Supply Chain Specialist

Niche Polymer LLC; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Niche Polymer LLC is seeking a results-driven Supply Chain Specialist to manage day-to-day supply chain, transportation, order management, and customer service activities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

You will link customers, sales, production, and logistics to ensure on-time delivery, accurate orders, and clear communications. Experience in plastics or polymers is a plus for optimizing processes and costs.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in supply chain, logistics, order management, or related role.
• Manufacturing or industrial distribution experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience with plastics, polymers, or chemicals is a plus.
• Strong understanding of POs, SOs, inventory, and shipping processes.
• ERP experience is required; Dynamics 365 BC is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate supply chain from order entry through production, shipment, and delivery.
• Monitor material availability and support production and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with purchasing, production, warehouse, and sales to address shortages.
• Assist with purchase order creation, tracking, and supplier follow-up.
• Track supplier lead times and communicate delays or shortages.
• Support inventory accuracy through cycle counts and discrepancy investigations.
• Coordinate international export bookings and freight with forwarders and carriers.
• Provide shipment details and required export documents to stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate freight charges reflected in orders and invoices.
• Serve as primary contact for assigned customers regarding orders and delivery status.
• Enter and maintain sales orders in the ERP/CRM systems.
• Communicate potential delays proactively and resolve customer inquiries.

Skills

Supply chain management

Inventory control

Order management

Logistics coordination

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain/Operations or related field

Tools

ERP (Dynamics 365 Business Central)

CRM systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and customer-focused Supply Chain Specialist to support day-to-day supply chain, transportation, order management, and customer service activities.

This position will serve as a key link between customers, sales, production, warehouse operations, purchasing, carriers, and accounting to ensure customer orders are processed accurately, materials and finished goods are available when required, shipments are scheduled efficiently, and customers receive timely communication throughout the order and delivery process.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain & Inventory Coordination

• Coordinate supply chain activities from customer order through production, shipment, and delivery.
• Monitor raw material, packaging, and finished-goods availability to support production and customer requirements.
• Work closely with purchasing, production, warehouse, and sales teams to identify and address material shortages.
• Assist with purchase order creation, tracking, and supplier follow-up.
• Monitor supplier lead times and communicate potential delays or shortages to appropriate teams.
• Support inventory accuracy by assisting with inventory reviews, cycle counts, reconciliation, and investigation of discrepancies.
• Help maintain appropriate inventory levels while minimizing excess or obsolete inventory.
• Track open purchase orders and ensure expected delivery dates are maintained accurately.
• Assist management with supply chain reporting, vendor performance, inventory analysis, and cost-control initiatives.
• Identify supply chain risks and elevate issues that may impact production schedules or customer deliveries.

Logistics & Transportation

• Coordinate and arrange international export bookings for customer shipments, including ocean and air freight as required.
• Work directly with freight forwarders, steamship lines, customs brokers, and transportation providers to obtain rates, confirm vessel schedules, and secure bookings.
• Request and compare international freight quotes based on cost, transit time, routing, and customer requirements.
• Review vessel schedules, port cut-off dates, documentation cut-offs, and estimated departure and arrival dates.
• Provide accurate shipment information to freight forwarders, including product details, quantities, weights, pallet counts, container requirements, ship-from location, destination, and requested sailing dates.
• Prepare and/or coordinate required export documentation, including:
• Packing List
• Bill of Lading
• Shipping Instructions
• Certificate of Origin
• Certificate of Analysis (COA), when required
• AES/EEI filing information, when applicable
• Customer- or country-specific export documentation
• Track international shipments from booking through pickup, port departure, transshipment, arrival, and final delivery when applicable.
• Work with Accounting and Sales to ensure freight charges and other export-related costs are properly reflected in customer orders and invoices.
• Review freight-forwarder and transportation invoices for accuracy and investigate unexpected charges such as detention, demurrage, storage, chassis, or other accessorial fees.

Customer Service / CSR

• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned customers regarding orders, shipments, availability, and delivery status.
• Receive, review, and process customer purchase orders accurately and promptly.
• Enter and maintain sales orders in the ERP system.
• Verify customer pricing, quantities, requested delivery dates, ship-to locations, payment terms, and other order requirements.
• Send order acknowledgments and communicate expected shipment or delivery dates.
• Coordinate with production and warehouse teams to confirm product availability and order readiness.
• Provide customers with shipment tracking information, Bills of Lading, packing lists, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and other requested documents when applicable.
• Proactively communicate potential production or delivery delays instead of waiting for customer escalation.
• Handle customer inquiries professionally by phone, email, and Microsoft Teams.
• Investigate and coordinate resolution of customer complaints involving incorrect quantities, damaged material, shipping delays, pricing discrepancies, or documentation issues.
• Coordinate returns, credits, replacements, and corrective actions with appropriate departments.
• Maintain accurate customer information, shipping instructions, pricing, and order notes within ERP and CRM systems.
• Work closely with Sales to ensure customer expectations and commitments are accurately communicated internally.

Business Analyst & Operational Analysis

• Analyze operational, sales, inventory, purchasing, logistics, production, and financial data to identify trends, discrepancies, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain management reports, dashboards, KPIs, and operational scorecards.
• Analyze sales versus forecast, budget, production, inventory, and customer demand.
• Monitor product and customer profitability and assist management with margin analysis.
• Review raw-material consumption against production output and sales.
• Analyze freight costs and identify opportunities to reduce transportation expenses.
• Assist management with monthly operational and financial reviews.
• Prepare data and reports for management meetings.
• Analyze customer ordering patterns and assist with demand forecasting.
• Assist with budget and forecast preparation by gathering and analyzing historical and current operational data.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Monitor customer orders from initial entry through production, shipment, delivery, and invoicing.
• Coordinate with Accounting regarding invoice discrepancies, credits, customer account issues, and documentation.
• Assist with resolving orders that are on credit hold or have other administrative issues affecting shipment.
• Ensure shipped orders are properly documented so invoicing can occur accurately and on time.
• Maintain open-order reports and regularly follow up on overdue or at-risk orders.
• Participate in production, supply chain, or customer-service meetings as required.
• Escalate critical customer, inventory, production, or transportation issues to management promptly.
• Maintain organized documentation and records to support internal controls and audit requirements.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• 2-5 years of experience in supply chain, logistics, customer service, order management, purchasing, or a related role.
• Manufacturing or industrial distribution experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in plastics, polymers, chemicals, compounding, raw materials, or manufacturing is a plus.
• Strong understanding of purchase orders, sales orders, inventory, shipping, and receiving processes.
• ERP experience required; Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central experience is highly preferred.
• CRM experience is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and urgent requests in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Ability to communicate professionally with customers, suppliers, carriers, sales representatives, plant personnel, and senior management.