Manager, NPI Material Handling

Rivian•Tustin, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The NPI Material Handling Manager is the onsite leader for material coordination, overseeing the flow from inbound receiving through warehousing, kitting, and lineside supply in a fast-paced, changing pre-production build environment. The position is based onsite in Tustin, California, and oversees four locations: Myford2, Plymouth, Carson, and Torrance. It also supports R&D materials, including rework and inbound and outbound shipments. The role reports to the Senior Manager of NPI Production Control. The manager leads and develops the Material Handling organization, setting duties, monitoring performance, managing staffing and resources, and coordinating training across sites. The role works closely with Warehouse operations, Pilot Assembly, Launch Quality, and other functions to improve material flow, inventory control, safety, and operational performance. It also manages site budgets, headcount planning, KPIs, physical inventory, obsolescence, facility maintenance, and material rework processes. Travel to other facilities and longer hours may be required as operational needs dictate.

Requirements

Degree in a supply chain operations field preferred.
Three years of previous supervisory experience highly preferred.
Experience with Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) or inventory management software such as SAP.
Proficiency in warehouse setup strategies and material flow.
Working knowledge of Google software and Atlassian applications.
Strong leadership skills; experience managing multiple teams preferred.
Ability to set tasks and responsibilities.
Creative problem-solving skills.
Ability to meet deadlines and stay within budget.
Strong team orientation and cross-functional attitude.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as governmental regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively before groups of customers or employees.
Ability to apply basic algebra and geometry concepts.
Ability to solve practical problems involving variables and limited standardization.
Ability to interpret written, oral, diagram, or schedule-based instructions.
Ability to communicate in a high-pressure environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in automotive, EV, aerospace, or high-tech manufacturing.
Experience supporting multi-site or greenfield launches.
PMP or Lean Six Sigma certification.
Material Handling Equipment proficiency.

Responsibilities

Support and teach processes used by the NPI Material Handling Group.
Coordinate communication across shifts, departments, and locations to implement best practices, resolve problems, and maintain performance objectives.
Evaluate shift quality and performance, including warehouse inventory accuracy and kitting and lineside delivery targets, and ensure continuous improvement.
Identify bottlenecks in upstream processes and collaborate on process improvements.
Develop countermeasures for downstream delivery issues.
Implement and monitor group metrics and lead the associated tools and processes.
Teach, plan, and implement the Rivian Production and Quality Network, emphasizing its five core principles.
Coordinate operational changes with warehouses and the Pilot Assembly plant.
Maintain housekeeping standards and apply 5S principles in a Lean Manufacturing environment.
Support the definition and use of appropriate inventory controls and processes.
Ensure proper use and care of equipment and promote safety.
Implement cross-functional and job-rotation training where applicable.
Mentor pilot production facility Material Handling Group Leaders, analysts, change coordinators, and other team members, seeking operational efficiency.
Manage direct reports, establish organizational job duties, and provide quarterly monitoring and feedback.
Manage resources to cover build-activity peaks and employee absences or PTO.
Travel to the Normal, Illinois production facility as required, and coordinate team travel to support facilities and interface with teams in Plymouth, Carson, and Torrance.
Develop and implement standard operating procedures aligned with business needs.
Update and apply skills matrices for employees at each site, and provide training to meet role skill requirements.
Collect KPIs, including prototype event totals, inbound receipts, outbound shipments, and kits completed by event and site.
Maintain site showcase readiness for leadership visits and tours.
Perform special staff duties and manage headcount planning, developing and articulating staffing requirements with supporting data.
Maintain headcount plans for leadership review in coordination with the Process Lead.
Manage overtime as required and maintain facility and team budgets through capital expenditure management and purchasing-card processes, ensuring spending is supported by a business case.
Serve as the EHS/Safety representative when no EHS representative is present.
Promote and execute cross-functional Material Handling certifications, including equipment-operation support for workload shifts.
Manage facility maintenance and site dunnage to maintain safety protocols and work areas.
Coordinate headcount requirements with additional roles and responsibilities, including dunnage operations in Normal.
Manage material rework in collaboration with Launch Quality, maintaining processes for material movement, storage, and table layouts to support material deviations, quarantines, and physical updates.
Manage obsolescence.
Execute annual physical inventory at all sites after builds and develop and execute plans with Material Handling Analysts.
Promote a fast-paced, can-do approach to building, updating, and delivering prototype assemblies and vehicles.

Benefits

Paid vacation
Paid sick leave
Life insurance
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Short-term disability insurance
Long-term disability insurance
401(k) plan, subject to eligibility requirements
Employee Stock Purchase Program, subject to eligibility requirements
Annual performance bonus and equity awards may be available to the successful candidate