Director, Warehouse Operations

PHILABUNDANCE•Philadelphia, PA

49d•$73,846 - $88,615

About The Position

Position Summary: The Director of Warehouse Operations will own the output, processes, staffing and collaboration of a large-scale distribution environment. Combines deep operational expertise with strategic vision to drive efficiency, safety, and quality across all warehouse functions. Demonstrates strong leadership in guiding teams, optimizing logistics performance, and partnering with executive leadership to achieve organizational goals. The Director of Warehouse Operations provides strategic leadership and operational oversight across all warehouse functions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and regulatory standards. This role drives efficiency, safety, and compliance while developing high-performing teams through mentoring and accountability. The Director partners with executive leadership and key stakeholders to optimize logistics, enhance food handling practices, and implement process improvements and automation. Responsible for financial stewardship, including budget alignment, expenditure tracking, and resource planning tied to volume and operational needs. Balances strategic direction with hands-on engagement in warehouse environments, ensuring seamless movement of perishable and non-perishable products while fostering a culture of excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED preferred. Extended Degree in logistics, business, or management preferred.
Serve Safe Certification preferred. Must be able to certify within 30 days of hire.
Forklift Certification highly preferred, must secure by first 30 days and progress to be able to teach, coach and certify others.
Minimum of 5 years’ warehouse experience or related experience required, food, produce or related industry is required. A minimum of 2 years dedicated to leadership responsibilities or equivalent required.
Oversees all aspects of warehouse operations including inventory management, shipping and receiving, quality control, and compliance with OSHA and safety standards.
Applies data-driven problem-solving to streamline processes, improve throughput, and adapt to changing operational demands. Maintains agility and composure in fast-paced, evolving environments.
Demonstrated proficiency in standard warehouse equipment such as pallet jacks, man-ups, and reach trucks, with the ability to train, certify, and enforce safety standards for all operators.
Leads and mentors multi-level teams to achieve productivity and safety goals. Communicates operational updates, challenges, and strategic insights to executive leadership in a clear, actionable manner.
Technically proficient, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), and virtual collaboration tools (Teams, Zoom). Produces and presents performance reports and operational analyses for stakeholders.
Leadership expertise in end-to-end logistics, inventory management, distribution, and fulfillment systems.
Ability to forecast future labor and skill needs, align staffing strategies with organizational goals, and manage workforce scalability.
Familiarity with warehouse management systems (WMS), ERP tools, and data analytics platforms. Identifies emerging technologies and best practices to improve efficiency and scalability.
Skilled at leading teams through transformation, process redesign, and cultural evolution.
Use data and insight to make complex decisions quickly while balancing competing priorities. Decisions are supported by a root cause foundation and can create, execute and communicate solutions within a team as well as with other partnering departments.
Builds strong partnerships across departments (operations, HR, finance, compliance, and programs).
Administrative capability to work with databases, produce reports, communication, analysis and present internally and externally preferred. (Microsoft suite, ppt, database exp. and Zoom/Teams) and scanning software.
Must have the ability to be available evenings, weekends and take on extended hours as business needs demand.
Occasionally, must be willing and able to travel within and outside of the service area (employee can use public transportation, rideshare service, personal vehicle, or other means) Must be physically compatible with travel, office visits, events, and meetings. Must have a valid driver’s license if using company vehicle.
Bend, stop, crouch, climb, stand, sit, walk, and turn/pivot throughout an 8-hour shift, 5 days a week.
Move/lower, push/pull and carry objects/parcels no greater than 50 pounds; when moving/lowering, pushing/pulling and carrying objects/parcels greater than 50 pounds use 2 people or mechanical.
Ability to work inside a freezer with a temperature in the range of -10 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit as well as in a humid warehouse.
Move packages to heights above shoulder and lower to foot level.
Ability to operate pallet jack, both manual and power, and ride jack to load/unload trucks.
Reach, grasp, and maintain control of items and materials used to perform activities associated with delivering and picking up packages.
Perform additional tasks using simple hand grasp, fine hand manipulation, and reach associated with assigned tasks such as keying.
Maintain a work pace aligned by meeting or exceeding piece per minute/production standards.
Work in an environment that will contain variable temperatures and humidity, outside weather conditions, exposure to noise, dust/dirt, confined work areas.
Must meet all the applicable requirements as specified by OSHA.
See, hear, and speak with sufficient capability to perform assigned tasks and maintain proper safety conditions.
Maintain an acceptable work pace and align with required personal and team deadlines. Must meet goals.
Demonstrate cognitive ability to: provide direction as well as follow directions and routines, work independently with appropriate judgment, read words and numbers, concentrate, memorize, recall, identify logical connections and determine sequence of response, process proactively and identify near and long-term future needs as well as evaluate problems and escalate/inform management as is necessary.

Nice To Haves

Previous automated inventory experience, able to manage database data entry.
Experience moving food, frozen, fresh or shelf stored, with interaction to public.
Inventory, Shipping/Receiving experience.
Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies to streamline operations.
Skilled in managing large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects from planning through execution.

Responsibilities

Anticipate immediate and long-term workforce and operational capacity needs to ensure optimal support for business priorities. Provide strategic directions for staffing models, succession planning, performance management, and workforce development initiatives.
Set strategic standards and compliance frameworks for equipment operations and safety certifications (e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks, heavy machinery). Ensure organization-wide adherence to operational safety and efficiency standards.
Establish a culture of excellence in customer service and community engagement. Champion high-impact training and communication standards that strengthen relationships with customers, volunteers, and partner agencies.
Lead the design and implementation of innovative logistics strategies, warehouse technologies, and food management best practices to optimize efficiency, accuracy, and scalability across the organization.
Oversee systems for real-time performance tracking and analytics related to warehouse operations, inventory management, quality assurance, and staff productivity. Use data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
Foster alignment and information flow across departments and organizational levels. Promote a transparent, high-performing culture through clear communication, collaboration, and accountability.
Ensure the warehouse operates at peak efficiency and in compliance with all safety, food handling, and regulatory standards. Drive a proactive safety culture and champion continuous improvement in health and environmental standards.
Provide executive leadership in warehouse design, layout optimization, and space utilization to enhance throughput, cost efficiency, and operational flexibility.
Lead enterprise-level initiatives to identify bottlenecks, implement scalable process improvements, and eliminate systemic barriers to efficiency and quality.
Provide strategic oversight for Food Defense and safety programs. Establish a governance structure for training, compliance audits, and continuous improvement initiatives that reinforce organizational excellence.
Direct the development and analysis of key performance metrics across production, engagement, quality, and safety. Translate data into strategic insights that drive operational excellence and organizational growth.
Responsible for supporting and aligning with Philabundance Cultural pillars. Ensuring communications, actions and interactions reflect a focus on People, Professionalism, Partnerships, and Progress
Provide safety and process direction to Associates to ensure processes are followed, shipping and receiving needs are prepared and effective. Collaborate with Supervisors to ensure standards are maintained and are reviewed on a reoccurring basis.
Provide support and collaborate with Inventory Control and Quality Control team.
Ensure accurate tracking of inventory, database system, real time.