MRO Inventory Manager

USA Rare Earth and the Serra Verde Group are building the world's leading rare earth enterprise: a pioneering global advanced materials company that excels at every stage of the value chain, from the earth to the magnet and beyond, deploying that expertise with courage, integrity and an uncompromising commitment to responsible practice. We will be the partner of choice for nations, industries and communities that depend on a secure, sustainable supply of the rare earths and other critical materials and derivative technologies that power the modern world.

The Critical Elements of Progress - Delivered Responsibly - At Global Scale.

The world is being remade. New energy systems are augmenting old ones. New technologies are redefining what is possible in every aspect of our lives. And at the heart of this transformation are the rare earths and other critical elements we produce. We exist to supply these materials. Responsibly. Reliably. At Scale. Across the World.

We command the full value chain — and we configure it with precision to reliably serve the needs of growing global and local markets alike. Our people bring world-class technology and deep operational know-how to every step of that chain, ensuring the materials we deliver are produced at scale to the highest standards of quality, efficiency and environmental responsibility. We take that responsibility seriously. We build supply chains that are secure, transparent, diversified and resilient. We create lasting value for our shareholders, our employees, our communities and the societies in whose success we share.

Our organizational model is based on the principle of clear accountability and the creation of entrepreneurial enclaves which define business units reflecting the natural components of our supply chain. Each Business Unit retains a profit motive and the responsibly to deliver shareholder returns. However, this cannot occur at the expense of overall Group value.

THE ROLE

The MRO Inventory Manager serves as the strategic owner of maintenance inventory, materials planning, CMMS/EAM data management, and maintenance support processes. This role ensures critical spare parts, consumables, tools, and maintenance resources are available to support equipment reliability, planned maintenance execution, and operational uptime.

This role combines inventory management, procurement coordination, maintenance planning support, vendor management, cost analysis, and systems administration responsibilities. The position partners closely with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance to optimize maintenance effectiveness while controlling inventory investment and maintenance spending. The MRO Inventory Manager acts as the primary site subject matter expert for maintenance materials management and serves as a key contributor to asset reliability and continuous improvement initiatives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Maintenance Materials & Inventory Strategy

• Own the site-wide MRO inventory management program, including inventory control processes, reorder strategies, and cycle count programs.

• Analyze inventory usage trends, recommend stocking levels for critical spare parts, and lead initiatives to reduce discrepancies, stockouts, and obsolete inventory. 

• Maintain equipment bills of materials (BOMs) and critical spare parts lists, and partner with Reliability, Engineering, and Maintenance to identify critical spares and optimization opportunities. 

• Ensure spare parts storage areas maintain strong 5S and visual management standards. 

Maintenance Planning & Scheduling Support 

• Identify material requirements for planned work, and coordinate materials readiness for preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance. 

• Develop and maintain maintenance kits for scheduled work. 

• Partner with supervisors and planners to align labor and materials before scheduled work begins, and participate in weekly planning and scheduling meetings. 

• Support shutdowns, outages, and capital projects through material planning and coordination. 

CMMS/EAM Ownership 

• Serve as site administrator for maintenance inventory and material-related functions within the CMMS/EAM. 

• Maintain spare parts master data, including descriptions, vendor information, costs, inventory levels, and equipment associations, and audit system data for accuracy and completeness. 

• Develop reports and dashboards supporting maintenance performance and inventory management. 

• Train maintenance personnel on proper inventory and materials transactions. 

Procurement & Vendor Management 

• Manage procurement activities for maintenance-related materials and services, and develop and maintain supplier relationships. 

• Evaluate supplier performance related to cost, quality, responsiveness, and delivery, and obtain quotations to identify cost-saving opportunities. 

• Support contract negotiations and supply agreements. 

• Escalate supply risks and develop contingency plans for critical equipment components. 

Financial & Cost Management 

• Monitor maintenance inventory investment and working capital utilization, and track maintenance materials spending with monthly reporting. 

• Identify opportunities for inventory reduction and spend optimization, and support annual budgeting and forecasting. 

• Develop business cases supporting strategic inventory investments and reliability initiatives. 

Reliability & Continuous Improvement 

• Analyze failure trends and spare parts consumption patterns, and participate in root cause analysis activities. 

• Support preventive maintenance optimization, and lead continuous improvement projects focused on inventory accuracy, procurement efficiency, and maintenance execution. 

• Develop standard work and procedures related to materials management. 

• Drive compliance with maintenance processes and best practices. 

Cross-Functional Leadership 

• Serve as the primary liaison between Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, and Finance regarding maintenance materials and inventory. 

• Provide recommendations on repair-versus-replace decisions, and support new equipment installations, commissioning, and capital projects. 

• Assist leadership with developing long-term maintenance materials strategies. 

• Influence site-wide improvements through data-driven recommendations and analysis. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Maintenance Technology, Engineering Technology, or a related field; equivalent experience considered. 

• 5+ years of experience in maintenance inventory, supply chain, planning, manufacturing, maintenance operations, or a related discipline. 

• Experience with CMMS/EAM systems (such as SAP PM, Maximo, Maintenance Connection, Limble, or Fiix). 

• Strong inventory management and procurement experience. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities. 

• Knowledge of MRO inventory management, maintenance planning, spare parts management, procurement processes, and manufacturing maintenance operations. 

• Ability to optimize inventory levels while maintaining parts availability and supporting equipment reliability, and to maintain accurate inventory, purchasing, and asset data. 

• Ability to build working relationships across Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance, and to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. 

• Preferred: experience supporting manufacturing, heavy industrial, metals, mining, chemical, or process operations; APICS/ASCM, CPM, CPIM, CPSM, or reliability-focused certification; experience supporting maintenance planning and scheduling; Lean or continuous improvement experience. 

CORE COMPETENCIES & KEY ATTRIBUTES 

Courage & Pioneering Spirit 

Challenges established stocking and purchasing habits when the usage data points to a better approach, and builds new inventory controls as the site grows. 

Integrity & Transparency 

Reports inventory accuracy, discrepancies, obsolete stock, and spend honestly, including results that miss target. 

Personal Responsibility & Zero Harm 

Keeps spare parts storage, material handling, and maintenance kits safe and organized, and follows safety procedures in every storage and receiving task. 

Excellence & Innovation 

Uses usage trends, failure data, and CMMS reports to reduce stockouts, cut waste, and improve maintenance execution. 

Agility & Entrepreneurial Drive 

Reprioritizes material readiness quickly when breakdowns, shutdowns, or capital projects change the schedule, and takes ownership of the MRO program end to end. 

Partnership & Shared Value 

Works closely with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, and Finance to keep parts available and spend under control, and trains others to use the system well. 

LIVING OUR VALUES 

The successful candidate will be an influential member of the Maintenance and Reliability team and champion of our company values: Courage & Pioneering Spirit, Integrity & Transparency, Personal Responsibility & Zero Harm, Excellence & Innovation, Agility & Entrepreneurial Drive, and Partnership & Shared Value. You will model these values in all interactions and help your colleagues embody them in every aspect of MRO Inventory Manager work. 

This is an extraordinary opportunity to build the spare parts and materials foundation that keeps our rare earth magnet production running as we build the first vertically integrated ex-China rare earth supply chain. If you are a hands-on inventory and materials leader who understands maintenance and takes pride in having the right part in the right place at the right time, we would like to hear from you. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

• Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer on inventory, CMMS, and procurement tasks. 

• Ability to walk through storage, receiving, and manufacturing areas as needed to verify parts and inventory. 

• Ability to lift and move parts, kits, and materials as needed, with assistance or equipment for heavier items. 

• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment when working on the manufacturing floor. 

The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, a manufacturing floor and a construction site. 
Noise level: Normal office, manufacturing and construction noises. 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporation.

USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities.

All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

If you require assistance with the application process due to a disability, please contact people@usare.com to discuss reasonable accommodations.