Cold-Chain Warehouse Lead (First Shift)

UNC Dairy; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 81,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Upstate Niagara Cooperative is seeking a Warehouse Supervisor to lead cooler warehouse operations on the 1st shift. This full-time role involves supervising staff, ensuring safe and efficient handling of dairy products, and maintaining inventory accuracy in a refrigerated environment.

You will oversee product rotation, coordinate with drivers and plant supervisors, and support regulatory food safety standards. Salary range is posted; evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of supervisory or team lead experience.
• Experience in warehouse, manufacturing, or logistics environments.
• Refrigerated or food manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP/WMS systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support shift employees to meet productivity, quality, and safety expectations.
• Provide ongoing coaching, training, and development for team members.
• Address performance and attendance issues and elevate as needed in accordance with company policy.
• Maintain an open-door environment to encourage communication and employee engagement.
• Assist with scheduling and staffing adjustments to meet operational needs.
• Full-time salaried position with a standard 45-hour work week; additional hours expected as needed to meet business demands and project deadlines.
• Oversee daily cooler operations, including product rotation (FIFO/FEFO), code date checks, and general inventory accuracy.
• Tour the cooler regularly to monitor product quality, location accuracy, and stock levels.
• Coordinate with Driver Supervisors and Plant Supervisors to support efficient load-out and order fulfillment.
• Maintain working knowledge of products and inventory status.
• Ensure proper use and safe operation of material-handling equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, dock equipment).
• Support efficient material flow to minimize delays in production and shipping.
• Receive and provide clear shift handoffs between supervisors.
• Communicate with Plant Management regarding inventory levels and operational issues.
• Complete end-of-shift reporting with required information.
• Follow and reinforce all regulatory and internal food safety requirements (OSHA, FDA, HACCP, GMPs, etc.).
• Monitor cooler temperatures and report deviations.
• Support traceability standards for all incoming and outgoing product.
• Follow SOPs and complete required documentation accurately.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Enforce safety policies including PPE usage and equipment safety.
• Maintain a clean, organized work environment.
• Report spills, damaged product, or safety concerns promptly.
• Support proper handling of out-of-spec materials.
• Utilize SAP (or similar system) to support inventory transactions and monitor basic inventory accuracy.
• Assist team members with system-related tasks such as receiving, issuing, and cycle counts.
• Report and help investigate inventory discrepancies.
• Support outbound scheduling and ensure orders are completed accurately and on time.
• Monitor and communicate inventory variances.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Team supervision

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Job description

Upstate Niagara Cooperative is seeking a Warehouse Supervisor to lead cooler warehouse operations on the 1st shift. This full-time role involves supervising staff, ensuring safe and efficient handling of dairy products, and maintaining inventory accuracy in a refrigerated environment.

You will oversee product rotation, coordinate with drivers and plant supervisors, and support regulatory food safety standards. Salary range is posted; evening/weekend hours may be required.