Operations Manager

About the role

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading a large-scale Food & Beverage warehouse operation within a fast-paced 3PL environment. This role oversees all aspects of warehouse performance, including safety, inventory accuracy, labor management, customer service, productivity, and financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and directs warehouse, inventory, and administrative activities to meet or exceed operational goals in a cost-effective manner.
• Leads receiving, shipping, replenishment, picking, inventory control, sanitation, returns, and customer service support functions.
• Develops and implements operational processes, procedures, and performance standards that improve productivity, quality, inventory accuracy, and customer service.
• Maintains compliance with OSHA, GMP, food safety, sanitation, and company safety standards.
• Ensures employees receive proper safety training and promotes a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Promotes strong customer relationships by partnering with customers to review performance, resolve service issues, and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Collaborates with managers and supervisors to establish operational priorities, performance expectations, and accountability measures.
• Leads operational restructuring, process improvement, and performance improvement initiatives as needed.
• Develops supervisors and frontline leaders through coaching, training, performance management, and succession planning.
• Prepares operational reports, business reviews, forecasts, and other communications required by leadership.
• Develops, monitors, and manages departmental budgets while controlling expenses and supporting overall financial performance.
• Ensures warehouse operations comply with all federal, state, local, and company policies and regulations.
• Carrries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with company policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, training, coaching, performance management, discipline, and employee development.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in warehousing, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations, preferably within a Food & Beverage 3PL environment.
• Proven experience managing operations within a large-scale warehouse facility, preferably 500,000+ square feet.
• Strong experience working in a union-based warehouse environment, including labor relations, contract compliance, grievance handling, attendance management, and workforce accountability.
• Demonstrated success leading operational restructuring, turnaround initiatives, and performance improvement plans.
• Deep understanding of Food & Beverage warehouse operations, including lot control, FIFO/FEFO methodologies, expiration date management, sanitation standards, temperature-sensitive product handling, and customer compliance requirements.
• Strong knowledge of warehouse KPIs and operational metrics, including productivity, inventory accuracy, order accuracy, labor performance, service levels, and cost management.
• Proven ability to manage labor spend through workforce planning, productivity standards, overtime control, schedule optimization, and performance management.
• Strong inventory control experience, including cycle counting, inventory reconciliation, root cause analysis, shrink reduction, damage control, and process compliance.
• Experience managing multiple operational departments within a warehouse environment.
• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to develop supervisors, hold teams accountable, and improve employee engagement.
• Experience working directly with customers in a 3PL environment, including business reviews, performance reporting, issue resolution, and service recovery.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with WMS systems, labor management tools, Microsoft Excel, reporting dashboards, and warehouse process controls.
• Strong understanding of OSHA regulations, food safety standards, GMP requirements, sanitation programs, and warehouse safety practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, customers, union representatives, and leadership at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to perform the physical activities associated with warehouse operations as needed.