** 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 reinforce 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 Di