Warehouse Lead

Continental Labor & Staffing Resources; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Clsri in Bakersfield, CA seeks an experienced Warehouse Lead to run the floor, direct the team, and own inventory accuracy for timely shipments and installations.

The role serves as the Operations Manager's right-hand in the warehouse, enforcing safety, supervising forklift operations, and coordinating receiving, staging, and loading. A background in furniture or installation projects is a plus.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in warehouse, distribution, or logistics roles.
• 2+ years in a lead or supervisory role directing a warehouse crew.
• Current forklift certification and strong forklift experience.
• Experience unloading containers and managing palletized freight.
• Strong attention to detail with counts, BOLs, and paperwork.
• Ability to lift and move heavy items and stand/walk for extended periods.
• Comfortable with email, photos/uploads, and spreadsheets.
• Valid California driver's license with a clean record.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily work for warehouse staff; set priorities and assign tasks.
• Train new staff on receiving, staging, loading, equipment, and safety procedures.
• Hold the team accountable for quality, pace, and safety; report performance issues.
• Oversee unloading of containers and verify counts against the BOL and packing list.
• Own inventory accuracy: run cycle counts and investigate discrepancies.
• Plan warehouse layout and space ahead of large inbound shipments.
• Coordinate with operations on jobs, deliveries, and schedule changes.
• Enforce safety policies and ensure equipment is operated only by certified staff.

Skills

Warehouse leadership

Inventory control

Safety compliance

Forklift operation

Team supervision

Tools

Excel

Outlook

Teams

OneDrive

Job description

Job Summary

We're looking for an experienced, professional warehouseman to lead our warehouse. The Warehouse Lead runs the floor day to day, directs the warehouse team, and owns inventory accuracy and warehouse organization. This person is the Operations Manager's right-hand in the warehouse and is trusted to make decisions, hold the team to a high standard, and keep product moving accurately and on time. Our warehouse receives full containers and multi-pallet freight, stages product by job, and loads trucks for deliveries and installations. Accuracy, organization, and damage-free handling directly affect our job sites and our customers.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Direct daily work for the Assistant Lead, warehouse workers, and temporary staff; set priorities and assign tasks.
• Train new and temporary staff on receiving, staging, loading, equipment, and safety procedures.
• Hold the team accountable for quality, pace, and safety; raise performance issues to the Operations Manager.
• Delegate floor tasks to the Assistant Lead so the lead can stay focused on inventory and planning.

Receiving & Damage Control

• Oversee unloading of containers and LTL freight; verify counts against the BOL and packing list.
• Ensure all damage and shortages are noted on the BOL before the driver signs and leaves.
• Make sure shipments and damage are photographed, uploaded to the shared receiving folder, and reported through the company's damage notification process.

Inventory & Organization

• Own inventory accuracy: run cycle counts, investigate and resolve discrepancies, and report findings.
• Maintain a clear, labeled location system so product can be found quickly by order/job number.
• Plan warehouse layout and space ahead of large inbound shipments and install periods.
• Identify and track components and parts across multi-item furniture orders.

Shipping, Staging & Job Support

• Plan and verify staging for deliveries and installation jobs so everything ships complete.
• Oversee truck loading to ensure product is protected, secured, and loaded in unload order.
• Coordinate with the Operations Team on upcoming jobs, deliveries, and schedule changes.

Safety & Equipment

• Enforce Cal/OSHA and company safety policies; lead by example.
• Ensure forklifts and equipment are inspected, maintained, and operated only by certified staff.
• Keep the warehouse clean, organized, and safe at all times.

Documentation & Communication

• Make sure team time is recorded accurately against job numbers and warehouse tasks.
• Complete receiving paperwork, counts, and reports clearly and on time.
• Communicate issues, shortages, and delays to the Operations Manager early.

QualificationsRequired

• 5+ years of warehouse, distribution, or logistics experience, including receiving, shipping, and inventory control.
• 2+ years in a lead or supervisory role directing a warehouse crew.
• Current forklift certification and strong forklift experience.
• Experience unloading containers and managing palletized freight.
• Strong attention to detail with counts, BOLs, and paperwork.
• Able to lift and move heavy, bulky, and fragile items and stand/walk for extended periods.
• Comfortable with email, phone photos/uploads, and spreadsheets.
• Valid California driver's license with a clean record.

Preferred

• Experience with furniture, fixtures, or equipment or installation-based companies.
• Experience running cycle counts or inventory systems.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, and Excel.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).

What We're Looking For

• A professional warehouseman who takes ownership of the whole warehouse, not just the task in front of them.
• Organized, disciplined, and detail-focused — sets the standard for the team.
• Calm, decisive leader on heavy days and under deadlines.
• Communicates problems early and comes with solutions.
• Earns respect from the crew by working alongside them.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly lift up to 50 lbs; team-lift heavier items. Frequent bending, climbing, reaching, pushing, and pulling. Work in a warehouse environment with seasonal heat.