Distribution Center Manager | Kansas City

About Albert Uster Imports AUI is a privately held gourmet food company headquartered in the Washington, DC area (Gaithersburg, MD) with warehouse locations in Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Gurnee and Gaithersburg. Founded in 1968, the company offers over 1,400 products worldwide and serves leading hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines, airlines, and manufacturers with innovative, high‑quality products and solutions to culinary challenges. With a national direct‑selling organization of over 60 sales professionals and culinary experts, we operate a network of distribution centers in the U.S. and serve select international markets. About The Role Distribution Center Manager in our Kansas City Warehouse . The manager will oversee all aspects of the warehouse and facility, including staffing, shipping, receiving, inventory management, Good Distribution Practices compliance, fleet management, and facilities maintenance. The role focuses on cost reduction, budgeting, metric achievement, and training of the DC team, serving as the focal point for day‑to‑day operations and problem solving. Note: This is a working manager role. Responsibilities Warehouse & Facility Management Manage overall warehouse operations to meet company standards, seasonal business demands, and budget targets, while adhering to the Company’s Good Distribution Program and ensuring audit readiness. Maintain a secure, clean, safe, and hygienic warehouse, docks, and building perimeter, ensuring compliance with all governmental regulations, food safety requirements, and company policies. Conduct regular facility inspections, coordinate corrective maintenance, and oversee preventative maintenance programs for HVAC, refrigeration, pest control, fire prevention, and security systems to protect inventory and company assets. Transfer & Receiving Management Ensure all inbound and outbound product transfers are accurately processed, staged, scanned, verified, and shipped within 48 hours of receipt, obtaining approval for any required changes. Oversee timely receiving of all inbound transfers and purchase orders, ensuring products are scanned, put away, and posted within 6–24 business hours, and that all discrepancies (OS&D, PO issues) are reported per established procedures. Manage customer returns according to company guidelines and ensure proper disposition. Quality & Food Safety Management Implement and maintain Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) programs within the Distribution Center, serving as the local subject matter expert on the Company’s Food Safety Program. Partner with the Quality Team and participate in annual audits, inspections, and corrective actions as required. Inventory & Stock Maintenance Oversee all inventory activities, including restocking, rotation (FEFO), lot tracking, location accuracy, re‑barcoding, cycle counts, and physical inventories to maintain inventory accuracy within established budget guidelines. Ensure proper storage, protection, and inspection of inventory, identify and report non‑conforming, over‑stocked, or short‑stocked products, and coordinate adjustments or disposition (donation or disposal) with Purchasing. Actively participate in stock level reviews and perform weekly inspections to proactively address inventory issues. Order Fulfillment & Shipping Ensure all customer orders received before cutoff are picked, scanned, packed, labeled, and shipped the same day, following proper packaging standards and minimizing shipping errors through training and process controls. Coordinate closely with Customer Service, common carriers (UPS, FedEx), and LTL carriers (dry and refrigerated) to manage routing, claims, OS&D, pickups, late or mid‑day sweeps, and overall shipping performance. Maintain strong working knowledge of FedEx, UPS, international shipping requirements, and freight carrier systems, schedule daily pickups and proactively communicate volume trends to ensure on‑time delivery. Supply Ordering Ensure timely ordering and availability of all warehouse and packaging supplies, including boxes, tape, pallets, dry ice, ice packs, and other warehouse‑related materials. Identify new packaging solutions to improve efficiency or reduce costs and audit packaging vendors, including annual rate shopping. Fleet Management Ensure fleet vehicles are properly inspected, kept clean, safe, and tracked as required for maintenance and repair. Manage scheduling and daily operations of the local delivery fleet to support on‑time deliveries. Ensure compliance with DOT driver regulations by maintaining required documentation, including medical certifications, driver logs, and related records. People Management & Safety Recruit, train, schedule, coach, and develop warehouse personnel, fostering teamwork, accountability, and a positive workplace culture aligned with company values. Evaluate performance, provide documented feedback, conduct staff meetings, and manage disciplinary or termination actions as required. Ensure employee safety and emergency preparedness by enforcing safety procedures, responding appropriately to workplace incidents, and coordinating emergency or first‑aid support when needed. Qualifications and Skills Required 8 years of equivalent working experience in warehousing, logistics, and/or other related fields. Knowledge of modern warehousing techniques including logistics, special handling/storage requirements, and shipping alternatives. Ability to lead, motivate, and supervise employees; communicate actively and pro‑actively. Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed to objectives without supervision; ability to handle and resolve recurring problems. Physical requirements: ability to lift 50 lbs. Ability to travel domestically as required. Willingness to work overtime, holidays, and weekends as workload dictates. Preferred Bachelor’s Degree. Forklift certification or equivalent experience. Salary Range Base salary for this role: $65,000–$70,000. This role is bonus eligible; the Company will determine the specific offer based on qualifications, experience, and transferrable skills. Bonus Structure Competitive performance‑based bonus structure; monthly bonuses based on achievement of key performance indicators and overall business performance. Equal Employment Opportunity Founded by immigrants, AUI & Roland Foods embraces diversity and believes in the power of food to bring people together. All are welcome at our table. AUI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. AUI considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in compliance with applicable laws and mandates reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. For assistance or accommodations, contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Please read Albert Uster Imports’ California Job Applicant Privacy Policy here. #J-18808-Ljbffr AUI Fine Foods