Warehouse Operations & Distribution Manager

Pelican Products, Inc.; Ontario (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

401(k) with company match

Medical/Dental/Vision coverage

Paid time off and holidays

Employee discounts on Pelican products

Job summary

Pelican Products, Inc. is hiring a Warehouse Operations & Distribution Manager in Ontario, CA. You will own end-to-end warehouse and regional distribution activities—from receiving to shipping—driving safety, accuracy, and efficiency across teams.

You’ll lead supervisors and frontline staff, manage labor and space planning, and partner with cross-functional teams to meet customer needs and program launches in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 5–7 years in warehouse, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations.
• At least 3 years supervising warehouse/distribution teams.
• Experience managing receiving, inventory control, order fulfillment, shipping.
• Knowledge of warehouse operations, inventory management, labor planning, safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily warehouse and regional distribution operations across receiving, putaway, storage, replenishment, picking, packing, staging, shipping, and returns.
• Directly lead and develop supervisors, team leads, and employees with clear expectations and accountability.
• Ensure customer orders, transfer orders, and production requirements are fulfilled safely, accurately, and on schedule.
• Own inventory accuracy through system transactions, cycle counting, and discrepancy investigations.
• Plan labor, staffing, equipment, space, and shifts based on forecasts and region demand.
• Establish and monitor KPIs across safety, productivity, inventory accuracy, order accuracy, on-time shipping, cost, quality, and attendance.
• Develop and enforce SOPs and work instructions for warehouse activities.
• Coordinate regional outbound transportation including load planning and documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Planning

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain/logistics/operations

Tools

SAP

ERP/WMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

We're Hiring: Warehouse Operations & Distribution Manager

Location

Ontario, CA

Company

Pelican Products, Inc.

Who We Are

At Pelican, we engineer products that stand up to the world’s toughest conditions—because the people who rely on us do too. For nearly 50 years, we’ve been a trusted partner for military personnel, first responders, outdoor adventurers, and innovators who push the limits. With a global presence that includes 11 offices, 4 manufacturing facilities, and 4 custom case centers, we create high-performance protective solutions that ensure our customers can focus on what matters most. Whether it’s transporting critical medical supplies, securing mission-essential equipment, or keeping expedition gear safe, Pelican products are Built to Protect to Equip for the Mission. At Pelican, your work has a real-world impact. You’ll be part of a team driven by innovation, craftsmanship, and the shared belief that when the mission is critical, failure isn’t an option. If you’re ready to build something that makes a difference, be part of a team that protects what matters most.

What You'll Do

Pelican Products is looking for an experienced Warehouse Operations & Distribution Manager to lead warehouse and regional distribution operations at our Ontario, California facility. In this role, you’ll have direct ownership of the people, processes, and performance behind the movement of Pelican products—from receiving and inventory through picking, packing, shipping, and regional distribution.

• Lead daily warehouse and regional distribution operations across receiving, putaway, storage, replenishment, picking, packing, staging, shipping, returns, and internal material movement.
• Directly lead and develop warehouse supervisors, team leads, and employees while establishing clear expectations and accountability for results.
• Ensure customer orders, transfer orders, and production requirements are fulfilled safely, accurately, and on schedule.
• Own inventory accuracy through disciplined system transactions, cycle counting, physical inventories, location management, and timely investigation of discrepancies.
• Plan labor, staffing, equipment, warehouse space, and shift requirements based on forecasts, production schedules, order volume, seasonality, and regional demand.
• Establish and monitor warehouse KPIs across safety, productivity, inventory accuracy, order accuracy, on-time shipping, cost, quality, and attendance.
• Develop, document, train, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures and work instructions across warehouse and distribution activities.
• Coordinate regional outbound transportation, including carrier pickups, shipment priorities, load planning, freight documentation, and shipment exceptions.
• Optimize warehouse layout, slotting, storage utilization, material flow, and handling methods to improve capacity, productivity, and ergonomics.
• Investigate inventory variances, damaged products, shipping errors, service failures, and other operational issues; lead root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Manage operating expenses, overtime, warehouse supplies, equipment utilization, and other operational costs within established budgets.
• Maintain a safe, secure, clean, and compliant warehouse operation while ensuring employees follow established safety procedures, training requirements, and equipment standards.
• Partner with Planning, Manufacturing, Transportation, Customer Service, Sales, Finance, and other teams to support customer requirements and resolve operational challenges.
• Support new product launches, customer programs, production changes, inventory transitions, and regional growth initiatives.
• Build a culture of employee engagement, cross-training, accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 5–7 years of progressive experience in warehouse, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations.
• At least 3 years of supervisory or management experience leading warehouse or distribution teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing receiving, inventory control, order fulfillment, shipping, and material flow operations.
• Strong knowledge of warehouse operations, inventory management, labor and capacity planning, transportation, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing warehouse performance through KPIs, operational reporting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Experience planning labor and resources based on changing order volume, forecasts, production requirements, and business demand.
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing supervisors, leads, and frontline employees.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, planning, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple operational priorities while working effectively across different functions and organizational levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with SAP or a comparable ERP/WMS platform and Microsoft Office applications.

Additional Information

• This is an onsite leadership position located in Ontario, California.
• The position requires a strong presence within warehouse and distribution operations and regular interaction with frontline employees and supervisors.
• Flexibility with working hours may be required based on operational and business needs.
• Must be comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment with changing customer, production, inventory, and transportation priorities.
• Supports Pelican’s commitment to Safety, Quality, customer service, employee development, and continuous improvement.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive paid time off plans / Holiday pay / extra vacation purchase opportunities
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates
• 401(k) with immediate company match
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Health Savings Account Contribution
• Wellness Discount Program
• Global Mental Wellness Program
• Quarterly Employee Celebration Days
• Peer-to-Peer Recognition Program
• Service Recognition Program
• Employee Referral Program
• Employee discounts on Pelican products and gear
• Career growth opportunities across Engineering, Operations, and Product Development
• Work on products trusted by military personnel, first responders, industrial professionals, and explorers around the world
• Collaborate with experienced engineers and manufacturing teams while influencing products from concept through production
• Established global brand offering premium products you'll be proud to support
• And more...

Compensation & Benefits

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets. Base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The annual U.S. pay range for this position is listed below. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on your qualifications, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process. We also offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off, 10 paid holidays per year, medical/dental/vision insurance, company-paid life and disability plans, and matching 401k to eligible employees.

Pelican Products, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.