What are the responsibilities and job description for the Materials and Logistics Lead position at Slate Auto?
ABOUT SLATE
At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.
ABOUT SLATE
At Slate, we're building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize, and love — and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.
Our vehicles have been designed to be wrapped, enabling a new level of expression and personalization. Our Louisville production facility is where that vision becomes physical — kitting and producing wraps at scale for standard and custom orders alike. We're building this facility from scratch, and the people joining now will define how it runs.
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
The Materials & Logistics Lead is responsible for making sure our production facility never runs out of what it needs to build, and that finished goods get to customers on time and at cost. That means owning our vinyl and materials supply — forecasting, ordering, tracking inbound shipments — keeping inventory counts accurate and stock-outs off the table, and managing the carrier relationships that get our products out the door.
This isn't a role with a lot of hand-holding. You'll be working closely with the Site Manager and cross-functional teams, but the material flow of this facility is yours to own. If something is going to be late, you know before anyone else does and you’re already working on it.
This is an individual contributor role to start, reporting directly to the Head of Wrap Operations.
WHAT YOU GET TO DO
Material Planning & Procurement Coordination
WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM
We're building something new in Louisville, and the Materials & Logistics Lead will play a direct role in whether it runs well from day one. If you like having real ownership over something that matters and working somewhere that moves fast and trusts you to make good calls, this is that job.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.
Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.
WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?
At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.
Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at
slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.
At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.
ABOUT SLATE
At Slate, we're building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize, and love — and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.
Our vehicles have been designed to be wrapped, enabling a new level of expression and personalization. Our Louisville production facility is where that vision becomes physical — kitting and producing wraps at scale for standard and custom orders alike. We're building this facility from scratch, and the people joining now will define how it runs.
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
The Materials & Logistics Lead is responsible for making sure our production facility never runs out of what it needs to build, and that finished goods get to customers on time and at cost. That means owning our vinyl and materials supply — forecasting, ordering, tracking inbound shipments — keeping inventory counts accurate and stock-outs off the table, and managing the carrier relationships that get our products out the door.
This isn't a role with a lot of hand-holding. You'll be working closely with the Site Manager and cross-functional teams, but the material flow of this facility is yours to own. If something is going to be late, you know before anyone else does and you’re already working on it.
This is an individual contributor role to start, reporting directly to the Head of Wrap Operations.
WHAT YOU GET TO DO
Material Planning & Procurement Coordination
- Own material requirements planning for the facility, forecasting vinyl and component needs based on production schedules and order demand, and making sure purchase orders go out with enough lead time to keep the floor running.
- Manage supplier communication on a day-to-day basis: confirming delivery schedules, chasing late orders, and resolving issues before they create a production stoppage.
- Track inbound shipments and maintain visibility into what's on order, what's in transit, and what's at risk, flagging potential shortages early and working through solutions.
- Support supplier performance reviews and contribute to sourcing decisions by maintaining clear records of delivery performance, lead times, and pricing.
- Own inventory accuracy for the facility including raw materials, consumables, and non-inventory items alike. That means running cycle counts, reconciling discrepancies, and making sure what's in the system reflects what's on the shelf.
- Monitor stock levels and manage reorder points to prevent stock-outs without carrying unnecessary inventory.
- Identify and flag excess, slow-moving, or obsolete inventory and work with operations leadership to resolve it.
- Maintain clean, audit-ready inventory records in the ERP system and support any inventory-related reporting needs.
- Own the carrier relationships for outbound finished goods shipments — negotiate rates, manage contracts, and hold carriers accountable to on-time performance and service commitments.
- Ensure finished goods get to customers and installation partners on time and within cost targets, escalating and problem-solving when things go sideways.
- Track outbound shipment performance and report on key metrics such as on-time delivery, freight cost per unit, in transit damages, bringing insights and recommendations to site leadership.
- Collaborate with the Partner Operations team to align outbound scheduling with installation partner timelines and VIN assignment workflows.
- Maintain and report on the core materials and logistics KPIs: inventory accuracy, fill rate, inbound on-time delivery, freight cost, and stock-out frequency.
- Use Power BI, Excel or equivalent tools to analyze consumption trends, track supplier performance, and surface risks before they become problems.
- Participate in lean and CI initiatives focused on reducing waste in the material flow and improving how materials move through the facility.
WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM
- 5 years of experience in materials planning, procurement coordination, or supply chain operations within a manufacturing, fulfillment, or distribution environment.
- Solid inventory management experience including owning cycle counts, managed reorder points, and know what it takes to keep inventory data clean and reliable.
- Experience managing carrier relationships and outbound freight, including rate negotiation and performance management.
- Comfortable working with ERP or MRP systems for purchasing, inventory, and order management (SAP, Oracle, Plex, FUUZ, or similar).
- Strong in Excel including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data analysis. You build your own tracking tools and don't wait for someone to hand you a report.
- Good communicator who can work across suppliers, carriers, production, and leadership without things falling through the cracks.
- Comfortable in an early-stage environment where the processes are still being built and the ability to figure things out matters as much as prior experience.
- Experience in a product launch or new facility ramp, where material readiness had to be built alongside the operation itself.
- Background in on-demand or custom manufacturing, or any environment with high product variability.
- Familiarity with vinyl, large-format graphics, automotive, or consumer products.
- Experience with lean manufacturing or Six Sigma applied to material flow and inventory management.
- Exposure to TMS platforms or automated reporting tools like Power BI.
We're building something new in Louisville, and the Materials & Logistics Lead will play a direct role in whether it runs well from day one. If you like having real ownership over something that matters and working somewhere that moves fast and trusts you to make good calls, this is that job.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.
Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.
WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?
At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.
- Safety First
- Delight Customers
- One Team
- Relentless Improvement
- Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
- Respectful Collaboration
- Positive Legacy
Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at
slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.