Warehouse Logistics Manager

The Shepherd Chemical Company; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shepherd Chemical Company is seeking a hands-on Logistics & Warehouse Manager to lead all warehousing and distribution activities, ensuring safe, on-time movement of materials and finished goods. You will manage warehouse teams, negotiate with carriers, and drive process improvements across the function.

Your leadership will focus on cost control, service reliability, and strong collaboration with Customer Service, QC, Operations, and Finance to optimize delivery performance and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Experience with chemical-industry transportation and regulations.
• Strong written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end warehouse operations across finished goods and raw materials.
• Lead, coach, and develop warehouse and receiving staff with clear priorities.
• Design and continuously improve warehouse processes and safety practices.
• Lead negotiations with carriers and 3PLs on rates and service levels.
• Build scorecards to drive carrier performance and cost control.
• Coordinate import/export compliance and documentation accuracy.
• Collaborate with customers, QA, Operations, and Finance to optimize delivery.
• Provide monthly freight-cost visibility and control expenses.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Logistics management

Process improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field

Equivalent experience

Tools

SAP

Job description

The Shepherd Chemical Company manufactures metal-based chemicals that are essential to technologies for consumer safety, environmental sustainability, advanced product performance and industrial process efficiency. Partnering with industries from fragrance and personal care to petrochemicals and polyurethanes, Shepherd collaborates on both standard and custom co-developed metal chemistries. In collaboration with our customers, we are working to solve some of their most complex problems through the synthesis, scale up, and commercialization of inorganic and organic metal compounds.

Our employees scale projects from "concept to container", travel the world to visit customers and attend industry conferences, and participate in community initiatives for health, wellness, safety and philanthropy. Performing meaningful work with trusted, talented colleagues is our formula for success and being a great place to work. Every day, our employees relentlessly pursue Shepherd's Core Purpose and Core Values.

We are seeking a hands-on, strategic Logistics & Warehouse Manager to lead all aspects of our logistics and warehousing functions. In this highly visible role, you will guide warehouse teams, strengthen carrier and third-party logistics partnerships, improve processes, and ensure finished products and raw materials move safely, efficiently, and on time. Your leadership will directly support outstanding customer service, operational reliability, cost control, and continuous improvement.

Job Duties:

• Own end-to-end warehouse operations, including receiving, storage, staging, picking, loading, and shipping across finished-goods and raw-material warehouses.
• Lead, coach, and develop warehouse and receiving employees by setting clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Design, document, and continuously improve warehouse processes, standard work, safety practices, and service performance.
• Lead negotiations with carriers and third-party logistics providers on rates, capacity, service levels, and accessorial charges.
• Build and maintain scorecards that drive carrier and 3PL performance, cost control, and service reliability.
• Ensure import and export compliance with applicable local and international regulations, including accurate and timely documentation.
• Partner across the business with customers, Customer Service, the QC lab, Operations, suppliers, and Finance to optimize delivery performance and minimize domestic and international transportation costs.
• Provide monthly freight-route cost information and improve visibility to freight, storage, trailer, and accessorial expenses.
• Support accurate financial accruals through complete and timely invoice approvals, proper general-ledger coding, and freight-bill audits.
• Track, investigate, and resolve shipping errors while ensuring all services meet required quality standards.
• Champion safety, Responsible Care, and performance through team training, individual coaching, and timely feedback.
• Support the consistent application of Shepherd policies and practices in alignment with Shepherd's core purpose and core values.
• Coordinate transportation providers to ensure the prompt and proper movement of shipments.
• Remain available by cell phone outside normal business hours when transportation or delivery issues could affect customers.
• Lead at least one significant improvement initiative each year.
• Identify procedural gaps and create clear, practical standard-work documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or a related field - or equivalent experience.
• Experience with chemical-industry transportation and applicable regulations.
• Technical ability to understand Shepherd customers, products, and specifications.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team.
• Strong written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in logistics or customer service.
• Experience working in SAP.

EEO Statement

The Shepherd Material Science Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age (40 or over), disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.