Inventory Control Supervisor

Overview:

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as an Inventory Control Supervisor? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities:

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Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey

Summary:

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary:

The Inventory Control Supervisor is responsible for overseeing and optimizing inventory control operations, with a particular focus on establishing best practices and systems in a greenfield manufacturing environment. This includes ensuring accurate stock levels, efficient material flow, and minimal loss across warehouse and inventory functions. This role leads day-to-day inventory activities, including tracking, analysis, auditing, and reporting, while driving continuous improvement in inventory accuracy, storage efficiency, and system utilization. The Supervisor partners closely with operations, supply chain, and warehouse teams to ensure materials are available to meet business needs while maintaining compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. This position also plays a key role in developing inventory control standards, mentoring inventory staff, and supporting operational excellence through data-driven decision-making.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Establish and oversee daily inventory control operations, including the development of standard operation procedures (SOPs) for receiving, transfers, returns, cycle counts, and physical inventories in a new factory
• Track inventory movement by lot, serial number, pallet, location, and date to maintain accurate warehouse records
• Monitor stock levels, including low stock, expiring, and overstocked items, and initiate replenishment activities as needed
• Maintain records of daily deliveries and shipments to reconcile inventory balances
• Participate in the BRD creation, implementation, and optimization of inventory management systems

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Implement, evaluate, and continuously improve inventory control systems, processes, and best practices
• Analyze inventory data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for optimization and loss mitigation
• Assess current inventory solutions and recommend enhancements, efficiencies, and technology improvements
• Support improvement initiatives related to warehouse layout, storage utilization, and inventory flow

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Participate in the recruitment and onboarding of hourly team members, building a skilled and knowledgeable team from the ground up, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning
• Establish priorities, allocate resources, and ensure adequate staffing coverage to meet operational demands
• Provide training, coaching, and guidance to inventory personnel on inventory procedures and systems
• Promote consistency, accuracy, and accountability through standardized inventory practices

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner with operations, supply chain, and warehouse leadership to align inventory strategies with business needs
• Communicate inventory status, risks, and performance metrics to stakeholders and leadership teams
• Support cross-functional planning related to demand changes, material availability, and operational requirements

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Conduct audits, cycle counts, and physical inventories to ensure compliance with internal controls and reporting standards
• Generate and analyze inventory reports related to stock levels, adjustments, shrinkage, and accuracy
• Adhere to all safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, including proper use of required PPE
• Support risk mitigation efforts related to inventory loss, discrepancies, and operational disruptions

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide direct supervision to hourly team members, including work assignment, performance oversight, training, and adherence to safety and operational standards

Travel Requirement:

• Minimal local travel may be required to support nearby facility operations

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 10%
• Walk: 50%
• Stand: 40%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)

For this position, the required frequency is:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Continuous
• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

Qualifications:

Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Education, Certifications, and Licenses:

Required:

• Associate’s degree in Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations, or a related field
• Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
• Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD)
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow or Green Belt
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 (General Industry)

Essential Qualifications:

• 3+ years of progressive leadership experience in inventory control, supply chain, or warehouse operations
• Proven ability to supervise and develop inventory personnel, including recruitment, initial training, and performance management for a new team
• Demonstrated experience supervising inventory personnel, including work assignment, coaching, and performance oversight
• Proficiency with inventory management systems and ERP/WMS platforms (e.g., SAP, MES or similar)
• Hands-on experience with cycle counts, physical inventories, audits, and root cause analysis of inventory discrepancies
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret inventory data, monitor key performance indicators, and generate management reports
• Proven organizational and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally and report to leadership
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and adapt to changing operational needs
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in supply chain, inventory control, or warehouse operations, preferably in a manufacturing startup, greenfield environment, or rapid scale-up setting
• Experience in a manufacturing, regulated, or high-volume distribution environment
• Involvement in inventory system implementations, upgrades, or process improvement initiatives
• Experience supporting multi-site inventory operations or complex material flows
• Demonstrated capability in change management, continuous improvement, or lean initiatives

Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:

Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

Where You'll Be:

For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.

Who We Are:

Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.

Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.

As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.

We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

We Take Opportunity Seriously:

At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!

Supplemental Information:

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.

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