Distribution Center Manager

Distribution Center Manager

Toysmith is seeking an experienced, hands-on Distribution Center Manager to lead the daily operations of our distribution center. This role is responsible for day-to-day DC execution, team performance, labor deployment, inventory integrity, safety, service, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a strong floor leader who maintains a consistent presence within the distribution center and works closely with the team to manage daily priorities, solve operational challenges, and drive accountability. This is not a desk-focused management position. The Distribution Center Manager is expected to be actively engaged in daily operations, understand where bottlenecks are occurring, and take ownership of resolving them. This position will have the ownership and decision-making authority necessary to independently manage routine warehouse operations while partnering with the Sr. Director, Operations on broader operational priorities and initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a visible and engaged leader who is comfortable spending the majority of their time where the work is happening. They will take ownership of problems, anticipate challenges, make data-informed decisions, and work alongside their team when needed to ensure daily goals are achieved. This individual should balance accountability with coaching and employee development while bringing structure, consistency, and continuous improvement to the distribution center. They must be able to maintain strong day-to-day execution while also implementing and sustaining operational improvements. The Distribution Center Manager is expected to take ownership of routine operational decisions, resolve issues independently when appropriate, and partner with the Sr. Director, Operations on broader priorities, initiatives, and significant operational challenges.

Distribution Center Operations

• Manage all day-to-day distribution center activities, including receiving, put away, inventory, replenishment, picking, packing, and shipping.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and direction to warehouse staff and leads/supervisors, ensuring clear ownership of daily DC execution.
• Maintain a strong and consistent presence on the DC floor to oversee workflow, support employees, and address operational issues in real time.
• Plan and adjust daily labor and staffing based on order volume, inbound shipments, customer requirements, and changing business priorities while managing labor productivity and cost against operational needs.
• Ensure customer orders are picked, packed, and shipped accurately and on time.
• Monitor daily workflow and proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks or capacity constraints.
• Oversee parcel and LTL shipping operations and ensure shipments meet carrier and customer requirements.
• Maintain inventory integrity through disciplined receiving, put away, replenishment, cycle counting, location control, and timely resolution of inventory discrepancies.
• Partner with internal teams to prioritize urgent orders, customer requirements, and changing business needs.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, develop, and hold DC employees accountable to established performance, productivity, attendance, safety, and quality expectations.
• Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback and coaching to employees.
• Foster a positive, productive, and accountable work environment.
• Assist with staffing decisions, interviewing, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee development.
• Identify training needs and ensure employees are properly trained on equipment, systems, safety procedures, and standard operating procedures.
• Develop team members and build appropriate coverage and cross-training across DC functions.
• Lead employees through operational, process, and system changes while maintaining service, productivity, and employee engagement.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture throughout the distribution center.
• Ensure employees follow company safety policies, procedures, and equipment requirements.
• Conduct regular floor observations and address unsafe conditions or behaviors promptly.
• Partner with Operations and HR on safety training, incident review, corrective actions, and ongoing safety initiatives.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe working environment.
• Ensure compliance with applicable workplace safety requirements, customer requirements, and company policies.

Inventory & Order Accuracy

• Maintain a high level of inventory accuracy through effective inventory-control practices and disciplined execution of established procedures.
• Investigate inventory discrepancies, shipping errors, mis-picks, and other operational issues and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor order accuracy and identify recurring trends or process gaps.
• Partner with Purchasing, Customer Experience, Accounting, and other teams to resolve inventory and fulfillment issues.

Process Improvement & Performance

• Establish, monitor, and improve key distribution center KPIs related to productivity, order accuracy, on-time shipping, inventory accuracy, safety, and labor efficiency.
• Use operational data and KPIs to make informed decisions regarding labor deployment, workflow, priorities, and process improvements.
• Evaluate existing processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, throughput, and employee productivity.
• Develop, document, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Use operational data and system reporting to identify trends, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead process and operational changes from implementation through adoption, ensuring improvements are effectively communicated, executed, and sustained.
• Make sound operational decisions independently while escalating significant risks or broader business issues when appropriate.

System & Technology

• Utilize the Warehouse Management System (WMS) to manage inventory, fulfillment, receiving, and warehouse workflow.
• Ensure employees are using systems and scanning processes accurately and consistently.
• Partner with internal systems/IT teams to troubleshoot issues and improve warehouse processes and system utilization.
• Utilize shipping and transportation systems to manage parcel and LTL shipments.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of warehouse or distribution center experience.
• 3+ years of warehouse leadership or management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing receiving, inventory, picking, packing, shipping, and daily warehouse workflow.
• Proven ability to manage labor, staffing, productivity, and changing daily priorities while balancing operational requirements and labor efficiency.
• Strong experience leading, coaching, developing, and holding warehouse teams accountable.
• Demonstrated focus on workplace safety, order accuracy, on-time shipping, inventory accuracy, and customer compliance.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to independently identify and resolve operational issues.
• Experience developing and implementing SOPs, KPIs, and process improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through operational, process, and system changes while maintaining service, productivity, and employee engagement.
• Warehouse Management System (WMS) experience required.
• NetSuite WMS experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with parcel and LTL shipping required.
• ShipHawk and/or other Transportation Management System (TMS) experience preferred.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with Operations, Sales, Customer Experience, Purchasing, Accounting, and other departments.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work regularly in an active warehouse/distribution center environment.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements associated with warehouse operations.
• Ability to work additional or adjusted hours as business volume and operational needs require.