Fully Onsite VMI Technician - Bay Area

Location: Will be traveling to sites primarily in South San Francisco, secondarily in Union City (East Bay)

Hourly Range: $25 - $30

Shift:  Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm

Benefits:

• Health and Wellness: Medical, Dental, Vision and Wellness programs (eligible for medical coverage on day 1)
• Time Off: Paid Time Off (PTO), Company-paid holidays, Choice holidays etc.
• Financial Well-Being: Spending Accounts: Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), commuter benefits, 401(k), tuition assistance, employee stock purchase plan discount
• Added Protection Coverage: To include critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident, legal, identity theft protection, pet, auto and home insurance
• Recognition: Celebrate your peers and earn points to redeem on gifts and products

What we’re looking for  

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required; Associate or bachelor's degree in supply chain management, logistics, chemistry, or a related field
• Experience: 3+ years of experience in inventory management, material handling, warehouse operations, or supply chain in a laboratory, pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated environment
• Collaboration Tool: Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data filtering) and Outlook
• Valid driver's license and reliable form of transportation are needed to perform job essentials
• Proficient use of ERP systems (SAP MM, Oracle or equivalent) for inventory transactions, reporting and data management
• Experience with barcode scanning, warehouse management systems and handheld data collection devices
• Working knowledge of chemical storage, segregation, compatibility and SDS reference procedures
• cGMP, GLP or ISO-regulated inventory or material management role with direct experience handling chemicals, solvents and reagents
• Advanced SAP MM or Oracle inventory module proficiency including item master maintenance
• Experience with Lean Six Sigma tools (5S, value stream mapping, root cause analysis)
• Knowledge of hazardous materials shipping and receiving regulations
• Experience with cold chain logistics including cryogenic material handling
• Familiarity with CAPA processes and quality management system requirements
• Forklift and powered industrial truck operator certification
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow or Green Belt

How you will thrive and create an impact  

Avantor’s Lab and Production Services team is a crucial part of the Avantor Services group serving over 500 customers in biopharma, pharmaceutical, educational, industrial, and high-tech industries with customizable, flexible solutions and end-to-end laboratory operations support.

In this role you will:

Inventory Control and Variance Investigation

• Conduct and lead cycle counting activities across assigned stockrooms and storage areas
• Investigate inventory discrepancies by tracing transactions, verifying physical locations and identifying root causes
• Analyze patterns in variances to determine whether issues stem from miscounts, misplaced items, data entry errors or process gaps
• Recommend and implement corrective actions for recurring variance issues including process adjustments and retraining
• Reconcile system records with physical stock and resolve differences within established timelines
• Prepare variance reports with root cause analysis and corrective action summaries for supervisors and customers
• Support internal and customer-led inventory audits by preparing documentation and escorting auditors

Critical Material Management

• Manage the storage, handling, inventory control and distribution of consumables, chemicals, solvents and reagents
• Monitor shelf life, expiration dates and lot traceability for all date-sensitive and regulated materials
• Apply chemical compatibility and segregation principles when organizing storage locations
• Adjust storage protocols when expired, degraded or improperly stored materials are identified
• Coordinate with customer quality and EHS teams on material disposition decisions for non-conforming items
• Maintain accurate SDS files and verify that all stored chemicals have current safety documentation
• Track controlled substances and restricted materials per site-specific regulatory requirements where applicable

Receiving, Processing and Distribution

• Receive, inspect and process complex or high-value shipments including hazardous materials and controlled items
• Verify received goods against purchase orders, packing lists and quality specifications
• Manage receipt of temperature-sensitive shipments including cold chain validation and documentation
• Prioritize distribution of critical materials to ensure laboratory and production operations are not interrupted
• Process urgent and ad hoc material requests, applying judgment to balance competing priorities
• Oversee outbound shipments of hazardous materials ensuring government and carrier compliance

Supplier Issue Resolution

• Investigate and document supplier-related problems including late deliveries, short shipments, quality defects and substitution errors
• Communicate with supplier representatives to resolve open issues and obtain credits, replacements or corrective commitments
• Escalate chronic supplier performance issues to the Coordinator or Supervisor with documented evidence
• Identify alternative sourcing options when primary suppliers fail to meet delivery or quality requirements
• Track and report supplier performance metrics including on-time delivery, fill rate and quality acceptance rate
• Support vendor qualification and periodic review activities as requested by the customer or VWR management

Safety, Compliance and Quality

• Enforce chemical storage, handling and labelling compliance per government and site-specific regulations
• Conduct periodic safety inspections of stockrooms, storage areas and material handling equipment
• Lead or support investigation of safety incidents, near-misses and spills related to inventory operations
• Ensure GMP and GLP compliance in material handling, documentation and storage activities where applicable
• Participate in CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) activities related to inventory or material management findings
• Maintain training records and verify that all team members have current required certifications
• Serve as a safety resource for across bands Associates, reinforcing proper PPE use and hazard awareness

System Management and Data Integrity

• Execute complex inventory transactions including transfers, adjustments, reclassifications and write-offs in the ERP system
• Identify and correct data integrity issues such as duplicate records, incorrect unit conversions or mislinked lot numbers
• Generate and analyze inventory reports including aging, slow-moving stock, expiration and usage trend analyses
• Troubleshoot intermediate system issues and coordinate with IT support for escalated problems
• Configure and maintain barcode labels, bin locations and item master data within established guidelines
• Support system upgrades, patches and testing activities as needed

Customer Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

• Communicate inventory-related information, activity records, service level metrics and operational data to customers
• Provide information requiring explanation or interpretation, including variance findings and corrective action plans
• Participate in customer operational meetings, presenting inventory performance data and improvement initiatives
• Respond to customer inquiries about material availability, lead times and sourcing alternatives
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with customer laboratory, procurement and quality contacts
• Escalate service delivery concerns or customer relationship issues to the Coordinator or Supervisor promptly

Continuous Improvement and Team Development

• Identify process inefficiencies in inventory control, storage management and distribution workflows
• Propose and implement improvements using Lean principles and root cause analysis techniques
• Provide technical guidance and hands-on training to across bands Associates on procedures and best practices
• Document and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) as processes change or improve
• Participate in cross-functional improvement projects and site optimization initiatives
• Maintain current knowledge of inventory management best practices, regulatory changes and technology updates