Materials Technician Position Summary The Materials Technician serves as a key leader in driving operational excellence by improving workflows, standardizing best practices, and mentoring teams. This role combines hands-on process improvement with leadership, training, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes across the organization. Key Responsibilities Lead process improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, quality, and safety Serve as a subject matter expert and coach for frontline employees and team leads Train, mentor, and guide team members on standard work, best practices, and problem-solving techniques Facilitate continuous improvement activities such as Kaizen events, 5S implementation, and root cause problem-solving Partner with supervisors and managers to support production goals and lead change initiatives Assist in P21 work when needed (input into the system the information on all materials received, containers, LTL, air shipments, supplier's shipments, PO/invoices) Support the team on the floor when any team member is absent Influence and drive adoption of new processes, tools, and technologies Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and lead action plans when performance gaps exist Support cross-functional collaboration between production, quality, maintenance, and engineering teams Leadership & Soft Skills Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, not just authority Strong communication and presentation skills Ability to motivate, coach, and develop team members Conflict resolution and problem-solving capabilities Experience leading small teams, projects, or improvement groups Required Qualifications High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred 3-5+ years of experience in process improvement, manufacturing, or operations Proven experience mentoring, training, or leading teams Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies preferred Work Environment & Physical Requirements Ability to work in a manufacturing or operational environment Ability to stand, walk, and move for extended periods Ability to lift up to 50 lbs as needed Takeuchi is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status.