Management Associate - Maintenance
United States Steel
The Management Associate Program is an entry-level development program designed for recent college graduates seeking to accelerate professional growth and leadership development within a manufacturing environment. Participants complete 12 to 24 months of structured training focused on inventory management, warehouse operations, material flow, supply chain processes, supplier fulfillment, and operational excellence within a steel manufacturing facility. Through hands-on assignments, rotational experiences, and leadership development opportunities, the selected candidate will gain a comprehensive understanding of warehouse operations, inventory control systems, logistics coordination, and customer service functions. The program is designed to develop future leaders for advanced roles within inventory management, supply chain, operations, and related business functions.Key Responsibilities
- Support daily warehouse and inventory operations to ensure the timely receipt, storage, movement, and shipment of materials and finished products.
- Ability to communicate compliance with vendors, suppliers, and contractors.
- Apply strategic problem-solving methodologies and contingency planning techniques to address pending/upcoming issues.
- Monitor inventory accuracy through cycle counts, physical inventories, audits, and reconciliation activities.
- Analyze inventory trends, stock levels, and material usage to optimize inventory performance and minimize shortages or excess inventory.
- Coordinate material movements between production, warehouses, service centers, and external stakeholders.
- Assist in managing warehouse personnel, supporting safe, and efficient material handling practices.
- Utilize inventory management systems (Oracle), ERP platforms, and reporting tools to track and analyze inventory transactions and warehouse performance metrics.
- Identify opportunities to improve inventory accuracy, warehouse utilization, material flow, and overall operational efficiency.
- Collaborate with production, maintenance, procurement, transportation, suppliers, and customer service teams to support business objectives.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction, process optimization, safety, equipment life cycle, and operational excellence.
- Assist in developing and implementing standard operating procedures for warehouse and inventory management processes.
- Support capital improvement projects, warehouse modernization efforts, and technology implementations related to inventory control and material handling systems.
- Prepare reports, presentations, and analyses for operational and inventory performance reviews.
- Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
- Must have graduated within the last three years from an accredited college or university at the time of hire.
- Less than three years of professional work experience.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability and willingness to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays as operational needs require.
- Prior internship, co-op, warehouse, logistics, manufacturing, or supply chain experience is a plus.
- Strong analytical, financial, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to interpret operational data and develop actionable recommendations.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- High level of initiative, accountability, and attention to detail.
- Knowledge of inventory management principles, contracts, warehouse operations, transportation, and supply chain processes.
- Experience working with ERP, warehouse management, or inventory control systems preferred.
- Strong customer service orientation and ability to build effective working relationships internally and externally.
- Commitment to continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.
- Ability to think strategically while effectively managing day-to-day operational priorities.