Director, Warehousing Operations

Dole Packaged Foods•Thousand Oaks, CA

3d•$195,000 - $215,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Warehousing Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across Dole’s North American distribution network, including third-party logistics partners, internal distribution operations, inventory control, service performance, network optimization, and warehousing execution. This role is accountable for distribution-related financial performance, operational excellence, service delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives that support Dole’s growth objectives and customer commitments. As a key Supply Chain leader, this role partners cross-functionally with Finance, Customer Operations, Procurement, Manufacturing, IT, and executive leadership to drive network performance, productivity improvement, cost optimization, and operational discipline. The Director also leads complex warehouse implementations, transitions, start-ups, consolidations, and change initiatives while holding 3PL partners accountable for service, cost, safety, inventory accuracy, and contractual performance.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive leadership experience in warehousing, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations, including responsibility for multi-site distribution networks and complex 3PL-managed operations.
Proven experience leading warehouse start-ups, implementations, network transformations, operational change initiatives, and continuous improvement programs that deliver measurable service, productivity, and cost improvements.
Strong understanding of warehouse operations, inventory management, inventory controls, labor management, productivity standards, warehousing best practices, financial compliance requirements, and operational excellence methodologies.
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, productivity initiatives, cost reduction programs, inventory controls, and warehouse-related P&L performance.
Demonstrated ability to develop and manage KPI frameworks, performance scorecards, and operational metrics that drive accountability, operational excellence, and business results.
Proven experience negotiating contracts, managing strategic supplier relationships, and holding third-party logistics providers accountable for service, financial, and contractual performance.
Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leadership, communicate complex business issues, and successfully lead cross-functional initiatives across all levels of the organization.
Demonstrated ability to balance strategic planning with disciplined execution while delivering operational, financial, and customer service objectives.
Experience leading, developing, and retaining high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment, with a commitment to talent development and organizational capability building.
Working knowledge of SAP, WMS, inventory management systems, supply chain analytics, inventory accounting principles, and financial compliance requirements; experience with GAAP and SOX controls preferred.
Passionate about a purpose driven career
Cultivates respectful and inclusive environments that support employee growth across teams
Drives strategic initiatives and maintains excellence in complex and dynamic settings
Establishes transparent decision-making and accountability frameworks
Encourages organizational teamwork effectively to achieve shared objectives

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred.
APICS, ASCM, CSCMP, Lean, or Six Sigma certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Dole's warehouse and distribution operations, ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer requirements, and supply chain strategy.
Lead network optimization initiatives, warehouse transitions, operational implementations, and capacity planning activities that improve service, scalability, and cost performance.
Evaluate current and future network requirements and develop recommendations that support long-term business growth and operational efficiency.
Establish strong governance processes with third-party logistics providers and hold partners accountable for service, safety, inventory accuracy, inventory reporting compliance, productivity, and financial performance.
Lead performance reviews, corrective action plans, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure contractual obligations and service expectations are achieved.
Drive resolution of operational issues while ensuring sustainable corrective actions and long-term performance improvements.
Champion a culture of safety and regulatory compliance across all warehouse operations, ensuring adherence to company standards, policies, and applicable regulations.
Lead contract negotiations, pricing discussions, statements of work, and commercial reviews with warehouse and logistics partners.
Identify opportunities to improve service levels, reduce costs, mitigate risk, and strengthen overall partner performance.
Own warehousing and distribution financial performance, including budget management, forecasting, labor productivity, cost optimization initiatives, and operational expense control.
Utilize KPI reporting, financial analysis, and operational metrics to drive decisions and improve business results.
Provide disciplined P&L management and ensure operational decisions align with financial objectives.
Ensure inventory-related financial controls, reconciliations, and reporting processes support accurate financial reporting and compliance with company policies and accounting standards.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of inventory control activities across Dole's distribution network, ensuring inventory accuracy, visibility, and compliance with Dole, Itochu, GAAP, and SOX requirements.
Lead the Inventory Control organization and establish performance expectations, controls, and reporting processes that support inventory integrity and financial compliance.
Ensure robust inventory reconciliation, root cause analysis, audit readiness, and corrective action processes are in place across internal operations and third-party logistics providers.
Establish standardized inventory management practices, reporting requirements, and performance metrics across the network to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
Partner with Finance, IT, Customer Operations, and 3PL providers to ensure inventory controls, system integrity, transaction accuracy, and reporting requirements are consistently executed.
Champion a culture of continuous improvement through the application of industry best practices, operational discipline, data-driven decision making, and process optimization.
Lead initiatives that improve labor productivity, inventory accuracy, throughput, service performance, and overall warehouse efficiency.
Drive standardization and implementation of best practices across the warehouse network.
Ensure warehousing operations consistently support customer service expectations through disciplined execution of inventory availability, order fulfillment, service level agreements, and network performance objectives.
Build, coach, and develop a high-performing organization capable of supporting current operations and future business growth.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, ownership, and continuous learning.
Lead special projects, business initiatives, and cross-functional efforts in support of organizational priorities and strategic objectives.
Provide operational leadership and expertise for evolving business needs, transformation initiatives, and continuous improvement opportunities.
Perform other duties, responsibilities, and business-critical assignments as needed to support evolving organizational priorities.