Distribution Center Manager | Kansas City

Albert Uster Imports, Inc. (“AUI”) is a privately held gourmet food company headquartered in the Washington, DC area (Gaithersburg, MD) with warehouse locations across the U.S. Founded in 1968, the company offers over 1,400 products from around the world, serving leading hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines, airlines, and manufacturers. AUI operates a national direct selling organization and a team of culinary experts, providing innovative, high-quality products and custom solutions.

About the role

Albert Uster Imports is seeking a Distribution Center Manager for our Kansas City Warehouse. This working manager role oversees all aspects of warehouse and facility operations, including staffing, shipping, receiving, inventory management, GDP compliance, fleet management, and facilities maintenance. The ideal candidate will drive cost reduction through efficiency and innovation while meeting or exceeding established budgets and operational metrics.

Responsibilities

• Warehouse & Facility Management
  • Manage overall warehouse operations to meet company standards, seasonal demands, and budget targets while adhering to Good Distribution Program (GDP) and ensuring audit readiness.
  • Maintain a secure, clean, safe, and hygienic warehouse, docks, and building perimeter, complying with all governmental regulations, food safety requirements, and company policies.
  • Conduct regular facility inspections, coordinate corrective maintenance, and oversee preventative maintenance programs for HVAC, refrigeration, pest control, fire prevention, and security systems.
• Transfer & Receiving Management
  • Ensure all inbound and outbound product transfers are accurately processed, staged, scanned, verified, and shipped within 48 hours of receipt, obtaining approval for any required changes.
  • Oversee timely receiving of all inbound transfers and purchase orders, ensuring products are scanned, put away, and posted within 6–24 business hours, and report discrepancies per established procedures.
  • Manage customer returns according to company guidelines and ensure proper disposition.
• Quality & Food Safety Management
  • Implement and maintain Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) programs within the Distribution Center, serving as the local subject matter expert on the Company’s Food Safety Program.
  • Partner with the Quality Team and participate in annual audits, inspections, and corrective actions as required.
• Inventory & Stock Maintenance
  • Oversee all inventory activities, including restocking, rotation (FEFO), lot tracking, location accuracy, re-barcoding, cycle counts, and physical inventories to maintain accuracy within budget guidelines.
  • Ensure proper storage, protection, and inspection of inventory; identify and report non-conforming, overstocked, or short-stocked products, and coordinate adjustments or disposition with Purchasing.
  • Actively participate in stock level reviews and perform weekly inspections to proactively address inventory issues.
• Order Fulfillment & Shipping
  • Ensure all customer orders received before cutoff are picked, scanned, packed, labeled, and shipped same day, following proper packaging standards and minimizing shipping errors.
  • Coordinate closely with Customer Service, common carriers (UPS, FedEx), and LTL carriers (dry and refrigerated) to manage routing, claims, OS&D, pickups, and overall shipping performance.
  • Maintain strong working knowledge of FedEx, UPS, international shipping requirements, and freight carrier systems; schedule daily pickups and communicate volume trends to ensure on-time delivery.
• Supply Ordering
  • Ensure timely ordering and availability of all warehouse and packaging supplies, including boxes, tape, pallets, dry ice, ice packs, and other materials.
  • Identify new packaging solutions to improve efficiency or reduce costs and audit packaging vendors, including annual rate shopping.
• Fleet Management
  • Ensure fleet vehicles are properly inspected, kept clean, safe, and tracked for maintenance and repair.
  • Manage scheduling and daily operations of the local delivery fleet to support on-time deliveries.
  • Ensure compliance with DOT driver regulations by maintaining required documentation, including medical certifications, driver logs, and related records.
• People Management & Safety
  • Recruit, train, schedule, coach, and develop warehouse personnel, fostering teamwork, accountability, and a positive workplace culture aligned with company values.
  • Evaluate performance, provide documented feedback, conduct staff meetings, and manage disciplinary or termination actions as required.
  • Ensure employee safety and emergency preparedness by enforcing safety procedures, responding to workplace incidents, and coordinating emergency or first-aid support.

Requirements

• 8 years of equivalent working experience in warehousing, logistics, and/or related fields.
• Knowledge of modern warehousing techniques, including logistics, special handling/storage requirements, and shipping alternatives.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and supervise employees; strong communication skills, both active and proactive.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed to objectives without supervision; problem-solving skills for recurring issues.
• Physical ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Willingness to travel domestically as required.
• Willingness to work overtime, holidays, and weekends as workload dictates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred).
• Forklift certification or equivalent experience (preferred).

Pay

The base salary for this role is $65,000 - $70,000, with eligibility for a performance-based bonus.