Hands-on Warehouse Operations Leader: Drive Performance

Confidential; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential is seeking an experienced Warehouse Operations Manager to lead our warehouse within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will drive performance, develop leaders, and cultivate a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The role requires a hands-on, results-driven leader who balances people leadership with execution, partners across Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain, and ensures materials and finished goods move efficiently and accurately through

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years of progressive warehouse, distribution, materials, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of experience leading managers and/or supervisors.
• Demonstrated success improving operational performance and accountability.
• Food manufacturing experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall warehouse operations, including receiving, material movement, inventory, storage, staging, and shipping.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold leaders and team members accountable for results.
• Lead, coach, and develop warehouse leadership teams to strengthen ownership, decision-making, and execution.
• Drive key operational metrics including safety, productivity, inventory accuracy, service levels, labor efficiency, and on-time performance.
• Identify performance gaps and implement sustainable corrective actions to improve operational results.
• Create a culture of urgency, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Supply Chain leadership to ensure materials are available when and where needed to support production.
• Ensure warehouse processes and practices comply with company policies, food safety requirements, quality standards, and regulatory expectations.
• Develop and maintain effective staffing, scheduling, labor utilization, and workforce planning strategies.
• Establish consistent operating standards, processes, and communication routines across warehouse teams.
• Utilize data and performance reporting to identify trends, prioritize opportunities, and drive measurable improvement.
• Lead change initiatives and operational improvements that increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve service.
• Ensure a safe, clean, organized, and high-performing warehouse environment.
• Communicate operational priorities, expectations, and results clearly to leadership and the broader team.
• Set the standard: Model the behaviors, work ethic, and accountability expected throughout the organization.
• Lead through leaders: Develop supervisors and managers to effectively manage performance and build strong teams.
• Own the results: Take accountability for warehouse performance and proactively address issues rather than allowing problems to persist.
• Drive performance: Establish measurable goals and consistently follow through on commitments.
• Develop people: Build capability, identify high-potential talent, and address performance gaps with consistency and fairness.
• Create alignment: Build strong partnerships across Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Safety, and other functions.

Skills

Leadership

Warehouse operations

Inventory management

Material flow

Labor management

Data-driven decision making

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or a related field

Tools

ERP systems

WMS

Performance metrics tracking

Job description

Confidential is seeking an experienced Warehouse Operations Manager to lead our warehouse within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will drive performance, develop leaders, and cultivate a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The role requires a hands-on, results-driven leader who balances people leadership with execution, partners across Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain, and ensures materials and finished goods move efficiently and accurately through