Warehouse Manager, Operations & Asset Readiness

About This Role

Nova Sky Stories is seeking a hands-on Warehouse Manager, Operations & Asset Readiness to lead our Boulder, CO warehouse and own the readiness, organization, and movement of our drone show equipment. This is a true player-coach role in a small but growing operation. Our warehouse supports live drone shows, which means the equipment leaving the warehouse must be complete, accurate, documented, packed correctly, configured properly, and ready for our pilot and production teams to execute in the field. The right person will take ownership of warehouse readiness and will not be satisfied with “that wasn’t my responsibility” when something affects show success. If you get frustrated by overly rigid environments and want the freedom to build practical, common-sense systems from the ground up, this is your sandbox. Current warehouse processes are still being standardized, so we are looking for a builder: someone who can improve the physical layout, implement functional inventory systems, establish repeatable workflows, and develop a small team that can operate with accuracy and independence. This is not a desk-only management role. You will spend as much time on the floor alongside the team—organizing shelves, scanning equipment, packing shows, loading trucks, checking equipment, and resolving discrepancies—as you will designing the processes that make those tasks faster, safer, and more accurate.

Responsibilities

• Warehouse Organization & Process Improvement: Bring structure and consistency to the warehouse through clear organization, labeling, storage locations, equipment flow, and daily operating routines. Apply practical Lean, 5S, and continuous improvement principles to make the warehouse cleaner, safer, easier to navigate, and more reliable. Develop and document standard workflows for receiving, put-away, packing, shipping, returns, cycle counts, maintenance handoffs, and equipment readiness. Design and implement scrappy, highly functional asset tracking systems, whether that means optimizing current spreadsheets or migrating to a lightweight inventory app appropriate for our scale. Ensure the physical warehouse and digital records match, including serial numbers, asset status, locations, packing lists, repair status, and show assignments.
• Warehouse Safety & Security: Act as the primary key holder and security point of contact for the Boulder warehouse. Manage facility access, maintain key/code logs, and ensure the building is properly secured during off-hours and after shifts. Oversee daily safety protocols and model safe work practices, including proper lifting and load-handling techniques. Conduct regular site inspections to identify and address hazards, maintain fire safety equipment, and support a clean, safe working environment.
• Inventory Control & Asset Readiness: Own inventory accuracy for drones, launchpads, pilot equipment and show gear. Implement scanning, reconciliation, and cycle count processes to ensure assets are tracked accurately before and after deployments. Ensure show equipment is accurately selected, scanned, logged, packed, and prepared before leaving the warehouse. Monitor inventory levels to surface shortages, damaged equipment, configuration issues, or readiness risks early. Order consumables and commonly used supplies to maintain necessary stock levels. Partner with logistics, production, pilot teams, and operations to ensure show-critical equipment is complete and on time.
• Technical Equipment Readiness & Maintenance Coordination: Learn the basics of Nova’s drone system, using user guides and checklists, to verify that technical gear is properly configured before being deployed. Turn tribal knowledge into repeatable, practical checklists for technical readiness. Ensure basic maintenance tasks are completed and tracked correctly, such as drone and launchpad cleaning, inspection, propeller swaps, and battery replacements. Identify equipment requiring repair, maintenance, cleaning, or further review, and ensure it is clearly separated, tracked, and communicated.
• Receiving, Packing, Shipping & Truck Loading: Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, including receiving packages, signing BOLs, loading and unloading trucks, staging equipment, and coordinating pickups. Lead the quality-controlled packing process for drones and show gear. Ensuring packing lists are complete, accurate, and shared through the appropriate channels. Confirm that serial numbers, quantities, required accessories, and support equipment are correctly documented before equipment leaves the warehouse. Coordinate temporary labor or external support during high-volume logistics periods.
• Team Leadership & Communication: Manage, schedule, train, and coach a small team of Warehouse Associates, typically 1 to 2 permanent associates supplemented by temporary labor and help from other Nova employees such as contract pilots. Set clear expectations for accuracy, organization, communication, safety, and ownership. Build simple training materials and repeatable workflows so associates can work productively with limited oversight. Model an all-hands mentality and assist with work outside the narrow job description when needed to support show and organizational success. Communicate proactively with logistics, production, pilot teams, operations, and leadership about inventory levels, shipments, missing items, damaged equipment, operational risks, and process gaps.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in warehouse management, inventory control, logistics, asset management, or a related operational role, with experience leading hands-on teams.
• A proven builder mentality: demonstrated ability to improve physical organization, build functional inventory tracking, and create reliable workflows.
• Experience working with high-value, serialized, technical, or show-critical assets such as electronics, robotics, live event gear, drones, aviation equipment, rental equipment, field-service equipment, or similar.
• Strong digital fluency, including comfort setting up and optimizing spreadsheets, Google Sheets, scanning apps, Slack, and lightweight inventory or asset tracking systems.
• High technical curiosity and the ability to learn the basics of new hardware well enough to follow user guides, verify configurations, document maintenance, and identify readiness issues.
• Exceptional attention to detail around packing lists, serial numbers, quantities, configurations, equipment condition, and handoffs.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., work on your feet for extended periods, lift above shoulder level, and directly participate in loading, unloading, packing, and organizing equipment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Reliable transportation to the Boulder warehouse.
• Willingness, with advance notice when possible, to occasionally adjust working hours to support time-sensitive operations, evening warehouse flights, or weekend truck loading.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a startup, live event production, robotics, drone, hardware, aviation, rental equipment, or field operations environment.
• Familiarity implementing Lean, 5S, visual management, standard work, or continuous improvement practices in a scrappy, fast-paced setting.
• Experience implementing or improving an inventory management system, asset management system, barcode scanning process, cycle count program, or lightweight WMS.
• Experience training employees to perform basic equipment maintenance, technical handling, configuration checks, or quality-control steps.
• Interest in drones, hardware, technology, live events, or emerging tech.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 90–180 days, success in this role would include:

• The warehouse is visibly cleaner, better labeled, and easier to navigate.
• Core assets have clear physical locations and matching digital records.
• Packing, scanning, truck loading, returns, and maintenance handoffs are documented and repeatable.
• Show equipment leaves the warehouse complete, accurately logged, properly configured, and ready for the field team.
• Inventory discrepancies are identified early and resolved systematically.
• Technical readiness checks are clearer, more consistent, and better documented.
• Warehouse Associates understand what “good” looks like and can work independently with accuracy.

Working Schedule

The initial schedule is expected to be Monday through Friday during standard business hours, approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The exact schedule may be adjusted as the operation evolves. Because Nova Sky Stories supports live drone shows and time-sensitive logistics, this role may occasionally require adjusted hours with advance notice when possible. Examples may include evening support during warehouse flight activity, early or late truck loading, or occasional Saturday support for carrier pickups or show-critical logistics.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: $75,000 to 90,000 USD
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company matching
• Flexible PTO and paid sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Company-paid holidays
• Equity opportunities for eligible employees

Compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location.