Senior Director Distribution Center Operations

Senior Director Distribution Center Operations

Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture- Where Innovation Meets Comfort

Who We Are:

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we're more than a business — we're a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.

If you're ready to grow, you've come to the right place. With a true "Growth Mindset," Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.

Summary:

The Senior Director of Distribution Center Operations – East Region will own the operational performance of multiple large-scale distribution and fulfillment centers (300K to 1.5M sq. ft.) across the East Region, each processing $12–$21 million in product weekly. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring extensive travel (up to 40%) to drive tactical execution, build high-performing teams, and establish operational discipline across safety, productivity, accuracy, and cost metrics. The ideal candidate is a proven operator with deep expertise in multi-site distribution operations who leads from the floor, not behind a desk.

Responsibilities:

• Own the day-to-day operational performance of several large-scale distribution and fulfillment centers across the East Region
• Build, lead, mentor, and develop site leadership teams while driving accountability and performance standards
• Establish and enforce operational discipline tied to key performance indicators including productivity, safety, accuracy, cost per unit, fill rate, and shipping accuracy
• Travel extensively across the East Region to work side-by-side with teams, coaching on the floor and solving operational challenges in real-time
• Design and execute strategic plans for efficiency gains, process improvements, and network scalability
• Lead through data analytics and apply Lean and Continuous Improvement methodologies to eliminate waste and improve throughput
• Ensure warehouse management systems (WMS) and warehouse technologies are fully leveraged to optimize performance and operational visibility
• Manage labor planning, inventory control, order fulfillment operations, and transportation alignment across multiple facilities
• Drive cost management initiatives while maintaining service level standards and operational excellence

Qualifications Required:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience:

• Minimum 12 years of progressive leadership experience managing multiple distribution center operations across various geographies

Additional Qualifications, preferred:

• P&L responsibility for distribution operations
• Experience managing large-scale facilities (300K+ sq. ft.) with high-volume throughput ($12M+ weekly)
• Proven track record implementing and sustaining operational excellence initiatives at scale
• Deep expertise in WMS platforms and warehouse technology optimization
• Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other Continuous Improvement methodologies
• Experience in furniture, retail, or consumer goods distribution
• Demonstrated success driving measurable improvements in warehouse KPIs (productivity, accuracy, safety, cost reduction)
• Track record of building and developing high-performing operations teams

Work Environment:

This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.

Benefits We Offer:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values:

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.
• Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.
• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.
• Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.
• Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.
• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.
• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.