Distribution Assistant
Location: Tarzana, CA; travel to other Los Angeles-area facilities, including Santa Monica, CA
Duration: 6 months
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Work arrangement: On-site
Pay: $24.78/hr
Position Summary
The Distribution Assistant supports the receipt, inspection, release, storage, inventory management, and distribution of materials across warehouse and facility locations in the Los Angeles area. This role helps maintain accurate inventory, support shipping and receiving, ensure timely deliveries, and keep warehouse and vehicle work areas clean and safe.
The Distribution Assistant works closely with warehouse leadership, laboratory managers, and cross-functional partners to help ensure materials are available for GMP manufacturing, development, and laboratory operations. This position reports to the Warehouse Associate Director.
Key Responsibilities
Warehouse and Inventory Operations
- Load, unload, move, and store materials using hand trucks, forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment.
- Receive incoming shipments and serve as a primary point of contact for warehouse deliveries.
- Process material receipts and collect certificates needed for material release, as required.
- Enter receipt and inventory data accurately into manual or electronic systems.
- Handle and store materials safely in accordance with applicable procedures and regulations.
- Report damaged, missing, excess, obsolete, or near-expiration inventory to management.
- Maintain clean, organized warehouse aisles, shelving, work areas, and GMP storage areas.
- Dispense raw materials for GMP manufacturing and development operations; monitor Kanban areas and replenish materials as needed.
- Perform cycle counts and inventory transactions to maintain accurate ERP records.
- Organize GMP warehouse and in-use material storage areas.
- Manage assets through computerized maintenance management and environmental monitoring systems.
- Coordinate with laboratory managers to support material availability for development labs.
- Support drug product and sample shipment pack-out.
Distribution and Continuous Improvement
- Transport goods and materials efficiently and on time between facilities.
- Perform pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip vehicle inspections; report mechanical issues and keep the vehicle clean.
- Follow transportation, safety, and cargo-confidentiality requirements.
- Support inventory and master data management, Kanban processes, material flows, and related capabilities.
- Contribute to new material qualification, technology transfer, and process improvement efforts.
- Collect data and support the preparation of metrics and reports.
- Identify and escalate material supply risks; work with internal partners to develop and carry out mitigation plans.
- Collaborate across teams to support business needs, effective communication, and continuous improvement.
- Follow company policies, procedures, and health and safety requirements.
- Perform other related duties as needed.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- At least 3 years of supply chain or materials management experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry; cell therapy experience preferred.
- Direct experience or knowledge of warehouse operations and/or materials planning or procurement.
- Experience working in a GMP manufacturing facility.
- Experience with inventory, asset management, or environmental monitoring systems, such as NetSuite, Blue Mountain, or Vaisala.
- Ability to work on-site and travel between Los Angeles-area facilities as needed.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills.
- Ability to develop solutions to a variety of complex problems.
- Ability to work independently and plan schedules and activities to meet objectives.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Flexibility to adjust workload as priorities shift in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Commitment to cross-functional teamwork, reliable execution, and continuous improvement.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
The physical demands described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation:
- Sit, talk, hear, and evaluate information during meetings and discussions; analyze and present information and data.
- Use hands to operate a computer.
- Frequently stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
- Lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move items weighing 10, 25, or 50 pounds, as required.
- Ascend and descend ladders or stairs while carrying items weighing 10, 25, or 50 pounds, as required.
- Lift items from floor level, knee height, and above head height.
- Stand, walk, and bend for extended periods.
- Work in a warehouse environment.
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