Materials & Compliance Specialist | Norfolk, NE | Quarterly Bonus Opportunity!
Job Summary:
The Materials & Compliance Specialist serves as the company's subject matter expert for material compliance, testing requirements, regulatory certifications, and steel industry standards. This role ensures material conformance to customer specifications and applicable standards while supporting internal laboratories, sales teams, suppliers, and customers with technical and compliance-related inquiries.
The Materials & Compliance Specialist works closely with operations, quality, purchasing, sales, suppliers, and customers to validate material chemistry and mechanical properties, resolve compliance issues, manage regulatory reporting requirements, and support customer audits, visits, and technical reviews. Key responsibilities include oversight of material certification data, interpretation of ASTM and industry standards, administration of compliance documentation, and coordination of material testing activities.
Essential Functions & Job Responsibilities:
Material Compliance & Certification Management
- Review and validate chemical and mechanical test data to ensure compliance with customer specifications and applicable industry standards.
- Investigate and resolve material compliance concerns, including missing or incomplete chemical data, mechanical property discrepancies, material traceability issues, certification inconsistencies, and physical and chemical testing concerns.
- Verify and interpret Mill Test Reports (MTRs), Issue Certificates of Compliance (CoC), and related documentation based on verified test data.
- Coordinate corrective actions with suppliers, mills, internal laboratories, and operational teams.
- Maintain compliance records and documentation supporting customer and regulatory requirements.
ASTM Standards & Technical Support
- Serve as a technical resource for ASTM specifications and related steel industry standards.
- Interpret material requirements, tolerances, testing protocols, and certification requirements.
- Support sales, operations, purchasing, and quality teams with standards-related questions.
- Provide guidance regarding specification compliance, substitutions, and customer requirements.
- Monitor and communicate updates to relevant industry standards and compliance obligations.
Regulatory & Trade Compliance Support
- Manage customer and regulatory requests related to; American Iron & Steel (AIS), Build America, Buy America (BABAA),Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT), Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT), Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications, Section 232 documentation requirements, USMCA certifications, Certificates of Compliance and Chain of Custody documentation, and any other customer and regulatory requests.
- Coordinate responses with suppliers, mills, purchasing, and customers.
- Maintain current knowledge of domestic sourcing requirements and trade compliance regulations.
- Develop and maintain compliance documentation systems to support customer requests and audits.
Laboratory Support & Testing Coordination
- Support corporate material testing laboratories and testing programs.
- Assist with material testing interpretation and investigation of out-of-specification results.
- Coordinate testing priorities and support qualification activities.
- Monitor laboratory equipment performance and assist with maintenance coordination.
- Maintain testing records and support continuous improvement initiatives within laboratory operations.
Sales & Customer Technical Support
- Provide technical support to sales representatives regarding material specifications, certifications, compliance requirements, and testing data.
- Participate in customer meetings, audits, site visits, and technical reviews.
- Respond to customer inquiries regarding material properties, testing requirements, certification documentation, and regulatory compliance.
- Assist in developing technical resources and training materials for internal teams and customers.
- Support resolution of customer quality concerns and claims involving material compliance.
Required Skills & Abilities:
- Strong understanding of steel manufacturing, processing, and material certification practices.
- Knowledge of ASTM, AISI, and related industry standards.
- Ability to interpret Mill Test Reports, laboratory test data, and material specifications.
- Understanding of chemical and mechanical testing methods.
- Familiarity with domestic sourcing requirements and trade compliance programs.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and customer requests simultaneously.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools.
- Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
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