Director, Distribution/Shipping and Sample Logistics
About The Position
SJC stands as Canada’s largest privately owned communications company, distinguished by its portfolio of leading media brands, including Toronto Life, Chatelaine, and Maclean’s. A dynamic and influential organization within the industry, SJC excels in the creation, publication, and production of best-in-class content through its comprehensive content and creative studios, advanced advertising technology, and state-of-the-art print facilities. We collaborate with clients across North America to deliver innovative marketing solutions that effectively inform, inspire, and empower audiences across all platforms. With significant reach and influence, SJC has proudly been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 22 consecutive years, a testament to our commitment to excellence. From its full-service multi-studio facility, SJC Content works with leading brands and retailers to create content for every channel, including photography, video, social animation, interactive e-commerce content and digital signage. The Mar-Comm Project Manager drives the planning and execution of seasonal and other strategic marketing campaigns, leading collaboration on these projects both cross-functionally and with a network of vendor partner marketing agencies. SJC is seeking a Director, Distribution / Shipping and Sample Logistics on an initial 3-5 month contract to lead the physical merchandise operating model that supports high-volume eCommerce photography and content production. This role is responsible for creating discipline and visibility across inbound samples, shipping/receiving, chain of custody, storage, sample movement, production readiness, return/donation/disposal, and reporting. The ideal candidate has strong warehouse, distribution, studio logistics, or retail operations experience and can connect physical sample control to digital workflow, production schedules, and client SLA expectations.
Requirements
- 8-10+ years of experience in distribution, shipping/receiving, warehouse operations, sample logistics, retail operations, studio logistics, or production operations.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams, physical inventory, inbound/outbound workflows, process controls, and operational reporting.
- Strong understanding of chain-of-custody, sample tracking, inventory accuracy, condition reporting, secure storage, and disposition processes.
- Ability to work in a deadline-driven production environment where physical sample readiness directly affects creative and eCommerce delivery timelines.
- Experience building SOPs, operational dashboards, exception reporting, and continuous-improvement routines.
- Strong cross-functional communication skills with the ability to escalate issues to PM, studio, client, and leadership teams.
- Comfort using technology-enabled logistics workflows, barcode/QR tracking, dashboards, and sample readiness reporting to manage high-volume operations.
- Ability to partner with technology and operations teams to connect Workhorse-style sample data to production schedules, BI dashboards, and SLA reporting.
- Understands the role of automation in reducing manual status chasing while maintaining disciplined human control over physical goods.
- Operational leader who brings structure, discipline, accountability, and practical problem-solving to a fast-moving production environment.
- Comfortable building process while also managing daily execution and urgent escalations.
- Data-aware and process-driven, but pragmatic enough to work with real-world sample, supplier, and studio constraints.
- Able to lead teams through high volume, seasonal spikes, and complex physical merchandise flows.
Nice To Haves
- Retail, apparel, home, CPG, eCommerce, photo studio, packaging, or agency production logistics experience is a strong asset.
- Experience with inventory systems, warehouse management systems, production tracking tools, Power BI, or workflow automation is an asset.
Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end sample logistics function across receipt, inspection, SKU matching, condition validation, storage, movement to studio, return, donation, disposal, and audit records.
- Design and enforce scalable shipping/receiving, chain-of-custody, barcode/QR scan, and sample-status processes that support high-volume production.
- Partner with PMs, Producers, Studio, and QA teams to ensure samples are production-ready before scheduling and that blockers are escalated quickly.
- Manage sample storage capacity, warehouse organization, inventory accuracy, physical security, disposition controls, and exception reporting.
- Implement practical process controls for missing samples, wrong colourways, damaged goods, incomplete packaging, late supplier shipments, and sample aging.
- Use Workhorse-style sample tracking and BI reporting to provide visibility into sample readiness, inbound/outbound activity, blocker trends, and launch risks.
- Lead, coach, and schedule sample coordination, shipping/receiving, warehouse, and logistics support resources as volume scales.
- Support governance reporting, SOP development, continuous improvement, and cost discipline across the physical merchandise workflow.
Benefits
- Exclusive employee subscription rates for SJC publications.
- A complimentary 1-year Toronto Life Insider membership.
- Discounted annual GoodLife membership.
- Participation in the Perkopolis Perk Program, offering employee pricing at a wide range of retailers.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
