Strategic Inventory Control Lead

USA Rare Earth, LLC; Stillwater (OK); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

USA Rare Earth, LLC is seeking an Inventory Control Lead to oversee raw materials, WIP, finished goods, and packaging within our rare earth magnet manufacturing operation. You will ensure accurate inventory levels, proper labeling, lot tracing, and timely material availability to support production schedules.

You will maintain ERP/MRP records, develop cycle-count programs, monitor variances, and partner with Purchasing, Production, Quality, Shipping, and Finance to optimize inventory accuracy,

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in inventory control, warehouse management, materials management, or manufacturing.
• Experience with ERP/MRP inventory systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively across Production, Purchasing, Quality, Shipping, and Finance.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily inventory activities for raw materials, components, WIP, finished magnets, and supplies.
• Maintain accurate inventory records within the company ERP/MRP system.
• Establish minimum, maximum, safety-stock, and reorder levels.
• Monitor inventory movements and investigate discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain inventory-control procedures and SOPs.
• Ensure proper identification, labeling, lot tracking, and storage of materials.
• Monitor inventory aging and identify obsolete, excess, damaged, or slow-moving materials.
• Maintain strict inventory accountability for rare earth materials and magnet-related raw materials.
• Track materials by lot, heat/batch, supplier, specification, and production order when required.
• Ensure traceability of materials throughout receiving, production, inspection, storage, and shipment.
• Work with Quality and Production to control nonconforming, quarantined, rejected, and rework materials.
• Monitor material yields, scrap, and production losses to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and manage a structured cycle-count program.
• Conduct monthly physical inventory counts.
• Research and resolve inventory variances.
• Establish root causes for recurring discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain inventory accuracy targets and report performance to management.
• Coordinate material availability with Production Planning and Manufacturing.
• Ensure production orders have the required materials available when needed.
• Identify potential shortages before they impact production schedules.
• Coordinate movement of materials between receiving, storage, production, WIP locations, and finished goods areas.
• Work with Warehouse Manager to optimize warehouse layout and material flow.
• Communicate inventory requirements to Purchasing and support informed decisions.
• Monitor incoming materials and identify potential supply issues.
• Assist in evaluating supplier performance related to quantity, quality, lead time, and material availability.
• Maintain accurate inventory, locations, units of measure, and transaction records.
• Ensure all receiving, issuing, transfers, adjustments, and production transactions are recorded.
• Develop inventory reports and dashboards for management.
• Analyze inventory trends and identify opportunities to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Support ERP/MRP system improvements and implementation of improved inventory-control processes.

Skills

Inventory forecasting

Cycle counting

ERP/MRP systems

Lot traceability

Excel & data analysis

Lean manufacturing

Production planning

Team leadership

Communication

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

USA Rare Earth, LLC is seeking an Inventory Control Lead to oversee raw materials, WIP, finished goods, and packaging within our rare earth magnet manufacturing operation. You will ensure accurate inventory levels, proper labeling, lot tracing, and timely material availability to support production schedules.

You will maintain ERP/MRP records, develop cycle-count programs, monitor variances, and partner with Purchasing, Production, Quality, Shipping, and Finance to optimize inventory accuracy,