The Requirements
To be a strong fit for the Supply Chain Lead opportunity, you will have:Education
- A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university (highly preferred), or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
- APICS certification, particularly CSCP, is a strong advantage
- 3-5 years of supply chain experience. Supply chain education will be considered in lieu of some experience (i.e. 1 year of education + 2 years of professional experience) Quick question for you - click here
- Strong understanding of supply chain management Quick question for you - click here
- Understanding of production planning and BOMs
- Import and distribution experience
- Solid leadership, coaching and mentoring skills
- Excellent computer skills including:
- Advanced Excel (e.g. pivot tables, lookups and other formulas; macros are a plus)
- Experience using ERP system
- MS Office applications
- Excellent analytical reasoning skills -- the ability to provide insight from raw data
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence and lead others
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong planning and decision making skills
- Outstanding organization and prioritization skill
- A self-starter mindset and commitment to the success of the team
The Role
Role OverviewMakita U.S.A., Inc. distributes power tool products and accessories to the U.S. market from strategically located distribution centers throughout the USA. The Supply Chain department is tasked with creating value for Makita and its customers by planning inventory to efficiently meet customers' needs, while effectively using Makita’s resources. You will be seated with the Supply Chain team in our La Mirada, California headquarters. It's a 10-person department, but you will serve as the Lead for a smaller team and mentor three other supply chain professionals sharing like responsibilities.
Performing the Role
Reporting to the Senior Manager of Supply Chain, as Supply Chain Lead, you will guide the Supply Chain team in the day-to-day operations, as well as manage hands-on responsibilities. We anticipate approximately 20%-25% of your role being leadership and coaching other team members, with the remaining 75% - 80% spent performing supply chain responsibilities. You will support the needs of the organization by ensuring product availability, providing accurate information, and analyzing the supply chain to drive value for Makita’s customers.
You will be assigned a group of vendors and manage ordering, shipments and inventory. You will generate purchase orders, follow up on deliveries, review incoming shipments, take a detailed look at inventories, work with our customs broker, work extensively in Excel and more.
Specifically, you will:
- Manage the purchase order cycle from PO creation to PO receipt Quick question for you - click here
- Collaborate with suppliers to resolve errors, determine delivery schedules support customer needs and drive improvement Quick question for you - click here
- Proactively monitor and manage Makita’s inventory
- Partner with Makita’s customs broker and freight forwarder to ensure the smooth processing of import shipments
- Create production schedules, bills of material (BOMs) and repack instructions for internal repack teams
- Develop processes and procedures for the Supply Chain team
- Train and guide other members of the Supply Chain team
Pictured: Makita offers the world's largest array of tools using interchangeable 18v Li batteries, with some 175 options, including several brushless, cordless rotary hammers.
More Good Reasons
Dynamic departmentThe Supply Chain team at Makita USA is a dynamic department full of individuals with diverse experiences who are eager to learn and excited about new ideas. We have instituted a culture of continuous improvement, seeking to both innovate and embrace creative ideas. Our enjoyment in our work comes from this exciting momentum as we grow as a department, team, and individual supply chain professionals.
Professional development
We are looking for an individual who is driven to learn and grow, as s/he helps others do the same. In addition, we're committed to promoting from within whenever possible and it's not unusual for strong performers to move up and take on additional responsibilities at Makita here in La Mirada or at other Makita locations across the nation.
Reputation and momentum
Visit any construction site and you're sure to encounter a variety of Makita tools. We are highly respected in the professional user community because of the quality and performance our tools deliver. We continue to lead the industry with the introduction of high quality, innovative tools. Now we're bringing the same innovation, quality and reputation to outdoor power equipment. You can feel proud of the products you support.
Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive salary, we offer one of the most generous benefits packages in our industry, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401(k), vacation time, tuition reimbursement, and more.
Video: Our cordless platform includes high-performance outdoor power tools, a top choice among landscape professionals.
Keys to Success
To excel in this role you’ll need to have the requisite knowledge, but just as important, you’ll need to be ready to coach and mentor others, helping them develop their skills in order to build a best-in-class team. You'll be proactive about your responsibilities but also look for opportunities for process and system improvements. Our current limits are in bandwidth, but as the skill of the team increases, you'll be able to stretch beyond the day-to-day operational needs (perhaps reducing the hands-on supply chain work to 60-65%) and influence other areas. In addition, to be an outstanding Supply Chain Lead, you will:- Work with integrity and encourage strong values in others
- Continuously meet goals and expectations
- Take a collaborative approach to success
- Bring strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
- Thrive in a dynamic, high-energy environment