Operations Support Specialist at Sea-Land Chemical

Description

Sea-Land is an employee-owned specialty chemical distributor in Cleveland, Ohio. For 60 years, Sea-Land has provided agile, comprehensive, and technology-driven solutions for our customers’ chemical supply, inventory requirements, and product development needs. 

The Operations Specialist is responsible for supporting the supply chain team's operational excellence and managing and ensuring the accuracy of documentation for inbound and outbound shipments handled through third-party warehouses and logistics providers. This role ensures accurate receipting, recordkeeping, and communication across internal teams and external partners.

This position works a hybrid schedule consisting of 3 days per week in our Cleveland office and 2 days from home.

Duties include:

Shipping & Receiving Documentation

• Prepare and process shipping documents, including bills of lading, packing lists, and commercial invoices for third-party logistics (3PL) providers.
• Maintain accurate purchase orders by attaching documentation as needed, updating system notes, ensuring dates are updated as needed, verifying incoming shipment documentation against purchase orders, and coordinating with 3PLs to confirm receipt.
• Ensure accurate receipting of inbound material in the ERP system, including processing the COA, based on confirmations from external warehouses.
• Maintain organized digital records of all inbound and outbound shipments.

Third-Party Coordination

• Serve as liaison between internal teams and third-party warehouses and carriers.
• Schedule and track shipments with freight providers, ensuring timely pickups and deliveries.
• Resolve discrepancies or delays by coordinating with 3PL contacts and internal stakeholders.
• Manage direct ship orders.

Inventory & Data Accuracy

• Reconcile shipment confirmations with ERP entries to ensure inventory accuracy.
• Support periodic inventory audits by collecting and validating data from third-party warehouse reports.
• Monitor and report on shipment status, delays, and exceptions. Provide monthly reporting on inventory patterns related to customer orders. Support the supply chain department by tracking inbound shipments, updating ship/delivery dates, and revising confirmed status in the system when inbound material changes.  
• Actively manage inventory issues and discrepancies related to holds, damaged goods, and past shelf-life products. Clear order holds in a timely manner. Work with warehouses directly as needed.

Operations Support

• Assist buyers and analysts with vendor communications related to delivery schedules, shipment issues, and documentation needs.
• Enter and maintain vendor and shipment data in ERP systems.
• Generate reports on shipping performance, discrepancies, and inventory movements.
• Provide backup to logistics coordinator
• Process supplier returns.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business preferred; Associate’s degree and equivalent experience will be considered.
• 3 years’ experience in supply chain/logistics.
• Required Skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Ability to work well with others, including colleagues and external partners
• High degree of organizational skills and multi-tasking capability
• Attention to detail and follow-through skills
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Competency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and ERP/CRM systems 
• Experience working with third-party logistics providers and external warehouses.