The Senior Warehouse Specialist plays a crucial lead role in managing complex warehouse operations, including domestic and international shipments, inventory control, and interdepartmental coordination. This position ensures end-to-end supply chain execution with internal and external stakeholders while promoting accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement. It involves direct communication and coordination with Anika customers and 3PL providers. The Senior Specialist will act as a subject matter expert in SAP inventory management and lead efforts to optimize space, process flow, and service levels following lean and Six Sigma principles.
Key Responsibilities:
- Shipping & Logistics:
- Coordinate and execute domestic and international shipments, including documentation, customs clearance, Incoterms, and carrier selection.
- Engages with customers directly and coordinates effectively, demonstrating professionalism and clarity as a representative of Anika’s core values and image.
- Collaborate with Customer Service to align shipping schedules and ensure on-time customer delivery.
- Arrange transportation with freight carriers and 3PLs, monitoring performance and ensuring cost-effectiveness.
- Returns & Product Disposition:
- Receive and process customer returns; route items to Quality and Inspection teams.
- Collaborate with Quality, Sales, and Marketing to determine disposition (restock, scrap, or sample).
- Manage logistics and documentation for marketing sample distribution.
- Inventory Control & SAP Management:
- Lead and execute cycle counts/year end and month-end inventory reconciliations to ensure high inventory accuracy.
- Monitor and maintain real-time inventory visibility in SAP, including inter-site transfers, lot control, and stock status.
- Balance inventory levels between on-site and off-site (3PL) warehouses, initiating replenishment as needed.
- Excel data management to log and track daily metrics.
- Material Flow & Warehouse Operations:
- Support daily material flow for manufacturing and packaging teams, prioritizing internal customer service.
- Coordinate incoming raw material deliveries, labeling, and indirect material requests to end users.
- Ship and receive materials to/from off-site sterilizers ensuring chain of custody and documentation accuracy.
- Process Optimization & Leadership:
- Optimize warehouse layout and racking capacity using 5S and lean warehousing practices.
- Identify improvement opportunities and implement process enhancements in alignment with Six Sigma methodology.
- Support training of new warehouse staff and contribute to SOP and work instruction development.
- Systems & Documentation:
- Act as an advanced SAP user, capable of handling complex transactions and resolving inventory discrepancies.
- Ensure all warehouse and distribution activities are performed in compliance with QSR, cGMP, and internal SOPs.
Job Complexity:
This role involves managing a high degree of operational complexity, including multiple concurrent shipments, return flows, and interdepartmental requests. The Senior Warehouse Specialist must exercise sound judgment, autonomy, and decision-making in a fast-paced environment. Leadership in continuous improvement, process ownership, and cross-functional alignment is critical.
Supervisor Responsibilities:
While this position has no direct reports, it involves informal leadership of warehouse operations and support in training and mentoring peers.
Required Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED required; Associate or Bachelor’s degree in logistics or related field preferred.
- 3 years of experience in warehousing, logistics, or inventory control in a manufacturing or life sciences environment.
- Demonstrated expertise with SAP or equivalent ERP system (SAP required).
- Experience with freight coordination, international shipments, and customs documentation.
- Knowledge of warehouse equipment, including forklifts and pallet jacks.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
Preferred Skills and Attributes:
- Ability to communicate professionally and clearly with customers and key stakeholders.
- Advanced SAP user—deep familiarity with inventory modules, goods movement, and reporting.
- Strong understanding of global shipping logistics, including 3PL and sterilization partners.
- Proven ability to multitask and prioritize complex shipment and material handling schedules.
- Familiarity with lean warehouse principles, space optimization, and 5S/Kaizen initiatives.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to document and implement improved warehouse processes.
- Novice Excel skills
The salary range provided is based on the Company’s reasonable estimate of the base salary pay range for this position at the time of posting. Actual base pay is determined by several factors relevant to the position, including skills, competencies, experience, education, and geographic location. Anika also offers a discretionary bonus program for all full-time employees, comprehensive healthcare benefits, health savings account, 401(k) plan with up to 5% company match which includes immediate vesting, employee stock purchase plan at a 15% discount, accrued paid time off, additional long-term incentives including stock awards, and much more. At Anika, we take pride in offering robust Total Rewards, inclusive of market-leading benefits to meet our employees where they are in their career and in life.
The compensation and benefits information is provided as of the date of this posting. Anika reserves the right to modify compensation and benefits at any time, subject to applicable law.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on characteristics such as age, gender, gender identity and expression, genetic status, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, military status, family status, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law.