Director Warehouse Automation

Socket.dev; Ecru (MS); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental & Vision

Paid time off

Employee discount

Professional development

Tuition assistance

401(k) + profit sharing

Life insurance

Job summary

Ashley Furniture is seeking a Director of Warehouse Automation to design and lead the automation strategy across its distribution network. You will guide the end-to-end deployment of robotics, ASRS, conveyors, AMRs, and WCS/WMS integrations to boost efficiency, safety, and scalability.

The role partners with operations, engineering, and finance to build business cases, manage multi-site projects, and drive continuous improvement. Travel to multiple DCs may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in warehouse, distribution, fulfillment, or supply chain operations.
• Proven experience leading automation implementations in high-volume environments.
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations, material handling, and labor productivity metrics.
• Experience building business cases, capital investments, and ROI analyses.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term warehouse automation roadmap aligned with growth and goals.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement automation tech including ASRS, conveyors, AMRs, and WMS/WCS.
• Lead end-to-end automation projects from vendor selection to optimization.
• Collaborate with operations to translate challenges into scalable automation solutions.
• Establish standard methodologies and frameworks across distribution centers.
• Manage relationships with automation vendors, integrators, and manufacturers.
• Monitor KPIs to measure ROI and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure safety, quality, and productivity while minimizing disruption.
• Coordinate with IT, Engineering, Supply Chain and Operations on systems integration.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Problem-solving

Change management

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

WMS

WCS

Automation systems

Job description

Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture- Where Innovation Meets Comfort

Who We Are:

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we’re more than a business — we’re a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.

If you’re ready to grow, you’ve come to the right place. With a true “Growth Mindset,” Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.

Summary:

The Director of Warehouse Automation is responsible for developing and executing the automation strategy across warehouse and distribution center operations. This role leads the evaluation, design, implementation, and optimization of automation solutions that improve efficiency, productivity, safety, quality, and scalability. Partnering closely with operations, engineering, technology, and finance leaders, the Director will identify opportunities to leverage automation technologies, robotics, and advanced material handling systems to drive operational excellence across the distribution network.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a long-term warehouse automation roadmap aligned with organizational growth and operational objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement automation technologies, including robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), conveyor systems, sortation equipment, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and warehouse control systems.
• Partner with business leaders to develop business cases, financial analyses, ROI models, and capital investment recommendations for automation initiatives.
• Lead end-to-end automation projects, including vendor selection, system design, implementation, testing, startup, and optimization.
• Collaborate with warehouse operations teams to identify process improvement opportunities and translate operational challenges into scalable automation solutions.
• Establish standard methodologies and automation frameworks that can be replicated across multiple distribution centers.
• Manage relationships with automation vendors, integrators, consultants, and equipment manufacturers.
• Monitor key performance indicators and operational metrics to measure the effectiveness of automation investments and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure automation solutions support safety, quality, service, and productivity goals while minimizing operational disruption.
• Work closely with Information Technology, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to integrate automation systems with existing business platforms and processes.
• Provide leadership and guidance to cross-functional project teams throughout the planning and execution of automation initiatives.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices related to warehouse automation and distribution operations.
• Support change management efforts, operational readiness planning, and training programs to ensure successful adoption of new technologies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience within warehouse, distribution, fulfillment, or supply chain operations.
• Proven experience leading the implementation of automation solutions within high-volume distribution or fulfillment environments.
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations, material handling systems, distribution processes, and labor productivity metrics.
• Experience developing business cases, capital investment proposals, and ROI analyses for large-scale operational initiatives.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, cross-functional projects from concept through implementation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Experience working with warehouse management systems (WMS), warehouse control systems (WCS), and automation technologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to travel as needed to support multiple distribution center locations.

Additional Qualifications, Preferred:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Experience implementing automation solutions across multiple warehouse or distribution center locations.
• Knowledge of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and emerging warehouse technologies.
• Experience supporting greenfield distribution centers or automation startup initiatives.
• Lean, Six Sigma, PMP, or related professional certifications.
• Experience in furniture, retail, manufacturing, consumer goods, or large-scale distribution environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and drive adoption of new technologies across operations teams.
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar automation and capital improvement projects.

Work Environment:

This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.

Benefits We Offer:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values:

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.

• Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.

• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.

• Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.

• Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.

• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.

• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Please note this position is not eligible for current or future employment sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or at any time in the future.