Warehouse Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The Warehouse Manager is a hands-on leader responsible for site distribution, with a focus on warehouse, inventory, and dock management. This role ensures that warehousing, finished-goods staging, pallet layering/rework, outbound loading, and dock management - including carrier engagement at the site - operate at a high level of efficiency and accuracy. The position requires a high degree of organization and responsiveness to meet customer needs, maintain a high level of safety, and execute planning so that space, inventory, and supply chain operations stay within key metrics and operational effectiveness targets. The Warehouse Manager has supervisory responsibility for assigned warehouse and supply chain staff, including hiring, training, and performance management.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

Warehouse Operations & Distribution Strategy

• Maximize quality and efficiency through extensive process analysis and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Work with executive-level management in the development of warehouse operational strategy.
• Develop, implement, and monitor day-to-day operational activities that provide visibility into goals, progress, and obstacles for key objectives.
• Design warehouse management, dock scheduling, staging, and loading processes that are efficient, effective, and meet the needs of customers.
• Coordinate with Quality, Operations, and Sales to ensure alignment of warehouse operations with product rate requirements and required specifications.
• Ensure schedules are maintained for staging, put-away, cycle counting, and loading of finished goods.
• Assist with all receiving and shipping complaints to identify root cause, resolve the issue, and prevent recurrence.
• Define and implement a daily management system that provides visibility of key department deliverables (inventory accuracy, material handling times, damages, dock appointment adherence, etc.).
• Implement governance and planning to provide both KPIs and forecasted needs.

Shipping, Dock & Fleet Management

• Manage all shipments of finished goods, including establishing appropriate pick lists per customer orders, appropriate preparation of all orders, and coordination of all order modes of transportation.
• Oversee the forklift fleet management contract, ensuring maintenance and service are maintained.
• Schedule drivers to meet production/operations needs; ensure schedules are loaded into Isolved; verify timecards weekly for payroll processing.
• Train forklift drivers; may operate forklift and manufacturing equipment occasionally.
• May work off-shift and weekends as business needs require.

Inventory & Space Management

• Deliver 99% accuracy for finished goods through a robust inventory management program consisting of cycle counts and physical counts.
• Ensure product is stored in spec (temperature, conditions, placement, palletizing, etc.), maintaining FIFO.
• In coordination with inventory and planning, manage capacity utilization for warehousing (dock throughput and storage space) based on target inventory levels.
• Manage pallet-sharing programs, including but not limited to CHEP and PECO.
• Assure finished goods and raw materials inventories are stored in accordance with quality and food safety policies and procedures.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Responsible for the hiring, training program(s), and performance management of assigned warehouse and supply chain staff.
• Coach, supervise, and motivate employees through effective communication.

Financial & Process Management

• Responsible for all warehouse-related costs for the site.
• Accountable for annual budget development and achievement.
• Ensure that all goods and services are acquired in accordance with current purchasing policies and the designation of authority matrix.
• Develop SOPs in accordance with internal controls, partnering closely with the Director of Supply Chain.

Safety & Food Safety Compliance

• Participate actively in Wawona Frozen Foods' Safety program to maintain a healthy, injury-free environment.
• Participate in training and company meetings to facilitate individual and company growth.
• Comply with all GMP, HACCP, Food Safety, Food Defense, and SQF policies and procedures; is empowered to notify and/or act in response to any issues or concerns within the scope of work.

Duties and responsibilities may change with or without notice.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position supervises assigned warehouse and supply chain staff, including forklift drivers, and is responsible for their hiring, training, and performance management.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, logistics management, or a related field desired, not required.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of applicable experience with progressive responsibilities in a manufacturing environment, with extensive experience in warehousing and transportation.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in materials and inventory management control, ERP systems, warehouse management systems, and wireless scanning systems in a food or manufacturing environment.
• Distribution experience required.
• Demonstrated vendor management experience in transportation and warehousing across both ambient and cold supply chains.

Skills

• Ability to coach, supervise, and motivate employees through effective communication.
• Strong customer service mindset with a high sense of urgency.
• Knowledge of ERP systems, warehouse management systems, and wireless scanning; food industry knowledge is a plus.
• Strong safety background with an emphasis on safe practices.
• Strong planning, organizational, analytical, communication, and networking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills; ability to manage cross-functional teams and initiatives.
• Laser focus on end-to-end execution, applying relentless rigor.
• Experience in strategic planning as well as tactical execution.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical capabilities.
• High energy level, diligent work ethic, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Employees are exposed to non-weather wet conditions and sub-freezing temperatures. Floors are wet and slippery, and anti-slip shoes are required. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. During fresh or pack season (March–October), the employee should expect to work an extended schedule, including weekends.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY & REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Wawona Frozen Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Wawona Frozen Foods will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and FEHA, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to the company. Employees who require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of this position should contact Human Resources.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

Employment with Wawona Frozen Foods is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice. Nothing in this job description creates an express or implied contract of employment or a promise of continued employment for any specific duration.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement and may be modified at the company's discretion at any time to meet business needs.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have reviewed and understand the above job description and believe it to be accurate and complete. I certify that I am fully capable of completing all the responsibilities documented herein and that I do not have a physical or mental disability that would jeopardize my health and safety, or the health and safety of my co-workers.