Logistics Operations Manager

Title: Dental Logistics Operations Manager

Location: Hybrid NY, NJ, PA, TX, IL or IN

Who we are:

Voted one of the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber, and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supplies from around the world, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental, fiber, resin, and elastomer products. Kuraray America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company, Ltd. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Kuraray has operations in 32 countries and employs more than 12,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.

Why Kuraray:

Kuraray is building a better tomorrow, today. Our team members are dedicated to expanding our business with committed professionals who share essential values such as integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability.

As a part of Kuraray America, Inc., our team shares the advantages of working for the leader in specialty chemicals, resins, and fibers. Our international presence and resources allow us to be a world-leading innovator in the industries we service. Yet, despite our size, our people are more than just a number. As a new team member, you can expect to earn responsibility quickly. Our commitment to our people is visible in our comprehensive benefits package. As a Kuraray team member, you will have the opportunity to enjoy competitive salaries and benefits, incentive opportunities, and an excellent work environment.

Position Summary:

The Dental Logistics Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day execution and development of warehouse, inventory, order fulfillment, and distribution operations for the Dental business. The position oversees all Dental shipments through the business's dedicated third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment partner, currently supporting dealer orders, e-commerce orders, and sample programs.

This is a hands-on business operations role requiring an understanding of Dental products, customer requirements, and channel-specific fulfillment processes. The Manager is accountable for accurate and timely fulfillment, including reconciliation of order, inventory, and shipment records; resolution of operational exceptions; and effective execution by the 3PL. The role includes SKU-level operational controls, piece picking, small-parcel shipping, and fulfillment requirements that vary by order type and customer channel.

The Manager also develops the capabilities needed to expand direct-to-end-user sales, e-commerce, and sample activities. This includes evaluating future fulfillment models, proposing operational and system designs, and leading approved implementation projects as the business grows.

The position supervises one direct report and works closely with Commercial, Customer Service, Finance, IT, and external service providers. Corporate Logistics retains responsibility for enterprise transportation strategy, carrier governance, global logistics standards, and customs and trade compliance. Within those policies and approved provider arrangements, the Manager owns Dental-specific fulfillment requirements and daily operational execution.

Responsibilities:

Dental Fulfillment & 3PL Management

• Manage the operational relationship with Dental's dedicated 3PL and fulfillment partner, overseeing receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, and returns.
• Take responsibility for fulfillment execution across dealer, e-commerce, and sample orders, ensuring each order type meets its applicable accuracy, service, and delivery requirements.
• Monitor daily order flow and shipment completion, reconcile order and shipment records, and resolve order holds, picking errors, shipping discrepancies, and other fulfillment exceptions.
• Translate Dental product, business, and customer requirements into documented warehouse procedures and service standards.
• Establish and monitor 3PL service expectations, investigate performance gaps, and drive corrective actions.
• Maintain product-specific handling and inventory controls, including lot traceability, expiration management, and storage requirements where applicable.

Inventory Control & Inbound Coordination

• Maintain accurate inventory records and reconcile inventory balances and transactions between the ERP and 3PL Warehouse Management System (WMS).
• Coordinate cycle counts and physical inventory activities, investigate discrepancies, and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor receiving progress and inventory availability, and communicate operational constraints affecting order fulfillment.
• Coordinate Dental inbound priorities, receiving requirements, and warehouse readiness with Corporate Logistics, approved transportation providers, and the 3PL.
• Support timely warehouse receipt by identifying and resolving Dental-specific operational issues and escalating transportation or compliance matters to Corporate Logistics and Legal.

Distribution & Delivery Execution

• Coordinate outbound fulfillment and delivery execution through approved providers, with particular attention to small-parcel shipments and direct-to-end-user requirements.
• Monitor shipment visibility and delivery performance, and coordinate the resolution of delayed, lost, damaged, or incorrectly delivered shipments.
• Improve packing, order consolidation, shipping workflows, and other operational processes to support service quality and cost efficiency.
• Partner with Corporate Logistics on transportation requirements or provider changes that require corporate review or approval.

Direct-Selling, E-commerce & Systems Development

• Develop fulfillment capabilities to support growth in direct-to-end-user sales, e-commerce, and sample activities.
• Define operational requirements and propose future process and system designs, including WMS, and e-commerce integrations, in partnership with IT, Accounting, Corporate Logistics and relevant business teams.
• Design order-to-shipment and returns workflows that support inventory visibility, accurate transactions, and reconciliation with Customer Service and Finance.
• Evaluate fulfillment capacity and future operating models, including expansion of 3PL services, additional fulfillment partners, and potential in-house operations.
• Develop recommendations and implementation plans for approved changes, including resource requirements, operational controls, testing, training.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in fulfillment, distribution, warehousing, logistics, or supply chain operations.

• Minimum of five (5) years of people supervisor experience.
• Experience managing 3PL providers and warehouse fulfillment operations, including SKU-level piece picking and small-parcel shipments.
• Experience supporting multiple order types or sales channels, such as dealer distribution, e-commerce, direct customer orders, or sample fulfillment.
• Hands-on experience with inventory reconciliation and the resolution of order, inventory, and shipment exceptions.
• Experience using ERP and/or Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), with the ability to define operational requirements and support system or workflow improvements.
• Experience developing operational procedures, monitoring performance metrics, and implementing process improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead operational projects and coordinate internal stakeholders and external service providers.
• Ability to learn Dental products and business requirements and translate them into practical fulfillment processes and controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to supervise and develop a direct report and drive accountability with external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of the time, including visits to fulfillment facilities in Kentucky for operational reviews, implementation activities, and issue resolution, and team meetings in New York, California and Texas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in dental, medical device, healthcare product, or other businesses requiring product-specific handling and traceability.
• Experience launching or expanding e-commerce or direct-to-customer fulfillment operations.
• Experience with ERP/WMS integration, fulfillment system implementation, or evaluation of warehouse operating models.

Competencies:

• Customer Focus
  • Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Business Insight
  • Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals.
• Cultivates Innovation
  • Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

• Action Oriented
  • Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability
  • Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results
  • Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstance
• Collaborates
  • Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Difference
  • Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Communicates Effectively
  • Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Courage
  • Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Instills Trust
  • Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Situational Adaptability
  • Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

Benfits

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base pay and an annual incentive. This program is designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.

Our employees benefit from a robust healthcare package that includes wellness reimbursements, along with generous perks such as three weeks of paid time off, ten company holidays, paid parental leave, education reimbursement, and a matching 401k plan, among other offerings.

Compensation:
The expected base salary range for this position is $116,930 - $175,000 annually.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Learn more at kuraray.us.com/careers/

Kuraray America, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/disability/protected veteran status

No third-party candidates accepted