Operations Manager – Distribution Center

Location: Near Twinsburg/Bedford Heights

Department: Warehouse Operations

About the Company:

We are a growing, fast-paced national organization operating a multi-site distribution network that supports customers across the U.S. The company is experiencing continued growth and expansion and places a strong emphasis on operational excellence, accountability, and safety.

Position Summary:

The Operations Manager is accountable for the daily execution, performance, and culture of a distribution center. This role sets the operational standard for the broader network by ensuring safe, efficient, and accurate execution across inbound, inventory, outbound, quality, and specialty shipping operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role that requires strong ownership, consistent follow-up, and the ability to address performance and behavioral issues directly. The Operations Manager is expected to drive results through people—not around them.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Execution

• Own daily performance across inbound receiving, putaway, inventory control, quality assurance, and outbound operations (picking, packing, shipping)
• Lead staffing plans, scheduling, and labor allocation
• Monitor workflow, capacity, and throughput across all functions
• Enforce SOPs, policies, safety standards, and standard work
• Actively manage operational exceptions and disruptions
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives
• Develop team leaders and reinforce a culture of accountability
• Pilot and test process improvements prior to broader rollout
• Manage operational spend including labor, supplies, packing materials, and facility-related costs

Labor, Staffing & Cost Control

• Workforce planning, scheduling, and labor optimization
• Monitor payroll vs. budget and take corrective action as needed
• Track and control material usage vs. budget
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without sacrificing service or safety

Leadership & Culture

• Lead with a solutions-first mindset; challenges are expected to come with action plans
• Take ownership of results; avoid excuse-based thinking
• Demonstrate strong follow-up and follow-through
• Hold leaders and hourly team members accountable to expectations
• Personally handle difficult performance and behavioral conversations
• Do not defer people issues to inexperienced supervisors or leads
• Coach and develop managers, supervisors, and team leads
• Build a culture of ownership, respect, accountability, and results

Leadership Expectations (Non-Negotiable)

• Leads from the front; visible and engaged on the floor
• Holds self and others accountable
• Communicates clearly and directly
• Follows up until issues are fully closed
• Builds leaders, not dependency
• Prioritizes safety, accuracy, and service over shortcuts

Safety & Housekeeping

• Own site safety compliance and housekeeping standards
• Ensure safety training, audits, and corrective actions are completed
• Address unsafe behaviors immediately
• Promote a clean, organized, and professional facility

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives
• Pilot new workflows, tools, and standards
• Partner cross-functionally to improve end-to-end operational flow
• Drive standardization and scalability

Performance & Accountability

• Own and deliver site-level KPIs
• Investigate missed KPIs, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions
• Review daily and weekly performance dashboards
• Partner with internal reporting teams to ensure accurate data
• Drive regular employee touchpoints, including:
• Supervisor-to-employee scorecard reviews
• 1:1s with managers and supervisors

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of distribution center or warehouse operations leadership experience
• Proven experience managing multi-functional operations teams
• Strong working knowledge of inbound, outbound, inventory, and shipping functions
• Demonstrated ability to lead people, not just processes
• Comfortable addressing performance and accountability issues directly
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience managing labor, productivity, and operational costs

Why Join Us:

• Direct hire, Leadership role
• High-impact position within a growing national organization
• Opportunity to set standards and influence a broader network
• Culture focused on accountability, safety, and operational excellence