Warehouse Operations Manager

Title: Operations Manager Location: Newark, NJ Experience level: 7+ years in manufacturing or wholesale distribution Compensation: $90K-$110K Summary The Operations & Commercial General Manager serves as a strategic and hands-on executive leader driving operational excellence, commercial growth, and innovation across a dynamic enterprise comprising manufacturing (approximately 70%), wholesale distribution (approximately 30%), and product development. This executive oversees end-to-end plant operations, warehousing, supply chain logistics, vendor management, and enterprise technology implementations (ERP/WMS/CRM), while partnering closely with Product R&D and commercial teams to accelerate new product introductions (NPI), optimize brand P&L, expand market share, and lead high-performing teams. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership & Logistics: Direct all manufacturing facilities, warehouse operations, distribution centers, inventory management, shipping/receiving, logistics, and labor planning to achieve peak efficiency and customer fulfillment. Product R&D & Commercialization: Partner closely with Product R&D, Engineering, and Quality on design-for-manufacturing (DFM), prototype transitions, BOM accuracy, commercialization timelines, and continuous product improvement. Commercial Strategy & Market Expansion: Develop and execute growth strategies that align operational capability with customer demand, optimizing brand-level P&L, pricing strategies, and sales channels that yield maximum ROI. Vendor & Contract Management: Oversee strategic procurement and vendor negotiations, establishing favorable contract terms, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and service-level agreements to optimize performance and reduce unit costs. Marketing & Promotional Logistics: Lead promotional, advertising, and marketing operational logistics, including SOP development, scheduling, digital campaign coordination, and event execution to strengthen brand visibility. Digital Transformation & Technology Integration: Champion organizational change management through technology, guiding ERP implementation, WMS integration, CRM adoption, and data readiness. Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence: Instill a culture of Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and Kaizen methodologies to elevate safety standards, manufacturing yields, inventory accuracy, and overall throughput. Customer Relationship Management: Cultivate deep customer and channel relationships, transforming data-driven market feedback into actionable operational and service enhancements. Team Development & Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and build high-performing management, technical, sales, and frontline teams across both plant and corporate operations. Required Qualifications 7+ years of progressive executive operations leadership encompassing manufacturing and wholesale distribution; experience in automotive aftermarket, tools, equipment, or related technical distribution environments is highly valued. Demonstrated success leading cross-functional integration between Operations, Product R&D, Engineering, and Commercial/Sales teams during New Product Introduction (NPI) cycles. Proven track record in vendor negotiation, contract development, margin optimization, and brand P&L management. Direct hands-on experience supporting large-scale enterprise systems integration, including ERP, WMS, and CRM platforms. Advanced expertise in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma continuous improvement, quality systems, and supply chain analytics. Exceptional executive decision-making, stakeholder communication, change leadership, and talent development capabilities. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business. Industry certifications such as Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, Lean Manufacturing, APICS (CPIM/CSCP), or OSHA safety credentials. Core Competencies Director Leadership & Strategic Decision-MakingEnd-to-End Supply Chain & Plant OperationsProduct Commercialization & DFM AlignmentVendor Negotiation & Contract StructuringP&L, Pricing & Margin OptimizationERP/WMS/CRM Transformation & Data AnalyticsLean/Kaizen & Continuous Process ImprovementCustomer Cultivation & Channel Growth Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Overall production throughput and manufacturing yield New product launch readiness, time-to-market, and DFM cost reduction On-time delivery (OTD) and fulfillment accuracy Inventory control accuracy and working capital optimization Channel profitability, brand P&L performance, and margin expansion Total labor productivity, operational efficiency, and ROI per sales channel Facility safety performance and regulatory compliance Reporting & Organizational Structure Direct Reports: Plant & Warehouse Supervisors, Inventory Control Manager, Shipping/Receiving Line Manager, Product R&D Manager, Logistics/Transport Coordinators, and Commercial/Marketing Coordinators Indirect Reports: Frontline production leads, warehouse associates, material handlers, forklift operators, and seasonal staff