Director of Automated DC Operations (Startup)

AEO; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Associate Discount

Casual Dress Code

Company Events

Job summary

AEO is seeking a Director of DC Operations in Salisbury, NC to lead a new, $40M automated distribution center and build the leadership team. You will own site strategy, vendor partnerships, and local policy decisions as you guide the startup and post-launch operations for SLA and cost targets.

This role requires a visible, culture-first leader with 10–15 years in large-scale retail or omni-channel DCs, and a track record of managing $50M+ budgets and capital investments. Travel is required.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in large-scale distribution or omni-channel facilities.
• Experience managing multi-shift operations and budget oversight.
• Strong strategic and financial planning capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Direct the site startup phase, overseeing facility setup, installation and integration of automated systems and local operational strategy
• Recruit, hire and onboard a cohesive leadership team and foundational support staff to drive site readiness
• Make critical, localized decisions on site policies, workflows and vendor partnerships to ensure a seamless launch
• Serve as the visible site leader, prioritizing daily frontline engagement from day one to establish retention, morale and performance
• Mentor your leadership team, delegating authority to empower managers to make decisions and solve operational challenges independently
• Communicate clear site strategy, set shift priorities and cultivate an Employer of Choice culture across all shifts
• Lead operations across a highly automated facility, maximizing material handling technology to hit speed and efficiency goals post-launch
• Support peak staffing, workflow execution and support function alignment to meet SLAs and CPU targets
• Maintain a safe, secure and respectful working environment across the site
• Manage the site P&L and operational budget to achieve cost targets and maximize ROI on the $40M facility investment
• Develop long-term labor models, site expansion plans and continuous improvement strategies with partners

Skills

Leadership

Startup experience

Financial acumen

Operations management

Team building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering

Job description

AEO is seeking a Director of DC Operations in Salisbury, NC to lead a new, $40M automated distribution center and build the leadership team. You will own site strategy, vendor partnerships, and local policy decisions as you guide the startup and post-launch operations for SLA and cost targets.

This role requires a visible, culture-first leader with 10–15 years in large-scale retail or omni-channel DCs, and a track record of managing $50M+ budgets and capital investments. Travel is required.