International Warehouse Manager

Job Description

Job Description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

At AirLife, we are dedicated to improving the quality of every breath. Excellence with Every Breath is not just a tag line, but the way we work and take care of our customers. With a mindset to evolve, innovate, and grow, we are a premier manufacturer of the highest-quality and market-leading breathing consumables. This growth philosophy has positioned us to increase our global footprint and business reach, impacting even more people around the world. Our expanding family of the most trusted brands offers a product portfolio that spans the continuum of care from first responder to home care, with safety, patient comfort, and clinical performance in mind. Collective expertise allows us to provide quality products and experiences to our patients, customers, and our people. Our values of Customer first, Differentiate with our People, Bias for Action, Continuous Improvement and Accountability define who we are and how we work. Join us!

POSITION SUMMARY

The International Warehouse Manager leads the Pickers, Finishers, and Coordinators who run AirLife’s International warehouse operations in Phoenix (PHX), from receiving through shipping. This role ensures accurate, on-time, and compliant fulfillment of International medical device orders to customers worldwide, including export documentation and coordination with carriers, freight forwarders, and Transportation. The manager monitors operational metrics and SLAs, leads continuous improvement projects, and maintains a safe work environment that complies with OSHA and company safety standards. This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced environment.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: 

• Warehouse operations management, including receiving, inventory control, picking, finishing, and shipping.
• Knowledge of international shipping and export processes, including commercial invoices, packing lists, Incoterms, customs/trade compliance, and coordination with customs brokers and freight forwarders.
• Team leadership and workforce planning, including scheduling, coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Continuous improvement methods (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S), with a record of measurable results and structured, data-driven problem solving.
• Attention to detail and continuous-improvement mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams globally across multiple time zones.
• Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, and/or Lean CI Certification (preferred, not required)
• Facility and warehouse equipment troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of building systems and preventive maintenance.
• Ability to lead and facilitate organized meetings with clear action plans 
• Familiarity with OSHA requirements and workplace safety standards.
• Vendor, carrier, and contractor management.
• Familiarity with quality system and regulatory requirements for medical device distribution, such as FDA 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485 (preferred, not required).
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of WMS/ERP systems and inventory accuracy practices (e.g., cycle counting and lot/serial traceability); proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong analytical skills.
• Excellent follow-up and follow-through with vendors and internal teams.
• Ability to effectively manage time, priorities, and projects to meet deadlines.
• Clear communication and coordination with cross-functional teams.

Level of Experience: 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in warehouse or distribution operations, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience managing international or export order fulfillment.
• Track record of meeting backorder, SLA, and service-level KPIs, with demonstrated continuous improvement results.
• Experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, or other FDA-regulated distribution, including lot/serial tracking and controlled-environment storage, preferred.

Level of Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Management, Facilities Management, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Core Competencies:

• Accountability and ownership.
• Adaptability and sound decision-making under pressure; self-starter in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Clear, proactive communication across teams and with external partners.
• Data-driven problem solving.
• Developing talent and building high-performing teams.
• Ability to collaborate well with cross functional teams across the global organization and across multiple time zones.

Travel: 

Occasional travel as business needs require (less than 10% of the time).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Line Leader Duties

• Provide clear direction, coaching, and performance management to support team development and achievement of AirLife goals.  
• Align team’s objectives with AirLife priorities, ensuring compliance, promoting a culture of accountability, and upholding AirLife values.  
• Take accountability and ownership for actively participating in recruitment processes and supporting fair treatment in disciplinary processes for your team.  
• Drive continuous improvement by fostering innovation, operational excellence, and adoption of best practices within the team.  
• Champion employee engagement, inclusion, and career development through regular check-ins, talent reviews, cross-training, and succession planning. 
• Manage your team’s budget responsibly and exhibit financial accountability.  

Warehouse Operations

• Oversee daily International warehouse operations at the PHX site, ensuring efficient receiving, put-away, storage, picking, finishing, packing, staging, and outbound shipping workflows.
• Ensure International orders are processed accurately and shipped on time, prioritizing and resolving order issues as they arise.
• Coordinate export shipments with customs brokers and ensure shipping documentation (e.g., commercial invoices, packing lists, labels, and export paperwork) is complete and accurate.
• Lead, train, and manage the International warehouse team (Pickers, Finishers, and Coordinators), including scheduling, coaching, and performance management.
• Plan labor, shift coverage, and workflow to meet International order volumes, cutoffs, and shipping deadlines, including peak periods and customer-specific requirements.
• Ensure the warehouse remains clean, organized, and compliant with safety and operational standards.
• Support layout optimization, space utilization, and workflow design for International product flows.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Transportation on routing, mode selection, consolidation, and export documentation requirements.
• Manage carrier and freight forwarder relationships, including pickup schedules, service issues, claims, and performance reviews.
• Partner with Customer Service on order status, expedites, shortages, and customer escalations, with clear and proactive communication.
• Coordinate with Quality and Inventory Control to support compliant International shipments.

Metrics, SLAs & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor KPIs and SLAs for all International operational areas, such as order accuracy, on-time shipment, order cycle time, fill rate, inventory accuracy, and productivity.
• Monitor backorders and aging orders daily, prioritize releases, and escalate constraints to Planning, Procurement, and Customer Service.
• Analyze performance data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement.
• Build and review dashboards and reports; present performance and corrective actions to the Director of Distribution and senior leadership.
• Lead and implement continuous improvement projects (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S) to reduce waste, shorten cycle times, and improve efficiency, accuracy, and service levels.
• Use data to run structured problem-solving, and standardize work by keeping work instructions current through established document control processes.
• Support cost reduction, productivity improvements, and operational excellence initiatives.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Uphold and embody AirLife’s values in all aspects of work.
• Demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness in daily work; look for ways to improve and promote quality & safety. 
• Inspire the trust of others; treat people with respect and dignity and embrace the value of diversity.
• Use time efficiently; perform job accurately, thoroughly, and conserve Company resources to improve profits.
• Contribute to building and maintaining a positive team environment.
• Flexibility to work extended hours or adjust schedules to meet operational needs.
• Assure all policies and guidelines are implemented and followed.

QUALITY POLICY

At AirLife, Quality is our promise. It is our commitment to customer satisfaction and our dedication to product excellence in an evolving global healthcare market. This promise is kept through a continuously improving and effective Quality Management System and compliance to Regulatory Requirements.

DEIA STATEMENT

At AirLife, we are committed to building a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace that reflects the communities and customers we serve. We believe our philosophy on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advancement (DEIA) encourages excellence and equips us to serve an evolving global marketplace.

BENEFITS

AirLife offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), paid time off, paid holidays, bereavement leave, Employee Assistance Program resources, and medical leave benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements. Certain positions may also be eligible for bonus, commission, or other incentive compensation. 

Please note: The responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and may evolve over time. The role holder may be required to undertake additional duties as reasonably expected to meet the needs of the company.