Warehouse Supervisor

UNC Dairy; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 81,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Upstate Niagara Cooperative is seeking a Warehouse Supervisor to lead cooler warehouse operations on the 1st shift. This full-time role involves supervising staff, ensuring safe and efficient handling of dairy products, and maintaining inventory accuracy in a refrigerated environment.

You will oversee product rotation, coordinate with drivers and plant supervisors, and support regulatory food safety standards. Salary range is posted; evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of supervisory or team lead experience.
• Experience in warehouse, manufacturing, or logistics environments.
• Refrigerated or food manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP/WMS systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support shift employees to meet productivity, quality, and safety expectations.
• Provide ongoing coaching, training, and development for team members.
• Address performance and attendance issues and elevate as needed in accordance with company policy.
• Maintain an open-door environment to encourage communication and employee engagement.
• Assist with scheduling and staffing adjustments to meet operational needs.
• Full-time salaried position with a standard 45-hour work week; additional hours expected as needed to meet business demands and project deadlines.
• Oversee daily cooler operations, including product rotation (FIFO/FEFO), code date checks, and general inventory accuracy.
• Tour the cooler regularly to monitor product quality, location accuracy, and stock levels.
• Coordinate with Driver Supervisors and Plant Supervisors to support efficient load-out and order fulfillment.
• Maintain working knowledge of products and inventory status.
• Ensure proper use and safe operation of material-handling equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, dock equipment).
• Support efficient material flow to minimize delays in production and shipping.
• Receive and provide clear shift handoffs between supervisors.
• Communicate with Plant Management regarding inventory levels and operational issues.
• Complete end-of-shift reporting with required information.
• Follow and reinforce all regulatory and internal food safety requirements (OSHA, FDA, HACCP, GMPs, etc.).
• Monitor cooler temperatures and report deviations.
• Support traceability standards for all incoming and outgoing product.
• Follow SOPs and complete required documentation accurately.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Enforce safety policies including PPE usage and equipment safety.
• Maintain a clean, organized work environment.
• Report spills, damaged product, or safety concerns promptly.
• Support proper handling of out-of-spec materials.
• Utilize SAP (or similar system) to support inventory transactions and monitor basic inventory accuracy.
• Assist team members with system-related tasks such as receiving, issuing, and cycle counts.
• Report and help investigate inventory discrepancies.
• Support outbound scheduling and ensure orders are completed accurately and on time.
• Monitor and communicate inventory variances.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Team supervision

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Job description

Description

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you’ll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

Candidates must be available to work weekends and holidays. Current opening is on 1st Shift.

Job Summary

The Warehouse Supervisor is responsible for overseeing cooler warehouse operations on the assigned shift, ensuring safe and efficient handling of dairy products. This role provides day-to-day leadership to warehouse personnel, supports product integrity through proper rotation and storage, and helps ensure accurate, timely order fulfillment in a refrigerated environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and support shift employees to meet productivity, quality, and safety expectations
• Provide ongoing coaching, training, and development for team members
• Address performance and attendance issues and elevate as needed in accordance with company policy
• Maintain an open-door environment to encourage communication and employee engagement
• Assist with scheduling and staffing adjustments to meet operational needs
• Full-time salaried position with a standard 45-hour work week; additional hours expected as needed to meet business demands and project deadlines.

Warehouse Operations

• Oversee daily cooler operations, including product rotation (FIFO/FEFO), code date checks, and general inventory accuracy
• Tour the cooler regularly to monitor product quality, location accuracy, and stock levels
• Coordinate with Driver Supervisors and Plant Supervisors to support efficient load‑out and order fulfillment
• Maintain working knowledge of products and inventory status
• Ensure proper use and safe operation of material‑handling equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, dock equipment)
• Support efficient material flow to minimize delays in production and shipping

Communication & Shift Coordination

• Receive and provide clear shift handoffs between supervisors
• Communicate with Plant Management regarding inventory levels and operational issues
• Complete end‑of‑shift reporting with required information

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Follow and reinforce all regulatory and internal food safety requirements (OSHA, FDA, HACCP, GMPs, etc.)
• Monitor cooler temperatures and report deviations
• Support traceability standards for all incoming and outgoing product
• Follow SOPs and complete required documentation accurately
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives

Safety & Housekeeping

• Enforce safety policies including PPE usage and equipment safety
• Maintain a clean, organized work environment
• Report spills, damaged product, or safety concerns promptly
• Support proper handling of out‑of‑spec materials

SAP & Inventory System Responsibilities

• Utilize SAP (or similar system) to support inventory transactions and monitor basic inventory accuracy
• Assist team members with system‑related tasks such as receiving, issuing, and cycle counts
• Report and help investigate inventory discrepancies

Additional Responsibilities

• Support outbound scheduling and ensure orders are completed accurately and on time
• Monitor and communicate inventory variances
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• 2–4 years of supervisory or team lead experience required
• Experience in warehouse, manufacturing, or logistics environments preferred
• Refrigerated or food manufacturing experience preferred
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP/WMS systems preferred

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach for extended periods
• Ability to work in refrigerated environments between 32°F and 39°F for extended durations
• Ability to safely operate material‑handling equipment
• Meets departmental productivity and accuracy standards in a fast‑paced environment
• Adheres to all company policies, procedures, and safety requirements
• Demonstrates problem‑solving skills with appropriate guidance
• Maintains consistency in leadership and sets clear expectations for team members
• Performs all duties in a safe, compliant, and professional manner
• Supports company goals through reliable, consistent performance

Pay: $80.8-$129.3K a year *

* The salary range listed for this position represents the good faith and reasonable minimum and maximum pay for this role at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, training, knowledge, education, and overall qualifications. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.