Warehouse Manager - Night Shift

Illuminate USA; Pataskala (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Illuminate USA, based in Pataskala, Ohio, seeks a seasoned Raw Materials Operations Manager to oversee all material activities in a high-volume solar panel manufacturing environment.

You will ensure timely material availability, proper handling, inventory accuracy, and regulatory compliance for glass, wafers, frames, and encapsulants, partnering with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance and Engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in materials management, warehouse operations, or manufacturing operations in a high-volume setting.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience managing supervisors or frontline teams.
• Experience managing raw materials, inventory control, and internal logistics.
• Strong knowledge of FIFO, lot traceability, cycle counting, and inventory accuracy.
• Experience with ISO 9001, OSHA, and internal audit processes.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and warehouse management systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily raw materials operations including receiving, storage, staging, and line-side delivery.
• Ensure uninterrupted material flow to meet production schedules.
• Develop and enforce SOPs for material handling, storage, and logistics.
• Optimize warehouse layout and space utilization for large, fragile materials.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counts and reconciliations.
• Ensure FIFO compliance and lot traceability.
• Monitor inventory levels to balance demand, lead times and working capital.
• Lead safety-focused handling practices for heavy materials.
• Lead and develop supervisors and material handlers.
• Support audits, ECOs, and new product introductions.

Skills

FIFO

Cycle counting

Inventory accuracy

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

ERP/MRP systems

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Warehouse management systems

Job description

Job Description Illuminate USA, located in the heart of Central Ohio, is transforming solar panel manufacturing from our cutting-edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we’ve rapidly grown to over 1,600 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere. This is an exciting time to join Illuminate USA as we continue to grow and innovate. We’re not just building solar panels, we’re building a team of dedicated, passionate associates eager to make a real impact. If you’re looking to be part of a collaborative, people-focused, and forward-thinking workplace, we want to hear from you! We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and continuous opportunities for career growth. Come join us on this journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future in the Columbus area.

The Raw Materials Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all raw material activities within a solar panel manufacturing environment. This role ensures the timely availability, proper handling, inventory accuracy, and regulatory compliance of critical materials such as glass, silicon wafers/cells, aluminum frames, backsheets, encapsulants (EVA), junction boxes, and related components. The manager partners closely with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance and Engineering to support safe, efficient, and high-quality solar module manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily raw materials operations including receiving, storage, staging, shuttling and line-side delivery.
• Ensure uninterrupted material flow to meet solar panel production schedules.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce SOPs for material handling, storage, and internal logistics.
• Optimize warehouse layout, material flow paths, and space utilization for oversized and fragile materials such as glass and frames.
• Own raw material inventory accuracy through cycle counts, root cause analysis, and reconciliation.
• Ensure FIFO compliance and lot traceability.
• Monitor inventory levels to balance production demand, lead times, and working capital.
• Investigate and resolve shortages, damages, obsolescence, and material losses.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OSHA, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Support material traceability required for solar module certifications and customer audits.
• Partner with Quality on inspection, non-conformance handling, quarantine, and disposition of raw materials.
• Drive safe handling practices for heavy, sharp, or high-value materials.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads, and material handlers.
• Establish performance expectations tied to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve material flow, reduce waste, and minimize handling damage.
• Apply Lean manufacturing principles to warehouse and line-side material operations.
• Track and report KPIs, developing corrective actions for performance gaps.
• Partner with Procurement and Planning on supplier performance and material readiness.
• Support engineering change orders (ECOs), new product introductions, and ramp-ups.
• Coordinate with Logistics and 3PL providers for inbound and off-site material management.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Raw material inventory accuracy
• On-time material delivery to production
• FIFO and traceability compliance
• Material damage and scrap rate
• Space utilization and labor productivity
• Safety incidents and audit findings

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 7+ years of progressive experience in materials management, warehouse operations, or manufacturing operations within a high-volume manufacturing environment
• 3+ years of people leadership experience managing supervisors, leads, or frontline teams
• Demonstrated experience managing raw materials, inventory control, and internal logistics
• Strong working knowledge of FIFO, lot traceability, cycle counting, and inventory accuracy
• Experience supporting ISO 9001, OSHA, and internal audit processes
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems and warehouse management systems
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in solar, semiconductor, electronics, automotive, glass, or other capital-intensive manufacturing environments
• Experience managing oversized, fragile, or high-value materials
• Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement training or certification
• Experience supporting new product introductions, ramp-ups, or engineering change management
• Experience coordinating with third-party logistics providers

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Work is performed primarily in a manufacturing and warehouse environment. Regularly required to walk the production floor and warehouse, including standing, bending, and reaching as needed to observe operations and support teams.

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of materials or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

May require limited hands-on assistance during audits, investigations, training, or abnormal situations.

Ability to safely work around material handling equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks.

Exposure to noise, moving equipment, and varying temperatures typical of a manufacturing facility.

Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed.

Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Illuminate USA, a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, is building one of the largest solar panel manufacturing factories in the Western Hemisphere. This 1.1 million-square-foot factory is currently in advanced stages of preparation in the Columbus, Ohio area. Illuminate USA is seeking highly motivated team members to help the company grow from startup to a full scale, industry leading manufacturer with $1B - $2B expected annual revenue and over 1,200 employees in less than two years. This will be a fast-paced and exciting time in our history as we are building something great from the ground up here in central Ohio. We offer competitive pay, benefits, and ongoing career development opportunities. Come join our collaborative, people-focused, and innovative workplace as we embark upon this unique and exciting journey!