Supply Chain Manager, Returnable Packaging Programs

What To Expect
The Packaging Engineering and Supply Chain team is responsible for the reliable and efficient flow of all production materials to Tesla's factories and service locations. The returnable packaging team manages packaging assets used to move parts between suppliers and Tesla factories.

As a Supply Chain Manager, you will have end-to-end responsibility for returnable packaging operations. You will develop business cases to justify CapEx investments, launch new packaging programs, and ensure operational success of the packaging fleet. This is a strategic supply chain role, interacting with suppliers, Finance, Material Planning, Logistics, Global Supply Management, Packaging Engineering, and Production Control to ensure returnable packaging programs run at peak efficiency for packaging cost optimization.

The ideal candidate is a lateral thinker with exceptional judgment — flexible, analytically sharp, and equally comfortable operating at strategic, tactical and operational levels. They bring a strong background in Supply Chain Planning/Logistics processes and related IT solutions, with the adaptability to shift direction quickly when business needs demand it.

What You'll Do

Review Tesla’s returnable packaging requirements for existing and new vehicle programs, ensuring compliance with sustainability and cost targets

Identify and quantify cost optimization opportunities across returnable packaging life cycles (design, deployment, recovery, reuse, refurbishment)

Develop data-backed business cases and Return-On-Investment (ROI) models for packaging investments, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, payback periods, and risk assessments

Optimize the end-to-end flow of returnable packaging containers across the supply chain to eliminate bottlenecks and prevent reliance on expendable packaging

Design, implement, and standardize scalable process flows for returnable packaging operations, including reverse logistics, container tracking, and stakeholder accountability

Proactively identify root causes of supply chain failure modes (e.g., container loss, delayed returns, damage), lead cross-functional resolution, and implement preventive controls

Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including Sourcing, Material Planning, Warehousing, Packaging Engineering, and Manufacturing—to define priorities, execute plans, and drive program success

What You'll Bring

Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, Statistics, Operations Engineering/Management, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent in experience and evidence of exceptional ability

Hands-on experience in supply chain, manufacturing, or process-critical operations within a fast-paced, high-volume environment (e.g., automotive, consumer electronics, industrial manufacturing)

Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects end-to-end—defining scope, managing timelines, tracking KPIs, and aligning stakeholders across all levels of the organization, including suppliers

Strong analytical capability, including complex "what-if" scenario modeling, sensitivity analyses, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) financial analysis across procurement, logistics, handling, and recovery

Advanced proficiency in Excel (complex formulas, Pivot Tables, Power Query, dashboards, data modeling) and SQL for extracting and manipulating data from enterprise systems (ERP, WMS, TMS)

Experience creating data visualizations and dashboards (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to communicate insights and drive operational decision-making with leadership

Passionate and relentless in driving issues to resolution, with strong communication skills and comfort navigating difficult conversations to deliver sustained process improvements

Benefits
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction

Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits

Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution

Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA

Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits

Company paid Basic Life, AD&D

Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)

Employee Assistance Program

Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays

Back-up childcare and parenting support resources

Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance

Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs

Tesla Babies program

Commuter benefits

Employee discounts and perks program

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