Shipping Lead

The Shipping Lead is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of the Shipping and Distribution area to ensure finished work is accurately packed, labeled, staged, and shipped on time. This position provides hands-on leadership to the shipping team, helps prioritize work based on production and customer deadlines, and serves as a key communication link between Shipping, Production, Planning, and Customer Service.

The ideal candidate is organized, dependable, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment where priorities can change throughout the day.

Essential Responsibilities

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• Coordinate daily shipping activities and ensure orders are processed according to customer requirements and deadlines.
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• Prioritize and stage shipments based on firm dates, carrier pickup times, customer requirements, and production completion.
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• Monitor outgoing shipments and communicate delays or issues to management and appropriate departments.
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• Provide daily direction to Shipping team members and help assign work based on priorities and workload.
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• Train new employees on shipping procedures, equipment, safety requirements, and company expectations.
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• Assist management in identifying staffing needs, workflow issues, and opportunities for improvement.
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• Serve as the first point of contact for questions or problems within the Shipping department.
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• Monitor the production floor and shipping queues to ensure completed work does not sit unnecessarily.
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• Communicate potential missed deadlines, incomplete jobs, shortages, or other issues before they impact the customer.
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• Help coordinate priorities when multiple time-sensitive shipments are competing for resources.
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• Participate in daily production or operations meetings as needed.
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• Inspect completed orders for obvious damage, quantity discrepancies, packaging issues, or incorrect labeling before shipment.
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• Ensure customer-specific packing and shipping requirements are followed.
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• Investigate shipping errors and help implement corrective actions to prevent repeat issues.
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• Develop and implement new ways to streamline packaging on distribution jobs.
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Qualifications

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• 2+ years of experience in shipping, warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, or a similar production environment.
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• Previous lead or supervisory experience preferred.
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• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
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• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
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• Ability to prioritize multiple jobs and changing deadlines.
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• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
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• Ability to work independently while also directing and supporting a team.
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• Basic computer skills and ability to learn shipping and production software.
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• Experience with Pace, shipping software, ERP/OMS systems, or similar production systems is a plus.
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• Forklift certification or prior forklift experience preferred.
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• Ability to regularly lift and move packages and materials as required by the position.
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