Distribution Center Inbound Operations Supervisor

About the role

The Inbound Operations Supervisor is a people leader that drives the successful execution of all receiving freight and stocking activities. Reporting to the Inbound Operations Manager, this role is responsible for designing efficient and consistent methods of ensuring loads are scheduled and received on time, applicable paperwork is reconciled, OS&Ds are filed, and sellable quality parts are stocked. The supervisor ensures inbound teams are properly sorting, stocking, and reconciling products, holding their team to a high standard of operational execution while reinforcing a culture of engagement, empowerment, and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and implement functions of efficient inbound operations by instructing employees, monitoring progress, and troubleshooting as needed.
• Design and maintain organization of inbound freight (scheduling and unloading), receiving dock, stocking activities, housekeeping, and maintenance areas and protocols.
• Develop consistent and innovative solutions to drive adherence to all security and safety rules and regulations, ensuring a safe environment for employees, including receiving, stocking, and customer return procedures.
• Maintain awareness of budget planning and enforce cost-saving initiatives and process improvements.
• Supervise and provide leadership to warehouse associates, promoting engagement and empowerment to solve problems and make good operational decisions.
• Work with other distribution center management to investigate and resolve receiving errors; address receiving errors with the team to mitigate future issues.
• Schedule team hours to ensure peak period coverage and efficiency.
• Protect company assets by ensuring all equipment is used and maintained properly, buildings are opened, checked, and secured daily, and monitoring employees to prevent merchandise from leaving without proper receipts.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency.
• Foster a culture of engagement and empowerment, mentor team members, and facilitate problem-solving and decision-making to drive operational success.
• Ensure efficient and accurate methods of processing all new freight, as well as supervision of the team performing put-away procedures for incoming freight and customer returns.
• Oversee the reconciliation of received loads each day to ensure proper receiving of product.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• 1+ years’ experience within a distribution center or similar environment.
• Ability to comply with all safety requirements pertaining to job functions and general distribution center safety requirements.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented.
• Ability to use good judgment to carry out detailed instructions.
• Basic computer skills required.
• Capable of lifting/moving heavy items up to 60 lbs.
• Must be forklift and pallet jack certified.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience within a distribution center or similar environment.
• 1+ year’s proven experience in a managerial role and/or leading teams.
• Experience with Lean Six Sigma methodologies and tools.
• Diverse experience, especially within automotive or retail distribution centers.
• Proven experience performing various quality functions (inspection, control, assurance, audits).
• Proficiency in using relevant tools and technology (including MS Office, Promapp, Power BI, Visio, etc.).
• Customer-centric spirit and task execution.
• Enthusiasm for data, analysis, and providing simple insights.
• Passion for solving complex challenges.
• Comfort influencing others, leading teams, managing stakeholders, getting buy-in from leadership, and communicating clearly.
• Test-and-learn mentality and agile way of working to improve team products.

Leadership

• Embodies the following values: serve, perform, influence, respect, innovate, team.
• Effectively communicates by motivating and inspiring others through clear and proactive communication.
• Delivers results and drives customer success by committing and focusing on outcomes to deliver results and making the customer the center of decisions.
• Makes balanced decisions and thinks strategically by being a forward thinker.
• Develops high-performing teams by providing inclusive leadership, attracting and developing world-class talent, providing ongoing feedback, and building trust across the organization.

Physical Demands

• Lifting and Carrying: Ability to lift and carry objects of varying weights, typically 25 to 50 pounds or more.
• Pushing and Pulling: Capability to push and pull carts, pallet jacks, or other equipment loaded with materials throughout the warehouse.
• Standing and Walking: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, often for the duration of a shift.
• Bending and Stooping: Capacity to bend, stoop, squat, and reach to retrieve items from shelves, bins, or storage racks.
• Climbing: Ability to climb ladders or stairs to access elevated storage areas or perform maintenance tasks, including working at heights on open floor mezzanines.
• Operating Equipment: Proficiency in operating warehouse equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, and order pickers.
• Manual Dexterity: Ability to use hands and fingers to handle small objects, operate machinery controls, and perform tasks requiring precision and accuracy.
• Repetitive Motion: Ability to perform repetitive tasks, such as scanning barcodes, sorting items, or packaging products, throughout the shift.
• Physical Endurance: Stamina and endurance to work in a fast-paced environment and meet productivity targets, including working long hours, weekends, or overtime during peak periods.
• Safety Awareness: Commitment to following safety protocols and guidelines to prevent workplace accidents and injuries.

Working Environment

Position operates in a warehouse setting with continuous exposure to industrial noise (e.g., forklifts, conveyors, machinery, and loading activities), bright overhead lighting, and varying temperatures due to limited climate control. Employees regularly work around moving equipment and mechanical operations and must remain alert to audible and visual safety signals in a fast-paced environment.