Warehouse Operations Manager (Outbound)

KeHE Distributors, LLC; Romeoville (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Rx

Dental

Vision

FSA/HSA

Supplemental life insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Paid sick time

STD/LTD

ESOP

Holiday pay

Job summary

KeHE Distributors, LLC is seeking a Warehouse Operations Manager in Illinois to oversee multiple departments within a single distribution center, drive LEAN optimization, and lead a safety‑driven, high‑performing team.

You will champion continuous improvement, manage KPIs for productivity, accuracy, and safety, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to reduce costs while maintaining quality and compliance.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree required; additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 3–5 years of experience in warehouse operations, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Excellent problem solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of successfully managing & motivating teams and driving operational excellence.
• Experience with LEAN or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong proficiency with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and other operational software.

Responsibilities

• Oversee multiple departments within a single distribution center (DC).
• Drive LEAN and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
• Lead and mentor warehouse supervisors and associates across multiple shifts.
• Set performance goals, monitor KPIs, and ensure safety, productivity, and accuracy.

Skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Communication

Interpersonal skills

LEAN / CI

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

WMS

Job description

Why Work for KeHE?

• Full-time
• Pay Range: $100,000.00/Yr. - $115,000.00/Yr.
• Shift Days: SU-TH, Shift Time: 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Benefits on Day 1
  • Health/Rx
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
  • Supplemental life insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Paid time off
  • Paid sick time
  • Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
  • Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
  • Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Overview

At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

Primary Responsibilities

As the Warehouse Operations Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing multiple departments within a single distribution center (DC), ensuring that all operations meet or exceed performance targets.

Your leadership will drive operational excellence through a hands‑on approach, fostering a high‑performance culture, improving efficiency, and ensuring adherence to safety standards. You will lead your teams in achieving optimal performance across the warehouse, focusing on productivity, safety, accuracy, and cleanliness.

Essential Functions

Leading and Developing Team Members

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of warehouse supervisors and associates across multiple shifts, ensuring they have the resources, tools, and training to meet performance goals and succeed in their roles.
• Set clear expectations and foster a culture of collaboration, performance excellence, and accountability, inspiring a team mentality and commitment to team goals.
• Provide real‑time coaching, feedback, and mentorship to develop leadership skills within the team and promote career progression for all associates.
• Champion workforce development and retention strategies, ensuring a positive and respectful work environment that motivates associates to continually improve and perform at their best.

Safety & Compliance Management

• Lead and manage safety programs, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and company policies, and instilling a safety‑first mindset across all teams.
• Conduct regular safety audits, inspections, and training, actively addressing safety concerns to ensure a zero‑injury work environment.
• Promote safety and civility, making sure all associates are held accountable for maintaining a safe, clean, and compliant work environment where safety is a top priority for everyone.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee multiple warehouse functions to ensure smooth and efficient operations across all shifts, balancing productivity and operational quality.
• Lead and champion LEAN and continuous improvement initiatives across warehouse operations, identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
• Collaborate with leadership and cross‑functional teams to develop and implement long‑term strategies that drive operational efficiency, improve throughput, and reduce costs while maintaining a high standard of safety and accuracy.
• Encourage feedback and ideas from associates to foster innovation and process improvement, ensuring that the warehouse operations evolve and adapt to meet changing demands.
• Set performance goals, monitor KPIs, and work with teams to achieve high standards of safety, productivity, accuracy, and cleanliness.

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude

• Associate’s degree required; additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 3‑5 years of experience in warehouse operations, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Excellent problem solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of successfully managing & motivating teams and driving operational excellence.
• Experience with LEAN or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong proficiency with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and other operational software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma certification or similar continuous improvement qualification.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential warehouse functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to lift, move, and carry 30‑40 pounds repetitively upwards of 1,000 times per day. Must be able to lift, move, and carry larger items up to 75 pounds less frequently. The Warehouse Operations Manager is frequently required to stand, walk, climb and sit at times in the warehouse. While performing the duties of this position, the supervisor is subject to a warehouse environment where temperatures can vary from very cool to very warm.

Freezer temperatures: (-20°F) | Refrigerator temperature (25‑35°F). The manager is also exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise levels in the warehouse work environment are typically low to moderate.

Equal Employer Opportunity Statement

KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.