Director of Operations

Job Details: Job Location: Universe - Jurupa Valley, CA 91752, Position Type: Full-Time/Part-Time, Salary Range: $150,000.00 - $190,000.00 Salary/year, Travel Percentage: Up to 50% , Job Shift: Day, The Director of Operations serves as a strategic and tactical business partner to the President/CEO and executive leadership team, providing leadership, direction, and operational oversight for the company’s multi-site third‑party logistics (3PL) operations in California and Ohio.

This position has overall responsibility for driving operational excellence, financial performance, customer satisfaction, workforce productivity, safety, quality, and continuous improvement across multiple warehouse and distribution locations. The role provides leadership to site management teams while establishing consistent operating standards, performance expectations, accountability systems, and best practices across the organization.

The position works closely with executive leadership, customers, Human Resources, Finance, Sales/Business Development, Information Technology, Safety, and other support functions to ensure operational strategies align with the company’s financial and business objectives.

This role requires a leader who can operate effectively at both the strategic and tactical levels. The individual must be comfortable developing long‑term operational strategies while maintaining a hands‑on understanding of day‑to‑day warehouse activities, customer requirements, labor needs, financial performance, and operational challenges.

Essential Duties

• Execute and operationalizestrategic business plansestablished by thePresident/CEO andBoard of Directors.
• Translate company objectivesinto clear operationalgoals, initiatives, timelines, and measurable performanceexpectations for eachsite.
• Develop and recommendoperational strategiesthat support revenuegrowth, profitability,customer retention, costreduction, productivity, quality, safety, andscalability.
• Partner with executiveleadership in developingshort‑and long‑term operational plansbased on businessforecasts, customer requirements, market conditions, laboravailability, facilitycapacity, and financialobjectives.
• Identify operational opportunitiesand risks thatmay impact thecompany’s financial performance, customer relationships, workforce, or abilityto meet businessobjectives.
• Provide executive leadershipwith timely information, analysis, recommendations, and escalation ofsignificant operationalissues.
• Participate in strategicplanning, budgeting, forecasting, business reviews, andorganizational planning.
• Evaluate current operatingmodels and recommendchanges necessary tosupport growth, newbusiness, customer requirements, and changing marketconditions.
• Assist executive leadershipwith strategic businessdevelopment opportunitiesthat may affectoperational capacity, facilityrequirements, labor requirements, technology, and profitability.

• Provide direct operationaloversight and leadershipfor multiple warehouseand distribution facilitiesacross California andOhio.
• Establish consistent operationalstandards, expectations, and accountability acrossall locations whilerecognizing customer‑specificand site‑specificrequirements.
• Provide direction, coaching, and support toGeneral Managers, SiteManagers, Operations Managers, and other operationalleaders.
• Hold site leadershipaccountable for achievingestablished operational, financial, safety, quality, productivity, and customerservice objectives.
• Regularly visit operatinglocations to evaluateperformance, observe processes, identify opportunities, and provide leadershipsupport.
• Maintain a hands‑on understanding ofwarehouse activities, customerrequirements, staffinglevels, labor utilization, equipment, inventory flow, productivity, and operationalconstraints.
• Establish appropriate managementstructures, staffing models, reporting relationships, and accountability systemsfor each facility.
• Ensure appropriate operationalcoverage and leadershipsuccession plans aremaintained at eachlocation.
• Standardize operating practicesand identify opportunitiesto leverage successfulprocesses from onefacility across thebroader organization.
• Must maintain a clean driving record, valid drivers license and proof of current insurance at all times throughout the course of employment.

• Take ownership ofoperational performanceagainst established financialand business objectives.
• Partner with Financeand site leadershipto develop annualbudgets, labor budgets, operating forecasts, andfinancial projections.
• Review and analyzefacility‑level financialperformance, includinglabor costs, overtime, productivity, operatingexpenses, revenue, margins, and other keyperformance indicators.
• Monitor actual performanceagainst budget andforecast and developcorrective action planswhen performance isoutside established targets.
• Identify opportunities toreduce unnecessary costswhile maintaining customerservice, quality, safety, and operational performance.
• Analyze labor utilizationand workforce coststo ensure staffinglevels are alignedwith customer volumeand operational requirements.
• Review overtime, temporarylabor, absenteeism, turnover, productivity, and otherworkforce‑related expenses.
• Develop and implementcost‑reduction initiativeswith measurable financialresults.
• Ensure operational decisionsconsider both customerrequirements and thefinancial impact tothe company.
• Prepare and presentoperational and financialreports, forecasts, budgets, and performance updatesto executive leadership.

• Provide strategic directionfor workforce planningacross all assignedfacilities.
• Develop labor strategiesbased on customerforecasts, volume fluctuations, seasonality, staffingrequirements, productivityexpectations, and facilitycapacity.
• Partner with HumanResources and staffingproviders, including Staffmark, Voyage, and otherworkforce partners, toensure appropriate staffinglevels and workforceavailability.
• Establish appropriate staffingmodels and laborplans for newand existing customers.
• Monitor employee andassociate attendance, turnover, retention, productivity, overtime, and staffinglevels.
• Identify labor trendsand implement correctiveaction when workforceperformance or staffinglevels do notmeet operational requirements.
• Establish expectations forworkforce accountability, attendance, productivity, safety, conduct, andadherence to companypolicies.
• Ensure management teamseffectively communicateexpectations to employeesand temporary associates.
• Partner with HumanResources regarding employeerelations, performancemanagement, disciplinarymatters, investigations, and policy interpretation.
• Support the developmentand implementation ofworkforce retention strategiesand employee engagementinitiatives.
• Ensure staffing agenciesand temporary laborpartners understand andadhere to establishedoperational expectationsand company requirements.

• Establish and maintainstrong operational relationshipswith key customers.
• Partner with Salesand Business Developmentduring customer acquisition, implementation, expansion, and renewal activities.
• Participate in customerbusiness reviews andoperational performancemeetings as required.
• Ensure customer requirements, service‑level agreements, key performance indicators, and contractual obligationsare clearly understoodand consistently executed.
• Review customer forecastsand volume projectionsto ensure operationalreadiness.
• Identify potential serviceissues before theybecome customer‑impactingproblems and establishappropriate correctiveactions.
• Support the resolutionof escalated customerissues and provideexecutive‑level communicationwhen necessary.
• Ensure site leadershipmaintains appropriate communicationwith customers regardingoperational performance, staffing, capacity, quality, and service concerns.
• Identify opportunities toexpand existing customerrelationships through improvedservice, additional capabilities, operational efficiencies, or increased capacity.

• Partner with executiveleadership and cross‑functional departmentsin launching newcustomers, warehouse locations, vendors, and operationalprograms.
• Develop and overseeimplementation plans, includingstaffing, training, equipment, systems, processes, facilityreadiness, and customerrequirements.
• Establish implementationtimelines, milestones,responsibilities, and performanceexpectations.
• Ensure operational readinessprior to customerlaunch or facilityopening.
• Coordinate with HumanResources, Finance, IT, Safety, Procurement, Sales, and other departmentsduring implementations.
• Identify implementationrisks and developcontingency plans.
• Conduct post‑launchreviews to evaluateperformance, identify gaps, and implement correctiveactions.
• Ensure lessons learnedfrom implementations aredocumented and incorporatedinto future launches.

• Drive a cultureof continuous improvementthroughout the organization.
• Continually evaluate warehouseprocesses, labor utilization, workflows, systems, andoperating procedures toidentify opportunitiesfor improvement.
• Develop and implementprocess improvement initiativesfocused on productivity, labor efficiency, quality, safety, cost reduction, and customer service.
• Establish measurable objectivesand performance metricsfor improvement initiatives.
• Utilize operational dataand root‑causeanalysis to identifythe underlying causesof performance issues.
• Develop corrective andpreventive action plansand monitor results.
• Identify and implementbest practices acrossmultiple locations.
• Partner with siteleadership to ensurenew processes areproperly implemented, documented, trained, and sustained.
• Challenge existing processesand procedures whenbetter, safer, moreefficient, or morecost‑effective alternativesare available.
• Promote the useof data‑drivendecision‑making throughoutoperations.

• Promote and maintaina strong safetyculture across alloperating locations.
• Ensure management teamsunderstand and consistentlyenforce company safetypolicies, procedures, andexpectations.
• Ensure required safetydocumentation, training, inspections, incidentreporting, and correctiveactions are completedaccurately and timely.
• Partner with HumanResources and Safetyleadership to addressworkplace safety concernsand incidents.
• Ensure operations areconducted in accordancewith applicable federal, state, and locallaws and regulations, as well ascompany policies.
• Ensure management teamsmaintain required documentationto support safety, compliance, employee accountability, and operational requirements.
• Identify operational risksand develop appropriatemitigation strategies.
• Ensure corrective actionsresulting from audits, incidents, customer requirements, or internal reviewsare implemented andsustained.
• Promote safe workpractices while balancingproductivity and customerservice requirements.

• Review, develop, document, and implement operationalpolicies, procedures, standardoperating procedures (SOPs), and best practices.
• Ensure site managementteams understand andconsistently follow companypolicies and customer‑specific procedures.
• Maintain consistency inoperating standards whileallowing for documentedcustomer‑specific requirements.
• Ensure changes toprocesses and proceduresare properly communicatedand implemented.
• Regularly evaluate existingpolicies and proceduresfor effectiveness andrecommend improvements.
• Ensure operational documentationis current, accessible, and properly maintained.

• Develop a high‑performing, accountable, and collaborative operationsleadership team.
• Coach, mentor, anddevelop General Managers, Site Managers, OperationsManagers, and otherleaders.
• Identify high‑potentialemployees and establishdevelopment opportunitiesto build theorganization's future leadershipbench.
• Establish clear performanceexpectations and accountabilityfor direct reports.
• Conduct regular leadershipmeetings and businessreviews.
• Promote a culturebased on professionalism, accountability, transparency, respect, teamwork, andcontinuous improvement.
• Encourage open communicationand timely escalationof operational concerns.
• Lead by exampleand demonstrate thecompany's values andexpectations.
• Address performance concernspromptly and inpartnership with HumanResources.
• Support succession planningfor critical operationalleadership positions.

• Provide regular operationalupdates to thePresident/CEO andexecutive leadership.
• Prepare and presentmanagement reports, financialreports, forecasts, operationaldashboards, and businessreviews.
• Communicate significantoperational risks, customerconcerns, staffing challenges, safety issues, financialvariances, and performancegaps in atimely manner.
• Maintain clear andprofessional communicationwith employees, associates, customers, vendors, andinternal leadership.
• Ensure information iscommunicated consistentlythroughout the organization.

The duties and responsibilities described above may provide only a partial description of this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all aspects of the job. Other duties and responsibilities not outlined in this document may be added as necessary or desirable, with or without notice.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge ofwarehouse operations, distribution, fulfillment, transportation, logistics, and 3PLenvironments.
• Strong understanding ofmulti‑site warehousemanagement and operationalleadership.
• Demonstrated knowledge oflabor planning, workforcemanagement, productivitymeasurement, and costcontrol.
• Strong financial andbusiness acumen, includingthe ability tounderstand budgets, forecasts, operating expenses, laborcosts, and profitability.
• Strong customer relationshipmanagement skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonalcommunication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels of theorganization, from warehouseassociates to executiveleadership.
• Strong analytical andproblem‑solving skills.
• Ability to analyzeoperational data andtranslate findings intoactionable business decisions.
• Strong organizational andtime‑management skills.
• Ability to managemultiple complex projectssimultaneously and meetdeadlines in afast‑paced environment.
• Ability to diagnoseproblems, identify rootcauses, develop solutions, and implement correctiveaction.
• Ability tomake decisions underpressure while maintainingprofessionalism and soundjudgment.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and team‑building skills.
• Ability to build trustand credibility acrossmultiple locations anddepartments.
• Ability to influenceand drive accountabilitywithout relying solelyon direct authority.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining strong collaboration with executive leadership and supportdepartments.
• Demonstrated commitmentto safety, quality, customer service, andcontinuous improvement.
• Exhibits objectivity and opennessto the viewsof others.
• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, discretion,and good judgment.
• Ability to adapt to changingcustomer requirements,business conditions, priorities, and operational demands.

• Required or preferredexperience with:
• Microsoft Office Suite, including:
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Warehouse Management Systems(WMS)
• Labor managementand workforce managementsystems
• Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) systems
• Customer reporting and business intelligenceplatforms
• Data analysis anddashboard/reporting tools
• Timekeeping and attendancesystems
• Applicant tracking/staffingsystems, as applicable
• Transportation ManagementSystems (TMS), asapplicable
• Abilityto learn andeffectively utilize newsoftware and technologyplatforms
• Advanced Excel skills, including data analysis, pivot tables, formulas, reporting, and dashboarddevelopment, are stronglypreferred.

• Requires a minimum of10 years of progressive experiencein warehouse, distribution, logistics, fulfillment, supply chain, or 3PL operations.
• Minimum of7 years of supervisory or management experience, including demonstrated responsibility for multipledepartments, facilities, or operational teams.
• Demonstrated experiencemanaging or supportingmultiple warehouse locationsis strongly preferred.
• Experience in a 3PL environment with multiple customers and varyingoperational requirementsis strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experiencemanaging labor‑intensiveoperations and temporary/contingent workforces.
• Experience with customerimplementations, facilitylaunches, operational transitions, or significant accountexpansions preferred.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and operational costmanagement preferred.
• Experience implementingcontinuous improvement initiativesand measurable productivityimprovements preferred.
• Experience managing operationsacross multiple statesis preferred.

• A Bachelor's degreein Logistics, SupplyChain Management, BusinessAdministration, OperationsManagement, Warehouse Management, or a relatedfield is preferred.
• Equivalent combinationsof education, training, certifications, and progressivelyresponsible work experiencemay be considered.

Judgment/Reasoning Ability

• The Director ofOperations must demonstratea high levelof independent judgmentand business reasoning.
• Analyze complex operational andbusiness problems.
• Identify root causesand develop practicalsolutions.
• Evaluate multiple alternatives and determineappropriate courses ofaction.
• Make timely decisionswhile considering customer, employee, safety, operational, and financial impacts.
• Recognize situations requiringescalation to executiveleadership.
• Maintain composure and professionalism during high‑pressure situations.
• Balance competing prioritiesacross multiple facilitiesand customers.
• Anticipate operational challengesand develop contingencyplans.
• Exercisediscretion when handlingconfidential employee,customer, financial, andbusiness information.
• Make decisions consistent with company policies, procedures, business objectives, and applicablelaws.

Physical Demands

• Standing/walking:Frequent. Regular movementthrough warehouses, docks, production areas, offices, and between operatingsites.
• Walking distance:Potentially several miles overthe course ofa workday ina large facility, particularly during floorwalks, audits, andoperational reviews.
• Sitting:Regular for meetings, reporting, planning, computerwork, and administrativeduties.
• Driving:May be required between multiple facilities,sometimes daily orseveral times perweek.
• Lifting/carrying:Typically occasional rather than routine. The director may need to handle or inspect packages, pallets, or equipment, but is generally not expected to perform warehouseassociate‑level materialhandling.
• Pushing/pulling:Occasional, particularly when inspecting operations ordemonstrating processes.
• Bending/reaching/squatting:Occasional while inspecting inventory, equipment, storage locations,dock areas, orwarehouse processes.
• Climbing:Occasional use of stairs, warehouse platforms, docks, or designatedaccess areas. Climbingladders would generallynot be aroutine requirement unlessspecifically associatedwith the facility.
• Work environment:Frequent exposure towarehouse conditions includingnoise, temperature variation, dust, moving equipment, conveyor systems, loadingdocks, and vehicletraffic.
• PPE:May be required, including safety shoes, high‑visibility vest, hearing protection, safetyglasses, or othersite‑specific PPE.
• Schedule:May involve extended hours, early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, or on‑call availability depending on customer requirements andthe operating model.
• Travel:A multi‑site position may require significant local and out of state, overnight,travel betweenfacilities.