Warehouse Lead - Food Distribution

The Common Market; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 29,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

SIMPLE IRA with 100% employer match

Employer-paid Life, AD&D, Short- and L

Job summary

The Common Market in Philadelphia operates a fast-paced refrigerated distribution center. The Warehouse Lead (Level 3) ensures receiving, inventory, order fulfillment, and outbound logistics run smoothly and safely.

You work on the floor with the team, coaching staff and solving problems in real time, reporting to the General Manager, and helping prepare for the next day’s deliveries. The role is hands-on and high accountability.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in warehouse, distribution, or logistics (food preferred).
• 2+ years in hands-on order picking and receiving.
• Experience leading or supervising a team.
• Forklift certification (or ability to obtain).
• Strong understanding of inventory systems and basic computer skills.
• Familiarity with food safety standards and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee receiving, inventory control, picking, packing, and staging.
• Ensure all outbound orders are accurate, complete, and ready on time.
• Support routing and staging for efficient truck loading.
• Lead and coach warehouse associates throughout the shift.
• Reinforce standard operating procedures and safe work practices.
• Identify and resolve issues before they impact customers.

Skills

Warehouse experience

Leadership

Inventory systems

Safety compliance

Forklift certification

Tools

Inventory software

Basic computer skills

Job description

Context

The Common Market is a nonprofit food distributor working to build a more resilient and equitable food system. Through our regional food hubs, we connect local farmers to schools, hospitals, and community organizations—moving fresh, high-quality food through a mission-driven supply chain.

Context

The Common Market is a nonprofit food distributor working to build a more resilient and equitable food system. Through our regional food hubs, we connect local farmers to schools, hospitals, and community organizations—moving fresh, high-quality food through a mission-driven supply chain.
Our Philadelphia warehouse is a fast-paced, refrigerated distribution environment where precision, teamwork, and accountability matter. This role sits at the center of daily execution—ensuring that what we promise to customers is delivered accurately, safely, and on time.
Role Overview

The Warehouse Lead (Level 3) is the operational backbone of the afternoon shift. You are responsible for making sure receiving, inventory, order fulfillment, and outbound logistics run smoothly—and that the team executes consistently at a high standard.
This is not a sit-back supervisory role. You will be on the floor, solving problems in real time, coaching staff, and stepping in wherever needed to keep operations moving.
You will work closely with the General Manager and play a key role in preparing the warehouse for the next day\'s deliveries.
What You\'ll Do

Lead Daily Operations

• Oversee receiving, inventory control, picking, packing, and staging
• Ensure all outbound orders are accurate, complete, and ready on time
• Support routing and staging for efficient truck loading
  

Own Execution Quality

• Maintain high standards for accuracy, product quality, and organization
• Ensure proper lot tracking, labeling, and FIFO practices
• Identify and resolve issues before they impact customers
  

Supervise & Develop the Team

• Lead and coach warehouse associates throughout the shift
• Reinforce standard operating procedures and safe work practices
• Provide real-time feedback and support performance improvement
  

Drive Continuous Improvement

• Spot inefficiencies and implement practical fixes
• Help improve workflows, layout, and communication across shifts
  

Maintain Food Safety & Compliance

• Uphold all food safety, sanitation, and temperature control standards
• Ensure logs, checks, and processes are completed consistently

Who This Role Is For

• You take pride in running a tight, organized operation
• You are comfortable holding people accountable while building trust
• You can balance speed and accuracy without cutting corners
• You are calm under pressure and able to make decisions quickly
• You enjoy being hands-on and leading from the floor

Who This Role Is Not For

• Someone looking for a purely administrative or desk-based role
• Someone who avoids difficult conversations or performance management
• Someone who needs constant direction instead of taking ownership
• Someone uncomfortable working in cold environments or doing physical work
• Someone who prefers flexibility over a fixed, high-accountability schedule

Qualifications

• 3+ years of warehouse, distribution, or logistics experience (food preferred)
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in both order selection and receiving
• Prior experience leading or supervising a team
• Forklift certification (or ability to obtain)
• Strong understanding of inventory systems and basic computer skills
• Familiarity with food safety standards and best practices

Working Conditions & Schedule

• Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday | 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Refrigerated warehouse environment (cold conditions)
• Regular lifting up to 50 lbs
• Fast-paced, physically active work

Compensation & Benefits

• $25.75/hour (Full-Time)
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• SIMPLE IRA with 100% employer match
• Employer-paid Life, AD&D, Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, holidays)
• Ongoing training and development

Why This Role Matters

This role directly impacts our ability to deliver on our mission. When this job is done well, farmers get reliable market access, and schools and hospitals receive high-quality food they can trust.

If you\'re someone who wants to lead from the front and take ownership of real operational outcomes, this is a role where your work will be visible and meaningful every day.