Warehouse Operations Manager (Visalia)

Position Summary

Portmantos Inc. is seeking an experienced Warehouse Operations Manager to lead and develop our warehouse operation in Visalia, California. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced warehouse leader to help build an operation from the ground up. We are specifically looking for someone who combines strong warehouse and distribution leadership with hands-on experience in warehouse startup, process development, employee training, inventory control, and Cal/OSHA workplace safety compliance . This is not a position where all systems and procedures are already established. The Warehouse Operations Manager will play a critical role in creating the operational foundation of the facility, including warehouse procedures, safety programs, workflows, training standards, productivity expectations, inventory controls, and employee accountability. The successful candidate should be comfortable working in a growing environment and capable of identifying what needs to be developed, documented, implemented, and improved in order to create a safe and efficient warehouse operation.

Key Responsibilities

Warehouse Start up and build out.

• Lead the development of warehouse operations from startup through full operation.
• Establish efficient workflows for receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing, shipping, and inventory control.
• Develop and implement warehouse Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Assist in developing warehouse layout, product locations, staging areas, material flow, and equipment placement.
• Establish productivity expectations, performance standards, and operational KPIs.
• Develop processes for cycle counting and inventory accuracy.
• Identify equipment, supplies, tools, and resources required for warehouse operations.
• Help establish scalable processes that support future company growth.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with company leadership on warehouse strategy, staffing, equipment, and operational requirements.

Cal/OSHA, OSHA & Warehouse Safety

Safety leadership is a major responsibility of this position.

The Warehouse Operations Manager will be expected to help develop, implement, maintain, and enforce warehouse safety programs and procedures.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of applicable Cal/OSHA and OSHA requirements.
• Help establish and maintain the company's warehouse safety policies and procedures.
• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of the company's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
• Conduct regular warehouse safety inspections and hazard assessments.
• Identify workplace hazards and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken.
• Conduct and document employee safety training.
• Maintain required safety training and inspection records.
• Lead or participate in safety meetings.
• Investigate workplace accidents, injuries, property damage, and near-miss incidents.
• Develop corrective and preventative actions following safety incidents.
• Establish and enforce safe forklift and pedestrian traffic procedures.
• Establish procedures for loading docks, pallet storage, racking, material handling, and warehouse equipment.
• Ensure appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements are established and followed.
• Help develop emergency response and evacuation procedures.
• Promote a proactive safety culture throughout the warehouse.

Powered Industrial Truck / Forklift Safety

• Oversee safe operation of forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet jacks, and other warehouse equipment.
• Ensure operators receive appropriate training and authorization before operating powered industrial trucks.
• Maintain training and certification records.
• Conduct or coordinate forklift safety evaluations and refresher training as appropriate.
• Investigate equipment-related incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure equipment inspection procedures are established and consistently followed.

Forklift Train-the-Trainer experience or certification is strongly preferred.

Warehouse Operations

• Oversee daily receiving, put-away, picking, packing, shipping, and inventory activities.
• Ensure orders are processed accurately and on schedule.
• Maintain high standards for inventory accuracy.
• Investigate inventory discrepancies and identify root causes.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and professional warehouse.
• Monitor productivity, accuracy, safety, and quality.
• Establish staffing plans based on workload and operational requirements.
• Ensure warehouse equipment is properly maintained and inspected.
• Develop processes designed to reduce errors, improve productivity, and control operating costs.
• Continuously evaluate warehouse performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Team Leadership

• Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and develop warehouse employees.
• Help establish the initial warehouse staffing structure.
• Provide employees with clear expectations regarding productivity, quality, attendance, conduct, and safety.
• Develop structured onboarding and job-specific training programs.
• Coach employees and supervisors on operational and safety expectations.
• Monitor employee performance and provide appropriate feedback.
• Develop future warehouse leaders and supervisors.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, communication, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain consistent application of company policies and procedures.

• Required Qualifications
• Minimum 5 years of progressive warehouse, distribution, fulfillment, logistics, or related operational experience. (Direct hands on floor experience)
• Minimum 3 years of warehouse or operations management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing warehouse employees and day-to-day operations.
• Strong knowledge of warehouse safety practices and regulatory compliance.
• Working knowledge of Cal/OSHA and/or OSHA requirements applicable to warehouse operations .
• Experience developing, implementing, or enforcing workplace safety procedures.
• Experience with forklift and powered industrial truck operations and safety.
• Strong knowledge of receiving, picking, packing, shipping, inventory control, and material-handling processes.
• Experience developing or implementing warehouse SOPs.
• Experience managing inventory accuracy and cycle-counting programs.
• Experience using a Warehouse Management System (WMS), ERP, or inventory-management system.
• Strong leadership, organization, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a startup or rapidly developing warehouse environment.
• Ability to balance productivity goals with safety, quality, accuracy, and compliance.

Highly Preferred Qualifications

Strong preference will be given to candidates who have one or more of the following:

• Previous experience opening or launching a new warehouse or distribution center.
• Experience building warehouse operations from the ground up.
• Experience leading a warehouse relocation, expansion, or major operational redesign.
• Experience developing warehouse layouts and material-flow processes.
• Experience establishing SOPs, KPIs, training programs, and operational standards for a new facility.
• Significant Cal/OSHA compliance experience.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 training certifications.
• Forklift / Powered Industrial Truck Train-the-Trainer experience or certification.
• Experience developing or maintaining an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
• Experience conducting workplace accident and near-miss investigations.
• Experience developing corrective-action plans following workplace incidents.
• Experience establishing warehouse safety committees or safety-meeting programs.
• Experience implementing a new WMS or inventory-management system.
• Experience establishing inventory-control procedures for a new facility.
• Experience in e-commerce, consumer products, wholesale distribution, retail distribution, or a similar environment.

Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate is not someone who has only managed an already-established warehouse.We are looking for an operations leader who has the knowledge and confidence to enter a developing facility and determine:

• What operational processes need to be established
• What safety programs need to be implemented
• What SOPs need to be written
• How employees should be trained
• How inventory should flow through the building
• How productivity and accuracy should be measured
• How equipment should be operated ]]>