Distribution Operations Manager

Position Overview

An established organization within the distribution and industrial products sector is seeking an experienced Distribution Operations Manager to lead day-to-day warehouse and distribution activities.

This position is ideal for a hands-on operations leader who is comfortable spending significant time on the distribution floor, developing frontline employees and supervisors, managing labor requirements, and using operational data to drive performance.

The successful candidate will oversee a sizable team within a high-volume, high-SKU environment and will be responsible for improving productivity, service levels, inventory accuracy, safety, quality, and overall operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of distribution professionals across multiple operational functions.

• Oversee daily activities including receiving, shipping, stocking, order fulfillment, returns, value-added services, equipment operations, and inventory control.

• Establish daily and long-term priorities based on order volumes, staffing requirements, and customer needs.

• Develop staffing plans and adjust labor resources according to workload and productivity expectations.

• Monitor operational KPIs and implement actions to improve performance.

• Manage scheduling, attendance, overtime, labor utilization, and departmental expenses.

• Maintain a strong floor presence and provide direct coaching and support to frontline employees and leadership.

• Develop supervisors and team leads through coaching, training, cross-training, and succession planning.

• Maintain high standards for inventory accuracy, product quality, and customer service.

• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and throughput.

• Maintain a safe working environment and ensure established procedures and workplace standards are followed.

• Investigate operational and safety issues and implement appropriate corrective actions.

• Participate in hiring, employee evaluations, performance management, and disciplinary decisions.

• Maintain documented processes, procedures, and operational best practices.

• Partner with other departments to resolve inventory, fulfillment, staffing, and service issues.

Required Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of progressive experience within distribution, warehouse operations, fulfillment, or a similar operational environment.

• Previous experience directly managing a sizable hourly workforce.

• Strong experience in a high-SKU, inventory-intensive distribution environment.

• Demonstrated success managing and improving operational KPIs.

• Experience with labor planning, staffing models, scheduling, and workforce utilization.

• Proven process improvement experience within warehouse or distribution operations.

• Experience hiring, developing, evaluating, and managing employee performance.

• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.

• Ability to use operational data to identify trends and make informed decisions.

• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities.

• Comfortable working primarily in an onsite, hands-on operational environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing complex distribution operations with thousands of active SKUs.

• Experience overseeing teams of 20+ employees.

• Background in industrial, wholesale, aftermarket, manufacturing-support, or similar distribution environments.

• Continuous improvement or Lean-related experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Logistics, or a related discipline.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will include:

• Consistently meeting or exceeding operational KPIs.

• Improving productivity, throughput, and service levels.

• Developing effective supervisors, leads, and frontline employees.

• Maintaining appropriate staffing levels as business volumes change.

• Reducing operational errors and improving inventory accuracy.

• Identifying and implementing sustainable process improvements.

• Creating a safe, accountable, and performance-driven distribution environment.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidate will be a hands-on distribution leader, not someone who manages primarily from an office. They should have experience operating in a complex, high-SKU environment and be comfortable leading a sizable hourly workforce.

Just as importantly, this individual should understand how to plan labor, hold teams accountable to KPIs, develop employees, improve processes, and make difficult personnel decisions when necessary.

Pay Details: $80,000.00 to $105,000.00 per year

Search managed by: Ryan Badami

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

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The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.