Director, Warehouse Operations

Central Garden & Pet; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Garden & Pet seeks an experienced Director of Warehouse Operations to lead a fast-paced supply chain team on-site, overseeing all facets of warehouse operations for omnichannel orders in lawn, garden, and pet segments. You will drive safety, performance reporting, and cost-effective delivery while collaborating with finance, sales, and operations.

The role demands strong leadership, 10+ years in distribution management, and hands-on expertise with WMS, RF tech, and advanced Excel.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of distribution operations management experience overseeing order fulfillment, delivery, safety, inventory control.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Clear, concise written and oral communication; bilingual Spanish preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact with all levels of the organization.
• Hands-on, high-energy individual with presentation skills.
• Analytical mindset with extreme attention to detail; knowledge of distribution operations including receiving, stocking, order filling, replenishment, shipping and inventory control.
• Experience with a Warehouse Management System (WMS) and RF technology; advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Champion a safety-first culture across all warehouse facilities.
• Provide regular reports on warehouse performance to executives and other departments.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve efficiency, accuracy, and on-time delivery while reducing costs.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost reduction through process enhancements and automation.
• Build and lead a high-performing warehouse operations team; provide mentorship.
• Own budget for warehouse operations and ensure prudent resource allocation.
• Support shifts as needed to meet business needs.

Skills

Leadership

Distribution operations

Communication

Problem solving

Strategic planning

Bilingual Spanish (preferred)

Education

BS degree

Tools

WMS

RF scanners

MS Office/Excel

Job description

Description

We are seeking an experienced Director of Warehouse Operations to join our established, fast-paced Supply Chain team. This role is critical to fulfilling omnichannel orders for products in the lawn, garden, and pet segments. As the Director, you will be onsite, leading a team in all aspects of warehouse operations while fostering a collaborative and inspiring environment. You'll play a key role in cross-functional initiatives, leveraging data-driven insights to drive success. This role involves collaborating across multiple business units including finance, sales, and operations while fostering strong relationships to achieve organizational goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety Leadership:

• Champion a culture of safety-first throughout all warehouse facilities, prioritizing the well-being of employees and the security of products.

Communication and Reporting:

• Maintain clear and open communication with executives and other departments, providing regular reports on warehouse performance and initiatives.

Operational Excellence:

• Develop and implement operational strategies that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and on-time delivery, while minimizing costs.

Continuous Improvement:

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities for process enhancement, automation, and cost reduction, and fostering a mindset of innovation and adaptation.

Team Leadership:

• Build and lead a high-performing team of warehouse operations managers and staff, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to drive excellence.

Budget Management:

• Own the budget for warehouse operations, ensuring cost control and resource allocation are in line with organizational goals.

Other duties as assigned:

• Prepared and willing to support shifts in business needs/focus.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BS degree preferred
• 10+ years of distribution operations management experience overseeing order fulfillment, delivery, safety, inventory control
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Must have clear, concise, written and oral communication skills. Bi-lingual Spanish is preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Strong work ethic with a "can do" attitude; ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• A hands-on, high-energy individual with excellent presentation skills.
• Strong analytical, conceptual and problem-solving skills and possess an extreme attention to detail.
• Detailed knowledge of distribution operations including receiving, stocking, order filling, replenishment, shipping and inventory control.
• Experience with a Warehouse Management System (WMS) and RF experience.
• Must have excellent computer skills in MS Office; Advanced Excel skills required.
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safemanner.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is conducted primarily in a warehouse environment.
• Light travel >10% for training, development, network support.

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) is a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries. Guided by the belief that home is central to life, the Company's purpose is to proudly nurture happy and healthy homes. For over 45 years, its innovative and trusted solutions have helped lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a diversified portfolio of market-leading brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Best Bully Sticks®, Cadet®, C&S®, Farnam®, Ferry-Morse®, Kaytee®, Nylabone®, Pennington®, Sevin® and Zoёcon®. With fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, Central has strong manufacturing and logistics capabilities supported by a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. The Company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and employs over 6,000 people, primarily across North America. Visit www.central.com to learn more.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.