Warehouse Operations Manager

Position Summary

Department: Operations

Reports to: Director of Warehousing & Logistics

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

The Warehouse Operations Manager is the primary leader responsible for the day-to-day operation of Food Lifeline’s warehouse floor. This position provides direct operational and people leadership across receiving, replenishment, inventory movement, order fulfillment, staging, and distribution to ensure food moves safely, efficiently, and accurately throughout the warehouse.

Reporting to the Director of Warehousing & Logistics, the Warehouse Operations Manager establishes daily priorities, directs warehouse staff, coordinates labor and equipment, monitors performance, and resolves operational issues throughout the day. This position maintains a strong and visible presence on the warehouse floor and is accountable for creating a safe, organized, productive, and collaborative work environment.

The Warehouse Operations Manager also plays a key role in developing employees, strengthening operational systems, improving performance, and building a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities Warehouse Operations Leadership

• Serve as the primary leader for daily warehouse floor operations, providing direction and oversight across receiving, replenishment, inventory movement, order fulfillment, staging, and outbound distribution. Establish daily operational priorities and allocate staffing, equipment, and warehouse resources to meet organizational needs.
• Coordinate daily workflow across receiving, replenishment, order fulfillment, staging, and warehouse support functions to ensure efficient operations and reliable service to partner agencies and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor daily operations and proactively resolve workflow issues, operational bottlenecks, and competing priorities.
• Ensure consistent execution of daily operational priorities, standard operating procedures, and operational best practices across warehouse functions. Maintain a visible presence on the warehouse floor, providing leadership, removing barriers, and supporting staff throughout the day.
• Ensure effective shift transitions and clear communication of operational priorities, issues, and follow-up needs. People Leadership & Team Development
• Directly supervise assigned warehouse employees and warehouse operations support staff. Serve as the primary manager responsible for workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, corrective action, and employee development.
• Develop Senior Warehouse Associates as technical experts and floor leads who coordinate daily work, reinforce operational standards, support training, and provide workflow continuity when the Warehouse Operations Manager is unavailable, without serving in a formal personnel management role. Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, respect, inclusion, and continuous improvement while reinforcing a strong commitment to workplace safety and food safety.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, team meetings, and performance conversations to strengthen communication and engagement.
• Promote cross-training and workforce flexibility to improve operational resilience.
• Identify employee development opportunities and support staff in building operational knowledge, technical skills, and professional growth.
• Develop and sustain a team of qualified in-house forklift trainers by identifying trainer candidates, coordinating certification and recertification, coaching trainers, and ensuring consistent delivery of safe equipment operation practices throughout the warehouse.

Operational Excellence

• Monitor warehouse productivity, labor utilization, replenishment effectiveness, order accuracy, and service delivery performance.
• Utilize operational data and performance metrics to identify trends, improve workflows, and strengthen warehouse performance.
• Establish and reinforce clear productivity and operational expectations across warehouse functions.
• Recommend improvements to staffing models, warehouse processes, equipment utilization, and operational workflows.
• Support implementation of continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, quality, service delivery, and operational effectiveness.
• Leverage warehouse management systems, warehouse technology, equipment monitoring systems, and operational data to improve safety, productivity, equipment utilization, and overall warehouse performance.
• Contribute to warehouse KPI development and provide operational performance updates to the Director of Warehousing & Logistics.

Safety, Food Safety & Quality

• Promote a culture of workplace safety, food safety, and operational excellence
• Ensure warehouse operations comply with Food Lifeline policies and applicable Feeding America, FDA, USDA, WSDA, OSHA, HACCP, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), AIB, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure required operational, receiving, sanitation, food safety, equipment, and compliance records are completed accurately, maintained in accordance with organizational standards, and readily available for audits, inspections, and regulatory review.
• Establish processes to verify completion of required operational activities and associated documentation, including receiving, sanitation, equipment inspections, temperature monitoring, and other compliance records, to ensure accountability and ongoing compliance with organizational policies and applicable regulatory, food safety, and quality standards.
• Partner closely with the Food Safety & Quality Officer to maintain audit readiness, implement corrective actions, reinforce food safety standards, and support continuous compliance.
• Partner with the Facilities & Safety Manager to promote workplace safety, support incident prevention, maintain a safe warehouse environment, and implement organizational safety initiatives.
• Ensure warehouse equipment is operated safely and work areas are maintained in a clean, organized, and safe condition.
• Respond promptly to safety concerns, incidents, hazards, and operational risks and ensure appropriate follow up occurs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the Inventory Control Manager to coordinate replenishment activities, inventory movement, and warehouse execution while supporting inventory accuracy and product availability.
• Coordinate daily warehouse activities with the Transportation Manager to support efficient inbound receiving, outbound deliveries, dock utilization, and schedule execution.
• Collaborate with Volunteer Production leadership to align production schedules, warehouse capacity, and product flow.
• Partner with Food Resources and Agency Programs to support organizational priorities, equitable food distribution, and exceptional service to partner agencies.
• Collaborate with other cross-functional warehouse staff to ensure resources are deployed where they provide the greatest operational value.
• Communicate warehouse capacity, constraints, operational risks, and changing priorities to appropriate internal partners.
• Support emergency response operations and other organizational initiatives as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises assigned warehouse employees, warehouse operations support staff, and other assigned personnel. Responsible for employee performance management, workforce planning, scheduling, coaching, professional development, and day-to-day operational leadership across warehouse functions.

Qualifications Required

• Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in warehouse operations, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, or other complex operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading frontline supervisors or lead staff and building high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead daily operations in a fast-paced environment, make real-time decisions, adjust priorities, and effectively deploy staff and resources.
• Strong knowledge of warehouse operations, labor planning, inventory movement, food safety, and operational best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to coach employees, manage performance, build accountability, and lead through change.
• Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to utilize operational data and performance metrics to improve warehouse performance.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and Food Lifeline's mission.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the intersections between hunger, poverty, racial inequity, and social justice and their impact on the communities Food Lifeline serves.

Preferred

• Experience within food banking, food distribution, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or other complex food supply chain environments.

• Experience supporting or leading food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, or audit readiness programs.

• Experience with warehouse management systems, inventory management software, and operational reporting tools.

• Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement experience.

• Knowledge of Feeding America standards and food banking operations.

• Lived experience with hunger or food insecurity.

Certifications

• Forklift Certification, or ability to obtain and maintain certification.

• Washington State Food Worker Card, or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment.

• ServSafe Manager Certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days of employment.

• Ability to obtain other Advanced Food Safety Training or certifications as required.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in warehouse and dock environments with regular exposure to warehouse equipment, refrigerated and freezer storage, varying temperatures, and moderate to high noise levels. This position requires a consistent and visible presence on the warehouse floor and active engagement in daily operations.

The Warehouse Operations Manager is expected to regularly observe workflow, provide direction to employees, coach performance, respond to operational issues, and ensure safe and effective execution of warehouse activities.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to regularly walk warehouse floors, stand for extended periods, inspect operations, and occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.