Job Description

The Warehouse Director develops and implements processes, procedures, and performance standards that support the company's overall strategic operations plan. This role is accountable for warehouse productivity, inventory accuracy, order fulfillment, shipping and receiving performance, equipment and facility upkeep, associate development, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Warehouse & Distribution Operations

• Direct and oversee all warehouse operations across day and evening shifts, ensuring consistent execution of company standards, policies, and procedures.
• Establish and manage the overall workflow and coordination of receiving, put-away, storage, replenishment, picking, packing, staging, loading, shipping, and returns.
• Ensure products move efficiently and accurately throughout the facility while maintaining appropriate inventory levels and service requirements.
• Develop and implement operating processes that maximize productivity, space utilization, throughput, and labor efficiency.
• Coordinate daily warehouse activities with transportation, purchasing, customer service, sales, production, and other departments as needed.
• Ensure orders are processed, picked, packed, staged, and shipped accurately and on schedule.
• Oversee inbound receiving activities, including unloading, inspection, verification, documentation, system receiving, and proper product placement.
• Ensure outbound shipments are accurately prepared, documented, loaded, and released according to customer and transportation requirements.
• Monitor and resolve operational issues that may impact receiving, inventory availability, order fulfillment, or shipping schedules.

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide leadership, direction, and accountability to warehouse managers, supervisors, and associates across all shifts.
• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure effective communication between shifts to maintain operational continuity.
• Develop, coach, and mentor management and supervisory teams to build a strong culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels, scheduling, cross-training, and workforce utilization based on business volume and operational requirements.
• Conduct regular operational meetings and performance reviews to communicate goals, identify challenges, and establish action plans.
• Promote positive associate relations and a workplace culture centered on safety, respect, engagement, and performance.

Inventory Management

• Direct the accurate receipt, storage, movement, replenishment, and distribution of inventory throughout the facility.
• Maintain high standards for inventory accuracy and investigate discrepancies, shortages, damages, and variances.
• Establish and monitor inventory control procedures, including cycle counts, physical inventories, location accuracy, and product traceability.
• Ensure proper product rotation, storage practices, labeling, and organization.
• Partner with purchasing and other departments to support inventory availability and minimize excess, obsolete, or damaged inventory.
• Ensure warehouse management systems and inventory records accurately reflect physical inventory.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Maintain overall responsibility for warehouse safety and ensure compliance with company policies, OSHA requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through training, inspections, accountability, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure material handling equipment, racking, storage areas, loading docks, and warehouse workspaces are maintained in a safe and operational condition.
• Establish and monitor quality standards for receiving, storage, picking, packing, and shipping activities.
• Investigate accidents, incidents, product damage, quality issues, and operational failures and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure associates are properly trained on equipment, safety procedures, operational processes, and job responsibilities.

Equipment, Facility & Resource Management

• Direct the ordering, maintenance, and upkeep of warehouse products, supplies, material handling equipment, and operational resources.
• Oversee the proper use and maintenance of forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors, dock equipment, racking, and other material handling systems.
• Partner with maintenance, vendors, and service providers to address facility and equipment needs.
• Manage warehouse space utilization and recommend improvements to layout, storage capacity, material flow, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor operational expenses and identify opportunities to control costs without compromising safety, quality, or customer service.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for warehouse operations, including productivity, labor efficiency, inventory accuracy, order accuracy, on-time shipping, receiving performance, safety, quality, and operating costs.
• Analyze operational data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead initiatives designed to improve safety, quality, productivity, service levels, cost control, and associate relations.
• Implement lean, continuous improvement, and process optimization initiatives throughout warehouse operations.
• Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions to improve throughput and overall warehouse efficiency.
• Standardize best practices across shifts and ensure improvements are consistently implemented and sustained.
• Regularly report operational performance, challenges, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership.

Core Accountability

The Warehouse Director is ultimately accountable for ensuring the warehouse operates as a safe, organized, productive, and service-focused distribution center. The position is responsible for creating a coordinated flow of inventory and information from receiving through storage, fulfillment, staging, and final shipment, while developing a high-performing management and supervisory team capable of executing operational objectives across all shifts.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

7+ years of progressive experience in warehouse, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations.

3+ years of experience leading managers and/or supervisors in a distribution or warehouse environment.

Demonstrated experience overseeing multi-shift warehouse operations, including day and evening shifts.
Strong knowledge of receiving, inventory management, order fulfillment, picking, packing, staging, shipping, and returns processes.

Experience managing warehouse workflow to meet productivity, quality, accuracy, service, and on-time shipping goals.

Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures, processes, and operational controls.

Experience with warehouse management systems (WMS), inventory systems, or AS400 systems.

Working knowledge of warehouse safety practices, OSHA requirements, and material handling equipment.
Demonstrated ability to analyze operational data and use performance metrics to identify issues and drive improvements.

Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
Proven ability to effectively manage labor, staffing, scheduling, and resources in a high-volume warehouse environment.

Ability to work a flexible schedule and support day, evening, weekend, or extended-hour operations as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or Business Administration.

10+ years of progressive warehouse/distribution experience, with significant experience in a leadership capacity.

Experience managing a large-scale distribution center or high-volume warehouse operation.

Experience leading operations across multiple shifts and/or multiple warehouse locations.

Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

Demonstrated success improving warehouse productivity, labor efficiency, inventory accuracy, order accuracy, shipping performance, and operating costs.

Experience developing and managing departmental budgets and operating expenses.

Experience with warehouse automation, RF scanning, PMHE handling, pick/pack technology, or other material handling technologies.

Strong knowledge of inventory control methodologies, including cycle counting, physical inventories, slotting, replenishment, and root-cause analysis.

Experience with KPI development and performance management, including labor productivity, throughput, order accuracy, inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock time, on-time shipping, and cost per unit/order.

Experience with employee engagement, talent development, succession planning, and building high-performing leadership teams.

OSHA, Lean Six Sigma, APICS/ASCM, or other relevant professional certification.

Experience working in a fast-paced, customer-focused distribution environment with changing volumes and priorities.