Branch Manager - Cedar Rapids, IA

Republic Electric Co•Cedar Rapids, IA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

At Republic & T.F. Ehrhart, a third-generation family business and leading wholesale distributor of electrical energy management, heating, air conditioning, hydronic and sign support systems, we are committed to taking care of our customers and our team. We are seeking a Branch Manager to own the daily operations of the branch and team, ensuring operational functions are performed, outstanding customer service is provided, and all policies and procedures are followed. This role is responsible for the financial performance of the branch, including warehouse operations, delivery services, inventory, training, safety, building security & maintenance, and sales management. This position reports directly to the Vice President of Operations.

Requirements

Equivalent Experience or Bachelor’s Degree in a business discipline (Business Management, Marketing, Accounting, Sales, Entrepreneurship) is preferred.
3-5 years of related work experience in HVAC or electrical distribution.
Strong problem-solving abilities.
Excellent customer service skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook/Teams).
Excellent teamwork/collaborative aptitude, with the ability to work independently and be a self-starter.
Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to galvanize and use influence to drive action and promote change.

Responsibilities

Oversee and manage budgets, inventory, customer sales, and operating expenses to ensure the financial performance of the branch.
Maintain good relationships with key accounts and identify top customers.
Work cross-functionally with purchasing to manage inventory turns and scrutinize new stock additions.
Collaborate with other Branch Managers and departments to serve customers, transfer inventory, reduce expenses, deploy training, and fill gaps.
Hold weekly staff meetings and monthly meetings with key partners (sales, purchasing, HR, IT, Accounting, etc.) to implement company objectives.
Ensure compliance with all operational and personnel policies, procedures, and safety policies.
Ensure the safety, maintenance, and security of the building and employees, including overseeing maintenance services for facilities, equipment, and vehicles, and coordinating with the Fleet Manager for DOT maintenance.
Own all warehouse operational processes, including receiving, transfers, inventory control, order picking, packing, quality assurance, and delivery.
Serve as the point of escalation for product returns, defective inventory, and warranty claims, working with departments to resolve issues.
Manage inventory accuracy through cycle counts and reconciliation.
Ensure proper handling, storage, and rotation of HVAC materials and equipment.
Oversee all delivery operations, including scheduling drivers, trucks, and routes, and optimizing delivery routes for efficiency and service reliability.
Coordinate LTL shipments for large-order deliveries.
Ensure compliance with DOT regulations and company fleet safety standards.
Verify completion of driver pre-trip inspections, required documentation, driver logs, mileage reporting, and operational records.
Address delivery issues, delays, or service failures and promote safe driving practices.
Ensure the brand promise of providing products, technical knowledge, customer service, and fast response times is met.
Support the sales function to ensure promises made by the sales team are kept.
Schedule customer training events at the branch monthly.
Organize monthly open house/counter day events with sales teams to promote Republic and products, working with Marketing for awareness.
Ensure branch showrooms are established, equipped, clean, and product is rotated for seasonality to promote impulse purchases.
Work with the Crib Program Manager to ensure crib specialists fulfill orders to standards and support new crib account establishment.
Promote exceptional customer service through the counter team, ensuring timely customer interaction and problem resolution.
Assist in ticket writing, taking orders over the phone, and assisting walk-in customers.
Guide and coach counter staff through complex order situations and work cross-functionally to resolve issues.
Utilize inventory and order entry functions in the company’s ERP system and assist others with research and troubleshooting.
Recruit, train, and develop employees for the branch.
Monitor schedules and time off requests to ensure adequate branch coverage.
Assess employee training and development needs and schedule opportunities for growth.
Complete performance reviews for direct reports and provide coaching and feedback.