2nd Shift Inventory Lead

Conexus Food Solutions; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Conexus Food Solutions, a Chicago-based leader in the Asian food service industry, seeks a hands-on 2nd Shift Warehouse Lead. You will direct the team on the floor, coordinate shift activities, and ensure safety and accuracy targets are met in a fast-paced environment with cooler and freezer zones.

The ideal candidate has 2–4 years of warehouse experience with prior lead responsibilities, strong communication, and proficiency with ERP systems.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 2–4 years of warehouse experience with lead or supervisory duties.
• Experience operating forklift equipment and pallet jacks.
• Basic Microsoft Word & Excel skills.
• Experience with ERP or inventory management systems preferred.
• Strong communication and team leadership skills.
• Bilingual in English and Chinese or Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and supervise warehouse associates during 2nd shift, assigning tasks and adjusting workflow to meet daily production and shipping goals.
• Oversee and participate in picking, loading, and put-away, delegating tasks to ensure freight and orders move on schedule.
• Monitor shift productivity and accuracy, tracking associate performance and addressing issues in real time.
• Train, coach, and onboard new warehouse associates on procedures, safety standards, and equipment use.
• Enforce safety protocols and food safety/GMP standards; conduct or support safety walks and address hazards immediately.
• Operate and/or oversee the safe use of warehouse equipment, including forklifts and pallet jacks.
• Coordinate with inventory/QC, supply chain, and other shift leads to resolve discrepancies, shortages, or order issues.
• Monitor and help maintain cooler and freezer temperatures within compliance ranges.
• Ensure accurate inventory handling and scanning through ERP/PDA systems during shift operations.
• Communicate shift updates, incidents, and handoff notes to management and the incoming shift lead.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe warehouse, including staging areas and dock zones.
• Recommend and help implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce errors or waste.
• Assist management with scheduling, attendance tracking, and other shift-level administrative duties.
• Step in to perform warehouse associate duties as needed to keep operations on track.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Bilingual English/Chinese

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Forklifts

Pallet jacks

Job description

Work Hours: 6 Day Work Week — Sundays through Fridays, 5:30 PM – 2:30 AM

Who We Are

Conexus Food Solutions is a leader in the Asian food service industry, bringing a diverse range of ethnic cuisines, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai, to the table. Our corporate headquarters in Chicago is where we house our fully integrated food processing, manufacturing, logistics, and worldwide supply chain services all under one roof. With distribution centers spanning the US, over 2 million square feet of warehousing space, and a fleet of more than 1,000 trucks, we're the go‑to when it comes to reliable delivery services.

At Conexus Food Solutions, we believe that teamwork and collaboration are the keys to success. We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards of integrity and honesty in everything we do and building strong relationships with our clients. We're looking for individuals who share our values and are committed to excellence. Join our team and contribute to our culture of collaboration and integrity while growing your own skills and expertise. Together, we'll deliver high‑quality products and exceptional service to our clients and achieve great things.

What You'll Do:

As a 2nd Shift Warehouse Lead, you'll be the on-the-floor point person for warehouse operations during your shift, directing associates, keeping work moving safely and efficiently, and making sure the team hits productivity and accuracy targets. This is a hands‑on leadership role: you'll split your time between working alongside your team and coordinating the shift, in a fast‑paced environment that includes cooler and freezer operations.

The ideal candidate is a dependable, hands‑on leader who can motivate a team, solve problems on the fly, and stay organized under pressure in a physically demanding warehouse setting.

You will be responsible for:

• Lead, direct, and supervise warehouse associates during 2nd shift, assigning tasks and adjusting workflow to meet daily production and shipping goals
• Oversee and participate in picking, loading, and put‑away, delegating tasks to the appropriate personnel to keep freight and orders moving on schedule
• Monitor shift productivity and accuracy, tracking associate performance and addressing issues in real time
• Train, coach, and onboard new warehouse associates on procedures, safety standards, and equipment use
• Enforce safety protocols and food safety/GMP standards; conduct or support safety walks and address hazards immediately
• Operate and/or oversee the safe use of warehouse equipment, including forklifts and pallet jacks
• Coordinate with inventory/QC, supply chain, and other shift leads to resolve discrepancies, shortages, or order issues
• Monitor and help maintain cooler and freezer temperatures within compliance ranges
• Ensure accurate inventory handling and scanning through ERP/PDA systems during shift operations
• Communicate shift updates, incidents, and handoff notes to management and the incoming shift lead
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe warehouse, including staging areas and dock zones
• Recommend and help implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce errors or waste
• Assist management with scheduling, attendance tracking, and other shift-level administrative duties
• Step in to perform warehouse associate duties as needed to keep operations on track
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Physical Requirements for the Role

• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Must be able to work in varying temperatures, including freezer environments as cold as -10°F
• Must be able to regularly lift 20–30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 100 pounds
• Must possess manual dexterity to safely handle tools and warehouse equipment
• Frequent bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, and walking throughout the shift
• Must be able to work a 2nd shift schedule, including nights and weekends as needed

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of 2–4 years of warehouse experience, including prior lead or supervisory experience (preferred)
• Experience operating warehouse equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks (preferred)
• Basic Microsoft Word & Excel skills
• Experience with ERP or inventory management systems (preferred)
• Strong communication and team leadership skills
• Bilingual in either Chinese or Spanish and English (preferred)