Team Lead Quality Assurance

Position Summary:

Currently Shane serves as the critical link between maintenance operations, engineering, and the supply chain. This role supports the technical integrity of the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) inventory, driving cost-saving inventory reduction initiatives, and helping to ensure 100% compliance with Process Safety Management (PSM) standards. The role combines deep technical research with hands-on logistics to support the stockroom team that ensures that the right parts are available, verified, and ready for execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Inventory Optimization & Obsolescence Management

• Strategic Reduction: Spearhead item reduction initiatives within the stockroom to optimize footprint and reduce carrying costs.
• Technical Vetting: Research complex parts lists to determine the necessity, interchangeability, or obsolescence of components.
• SME Collaboration: Act as the primary liaison between the stockroom and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to validate technical specifications before inventory removal.
• Disposition & Logistics: Working with the Vallen team to support the physical removal, staging, and certified recycling of obsolete items, ensuring full accountability and accurate record-keeping.

1. Technical Sourcing & Procurement Support

• Obscure Part Research: Conduct exhaustive online and manufacturer research to identify "unknown" or legacy assets, determining current manufacturer part numbers and sourcing options.
• Vendor Liaison: Contact original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to determine lead times, availability, and suitable modern replacements for legacy components when needed.
• Quote-to-PO Management: Obtain and review technical quotes for accuracy; enter requisitions into Oracle and track Purchase Orders through the entire lifecycle.
• Order Reconciliation: Proactively follow up with vendors and purchasing teams to resolve discrepancies and ensure the "Final Arrival" matches the "Original Request."

1. PSM Compliance & Quality Control (QA/QC)

• Regulatory Alignment: Ensure all Shutdown and Turnaround (TAR) replacement items meet strict Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance standards.
• Form, Fit, & Function Verification: Assist as needed to perform "double-check" inspections on received critical items to ensure they precisely match the form, function, and original part numbers required by engineering.
• MOC Integration: Collaborate with Engineering and Planning when sourcing reveals errors in existing PSM documentation or Management of Change (MOC) files.
• Tagging & Standards: Assist the Vallen Stockroom team to verify that all PSM-critical items are tagged and marked according to site-specific safety standards prior to being issued for work.

1. Shutdown (TAR) & Project Support

• Kitting & Staging: Aid and assist as needed to support the organization of parts kits for major shutdowns, ensuring planners and requestors have possession of verified components.
• Expedited Logistics: Utilize P-Cards and company vehicles for "critical path" parts runs to ensure project timelines remain on track.
• Data Integrity: Maintain meticulous records of all orders in both Oracle and localized hardcopy formats to build a historical data library for future re-orders.

Job Requirements and Technical Proficiencies:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, or a related field.
• 2-5 years of progressive experience in inventory management, supply chain planning, or demand planning, with demonstrated people leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of private label, import supply chains, and multi-node inventory planning.
• Experience collaborating with third-party logistics providers and transportation partners.
• Proven ability to connect purchasing activity with inbound receipt forecasting and execution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to design solutions outside of standard systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with ERP and supply chain planning systems; advanced Excel and data analysis skills required.
• ERP Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Oracle for historical billing research, parent asset tracking, and data mining.
• Technical Literacy: Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, manufacturer spec sheets, and PSM standards.
• Inventory Logic: Understanding of MRO supply chain dynamics, including stock levels, turn rates, and obsolescence risk.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal skills for interfacing with everyone from floor-level maintenance crews to Senior Leadership and external vendor reps.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodations will be evaluated and may be implemented to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

• This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, etc.
• Long periods of time working on a computer and performing repetitive key-boarding activities.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand and may include little to no advanced notice.
• While performing the duties of this job, associates are regularly required to sit, talk and hear.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.