Operations Trainer

Position Overview The Operations Trainer is the standard-bearer for safety, quality, and efficiency within the Vesta Home warehouse. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end training lifecycle of all operations staff, including Warehouse Associates, Inventory Associates, Forklift Operators, Coordinators, and Repair Technicians. You will move beyond simple instruction to instill a culture of "Design Excellence" and "Owning the Outcome," ensuring that every team member handles our luxury inventory with the care and technical precision it requires. You will bridge the gap between operational goals and floor execution, ensuring that 99% accuracy rates and 0% damage targets are not just goals, but realities. Key Responsibilities Training Facilitation & Certification Deliver structured, hands‑on training across all fundamental warehouse workflows, including: Furniture and accessory picking. Product staging and wrapping (strictly adhering to protection SOPs). Inventory management: cycle counts, receiving, and stock handling. Returns processing and download workflows. Furniture cleaning, refurbishment, and quality control. Train and certify employees on powered industrial trucks (PIT) and material handling equipment, ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols. Train others on assisting with truck yard operations by acting as a safety spotter for reversing vehicles and managing traffic flow to ensure safe docking and departure. Maintain accurate, audit‑ready records of all employee training sessions and equipment certifications. Role‑Based Onboarding & Readiness Lead warehouse‑specific onboarding immediately following HR orientation, setting the standard for culture and safety on Day1. Tailor and schedule training to align with the new hire’s actual shift and specific department assignment to ensure immediate relevance. Utilize current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and workflows as the foundation for all curriculum to ensure consistency. Assess competency and formally sign off on trainee readiness before releasing employees to independent operation. Retraining & Performance Support Deliver targeted retraining immediately following safety incidents, quality misses, or policy violations. Partner with warehouse leadership to track trainee progress, identify performance gaps, and ensure accountability for standards. Reinforce SOPs and safety standards through active floor observation and real‑time coaching/correction. Partner with the Data/Analytics team to build KPIs, troubleshoot processes, and ensure digital and physical processes are tightly coupled. Systems Enablement & Tool Communication Stay current on all system or tool changes released by Product/Ops; act as the primary conduit for relaying these updates to impacted employees and confirming their understanding. Support the rollout of new or updated tools (e.g., Asset Manager, Eames, Retool) by helping employees navigate changes to features or workflows. Act as an in‑market resource for operational system questions; collect and provide general feedback on tool performance and usability from the end‑user perspective back to the Product & Engineering teams. Process Improvement & Operational Support Coordinate with the Continuous Improvement (CI) Team to ensure training materials and SOPs reflect current practices. Note: While the CI team owns the documentation, the Trainer assists with updates and validation when needed. Act as the on‑site Subject Matter Expert (SME) for system and process‑related questions. Proactively identify process gaps or training opportunities during downtime and surface them to leadership. Support operational execution (picking, scanning, staging) when not actively training, as assigned by the Operations Manager. These duties and responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level of work and are not an exhaustive list. The employee may be required to perform other duties as assigned. Key Requirements A high school diploma or equivalent. 3+ years of experience in warehouse operations, with specific experience in furniture, moving, or high‑value inventory handling. Expert‑level knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), handheld scanners, and Google Workspace (Sheets/Docs) for reporting. Must hold current forklift certifications (or have the ability to become a certified trainer) on Order Pickers and Sit‑Down forklifts. Exceptional verbal communication and presentation skills; ability to explain complex processes simply to diverse audiences. English required, Spanish speaking is a plus. Ability to distinguish between complex furniture parameters (fabrics, wood finishes, materials) and teach these details to others. Capable of lifting 50+ lbs to demonstrate proper technique and performing the physical duties of the roles being trained. Familiarity with tools such as drills, hammers, and levels is a plus. But on‑the‑job training will be provided. A "fanatical attention to detail" regarding safety, cleanliness, and inventory accuracy. Demonstrated ability to mentor others and foster a culture of safety and accountability. Benefits Benefits package (PTO, medical, dental, vision, 401K). Life insurance. Opportunity to work with a passionate and dynamic team. Career growth and development opportunities. Be a part of a company dedicated to excellence and innovation in the luxury home staging industry. Vesta is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and welcome candidates from all backgrounds. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr