Director, Warehousing Operations

Overview
Purpose:

The Director, Warehousing Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across Dole’s North American distribution network, including third-party logistics partners, internal distribution operations, inventory control, service performance, network optimization, and warehousing execution. This role is accountable for distribution-related financial performance, operational excellence, service delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives that support Dole’s growth objectives and customer commitments.

As a key Supply Chain leader, this role partners cross-functionally with Finance, Customer Operations, Procurement, Manufacturing, IT, and executive leadership to drive network performance, productivity improvement, cost optimization, and operational discipline. The Director also leads complex warehouse implementations, transitions, start-ups, consolidations, and change initiatives while holding 3PL partners accountable for service, cost, safety, inventory accuracy, and contractual performance.

This role provides flexibility to work in a hybrid environment of home and our Westlake Village, CA office. (Hybrid is defined as 3 times per week in the office).

Responsibilities Primary Accountabilities:

Warehousing & Network Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Dole's warehouse and distribution operations, ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer requirements, and supply chain strategy.
• Lead network optimization initiatives, warehouse transitions, operational implementations, and capacity planning activities that improve service, scalability, and cost performance.
• Evaluate current and future network requirements and develop recommendations that support long-term business growth and operational efficiency.

3PL Management & Accountability

• Establish strong governance processes with third-party logistics providers and hold partners accountable for service, safety, inventory accuracy, inventory reporting compliance, productivity, and financial performance.
• Lead performance reviews, corrective action plans, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure contractual obligations and service expectations are achieved.
• Drive resolution of operational issues while ensuring sustainable corrective actions and long-term performance improvements.
• Champion a culture of safety and regulatory compliance across all warehouse operations, ensuring adherence to company standards, policies, and applicable regulations.

Contract Negotiation & Commercial Leadership

• Lead contract negotiations, pricing discussions, statements of work, and commercial reviews with warehouse and logistics partners.
• Identify opportunities to improve service levels, reduce costs, mitigate risk, and strengthen overall partner performance.

Financial Leadership

• Own warehousing and distribution financial performance, including budget management, forecasting, labor productivity, cost optimization initiatives, and operational expense control.
• Utilize KPI reporting, financial analysis, and operational metrics to drive decisions and improve business results.
• Provide disciplined P&L management and ensure operational decisions align with financial objectives.
• Ensure inventory-related financial controls, reconciliations, and reporting processes support accurate financial reporting and compliance with company policies and accounting standards.

Inventory Control and Governance

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of inventory control activities across Dole's distribution network, ensuring inventory accuracy, visibility, and compliance with Dole, Itochu, GAAP, and SOX requirements.
• Lead the Inventory Control organization and establish performance expectations, controls, and reporting processes that support inventory integrity and financial compliance.
• Ensure robust inventory reconciliation, root cause analysis, audit readiness, and corrective action processes are in place across internal operations and third-party logistics providers.
• Establish standardized inventory management practices, reporting requirements, and performance metrics across the network to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Finance, IT, Customer Operations, and 3PL providers to ensure inventory controls, system integrity, transaction accuracy, and reporting requirements are consistently executed.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through the application of industry best practices, operational discipline, data-driven decision making, and process optimization.
• Lead initiatives that improve labor productivity, inventory accuracy, throughput, service performance, and overall warehouse efficiency.
• Drive standardization and implementation of best practices across the warehouse network.
• Ensure warehousing operations consistently support customer service expectations through disciplined execution of inventory availability, order fulfillment, service level agreements, and network performance objectives.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing organization capable of supporting current operations and future business growth.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, ownership, and continuous learning.

Additional Responsibilities

• Lead special projects, business initiatives, and cross-functional efforts in support of organizational priorities and strategic objectives.
• Provide operational leadership and expertise for evolving business needs, transformation initiatives, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Perform other duties, responsibilities, and business-critical assignments as needed to support evolving organizational priorities.

Qualifications Experience, Knowledge, & Skills You Bring:       

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in warehousing, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations, including responsibility for multi-site distribution networks and complex 3PL-managed operations.
• Proven experience leading warehouse start-ups, implementations, network transformations, operational change initiatives, and continuous improvement programs that deliver measurable service, productivity, and cost improvements.
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations, inventory management, inventory controls, labor management, productivity standards, warehousing best practices, financial compliance requirements, and operational excellence methodologies.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, productivity initiatives, cost reduction programs, inventory controls, and warehouse-related P&L performance.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage KPI frameworks, performance scorecards, and operational metrics that drive accountability, operational excellence, and business results.
• Proven experience negotiating contracts, managing strategic supplier relationships, and holding third-party logistics providers accountable for service, financial, and contractual performance.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leadership, communicate complex business issues, and successfully lead cross-functional initiatives across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic planning with disciplined execution while delivering operational, financial, and customer service objectives.
• Experience leading, developing, and retaining high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment, with a commitment to talent development and organizational capability building.
• Working knowledge of SAP, WMS, inventory management systems, supply chain analytics, inventory accounting principles, and financial compliance requirements; experience with GAAP and SOX controls preferred.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Passionate about a purpose driven career
• Cultivates respectful and inclusive environments that support employee growth across teams
• Drives strategic initiatives and maintains excellence in complex and dynamic settings
• Establishes transparent decision-making and accountability frameworks
• Encourages organizational teamwork effectively to achieve shared objectives

Education & Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management, Logistics, or related field required; MBA preferred.
• APICS, ASCM, CSCMP, Lean, or Six Sigma certification preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit and use the computer for extended periods of time; ability to answer phones and use a variety of office equipment; ability to lift 15 pounds and reach overhead.
• This role may also require walking through warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing environments and following applicable site safety requirements, including use of required personal protective equipment where applicable.

Travel Requirements:

• 20-40% travel is expected

FOR JOBS BASED IN CALIFORNIA:

Hiring Pay Scale: $195,000 to $215,000

Dole Packaged Foods is committed to paying our Associates fairly and equitably. The pay rate offered will consider a wide range of factors, including but not limited to experience, education, accomplishments, and location. Pay scales are subject to review on a regular basis and will be updated as appropriate.