Senior Production Manager
KeHE Distributors · Chino, CA · Yesterday
On-siteWritingFull-time
Overview
At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others - and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership and direction for daily and strategic warehouse operations, including labor planning, safety, productivity, quality, and customer service.
- Lead, coach, and develop warehouse management staff and frontline leaders; support team growth, succession planning, and a positive work environment.
- Monitor and drive performance using KPIs (e.g., on-time shipping, productivity, inventory accuracy, safety incidents) to meet or exceed goals.
- Conduct daily operational reviews with leadership team, ensuring execution of pre-shift plans, mid-shift adjustments, and post-shift evaluations.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners (e.g., Transportation, Inventory, HR, Safety) to solve problems, implement initiatives, and align site strategy.
- Act as the primary point of contact for distribution center leadership and serve as liaison to internal support functions.
- Identify operational bottlenecks or inefficiencies; lead or sponsor process improvement initiatives using Lean or Six Sigma methodologies.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, food safety, and company-specific regulatory standards.
- Develop operational forecasts and resource plans in partnership with Finance and other departments.
- Promote a hands-on leadership style by maintaining visibility and active engagement on the warehouse floor.
- Work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays, to support business needs and operational demands.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
- Hands-On Leader: Actively engages with the team and leads by example on the floor.
- Results-Focused: Holds self and others accountable for measurable outcomes.
- Team Builder: Coaches and develops talent; supports career growth for direct reports.
- Adaptable & Solutions-Oriented: Comfortable navigating ambiguity and solving operational challenges.
- Collaborative: Strong communicator who works well across departments and levels.
- Strong end-to-end distribution knowledge, with a proven ability to drive operational success in a high-volume environment
- Proven leadership skills with experience managing frontline supervisors and salaried leaders
- Expertise in warehouse systems (WMS) and analytics to evaluate performance and support decision-making
- Excellent communication skills across all levels of the organization; strong presentation and reporting capabilities
- Ability to influence, resolve conflict, and build consensus across teams and functions
- Deep understanding of safety practices, regulatory compliance, and inventory control methods
- Experience implementing Lean or Six Sigma practices for continuous improvement
- High emotional intelligence with strong interpersonal and situational leadership skills
- Capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, ever-changing distribution environment
- Skilled in Microsoft Office (especially Excel); ability to learn and utilize internal systems quickly
- Comfortable accessing all areas and levels of the facility, including production floors and racking systems
Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- 6+ years of progressive warehouse/distribution leadership experience, including 3+ years managing leaders or teams.
- Experience in the food, grocery, or consumer goods industry preferred.
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus.