Material Handler

Avantor•Boston, MA

20d•$49,000 - $79,350•Onsite

About The Position

The Material Handler supports daily receiving, storage, and material issuance at customer facilities, managing critical materials—including consumables, chemicals, solvents, and reagents—for laboratory and production environments. The role performs and documents warehouse operations in a cGMP environment, maintains accurate inventory and good documentation practices, follows established procedures, and works with manufacturing, Planning, Procurement, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, and Materials Management staff to meet material needs. The position includes gowning into classified clean-room environments for inventory and replenishment activities, disinfecting materials before transfer into classified areas, and supporting drug-product storage and shipments. The Material Handler also investigates inventory discrepancies, addresses supplier-related issues, helps adjust storage protocols, and identifies and implements process improvements using Lean principles and root cause analysis. The position is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and reports to the Territory Area Manager. The schedule is Monday through Friday on first shift. The stated hourly pay range is $27–$29; the posting also lists an expected annual pre-tax range of $49,000–$79,350, with actual pay dependent on relevant factors such as experience and location. Work takes place in customer laboratory and warehouse settings, including classified clean rooms and cold rooms. Physical requirements include standing and walking for extended periods, various bending and reaching movements, repetitive hand use, and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 50 pounds with or without assistance.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 1 year of experience working in a cGMP supply-chain environment and/or with GMP regulations.
Proficiency with ERP systems such as SAP MM, Oracle, or equivalent for inventory transactions, reporting, and data management.
Experience with barcode scanning, warehouse management systems, and handheld data-collection devices.
Experience in logistics, distribution, warehousing, and supply chain.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data filtering, and in Outlook.
Working knowledge of chemical storage, segregation, compatibility, and SDS reference procedures.
Understanding of FIFO, FEFO, lot tracking, and expiration-management principles.
Familiarity with cycle-counting methodologies, variance investigation, and root-cause analysis.
Must complete Avantor onboarding, safety, and inventory specialist certification within 90 days.
Ability to talk, hear, bend, stoop, squat, reach above shoulder height, kneel, balance, and push or pull.
Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds (23 kg), with or without assistance.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods across a customer facility and use both hands for repetitive grasping and manipulation.
Vision abilities including close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Experience in inventory management, material handling, warehouse operations, or supply chain in a laboratory, pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated environment.

Responsibilities

Maintain vendor-managed inventory in designated areas, including stock procurement, kanban management, and stock rotation.
Disinfect materials before transferring them into classified areas.
Receive, label, store, and issue raw materials and components in accordance with cGMP guidance and applicable procedures.
Perform cycle counts and participate in inventory reconciliation.
Pick materials in response to manual requests or ERP-generated move orders and stage kits for manufacturing activities.
Handle raw materials, cleaning reagents, gowning supplies, and consumables, including sanitizing items transferred into clean rooms.
Ensure required materials and PPE are available for GMP cleaners before the end of the shift.
Keep warehouse and clean-room storage areas inspection- and audit-ready.
Execute real-time transactions in Oracle ERP and the related warehouse management system.
Maintain accurate inventory and communicate discrepancies.
Participate in customer operational meetings and present inventory performance data and improvement initiatives.
Respond to customer questions about material availability, lead times, and sourcing alternatives.
Comply with and execute SOPs for GMP warehouse operations.
Ensure materials are shipped at correct temperature conditions and handled appropriately.
Safely operate motorized equipment, including forklift trucks, electric pallet jacks, lifts, and company vehicles.
Remain current on DOT and Hazmat regulations.
Work in 2–8°C and -20°C cold rooms using appropriate PPE.
Support transfers of LN2 dewars and operation of controlled rate freezers in support of drug-product storage.
Perform cold-chain pack-outs for drug-product shipments.
Identify inefficiencies in inventory control, storage management, and distribution workflows; propose and implement improvements using Lean principles and root cause analysis.
Promptly escalate service-delivery concerns or customer relationship issues to the Lead or Supervisor.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with eligibility for medical coverage starting Day 1.
Wellness programs.
Paid time off (PTO).
Company-paid holidays.
Choice holidays.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA).
Commuter benefits.
401(k) retirement plan.
Tuition assistance.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan discount.