Distribution Center Manager

Smithers-Oasis Career•Kent, OH

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Smithers-Oasis is seeking candidates for a Distribution Center (DC) Manager position at one of its Kent, OH locations. The DC Manager is responsible for the safe, accurate, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the distribution center. This role involves people leadership, inventory integrity, order fulfillment, inbound and outbound execution, parcel and freight performance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. The manager will establish clear operating standards, develop frontline leadership, utilize data for problem-solving, and align daily execution with customer and business priorities.

Requirements

Minimum of five years of progressive distribution, warehouse, logistics, or operations leadership experience.
Experience in a manufacturing and distribution environment is preferred.
Demonstrated success leading frontline teams, developing supervisors or leads, managing labor, and sustaining accountability across shifts.
Working knowledge of receiving, inventory control, order fulfillment, parcel and LTL/FTL shipping, carrier management, warehouse capacity, and cost control.
Experienced in using ERP, WMS or warehouse functionality, barcode scanning, parcel shipping systems, and data reporting.
Knowledge of OSHA, DOT, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, and related warehouse compliance expectations appropriate to the role.
Strong analytical, financial, problem-solving, communication, and change leadership skills; able to translate data and business needs into clear priorities and actions.
Proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; able to independently prepare analyses, procedures, reports, and presentations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, make sound decisions under pressure, maintain confidentiality, and provide off-hours support for urgent operational or emergency needs.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, Business, or a related field is preferred.
Equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
JD Edwards or a comparable ERP is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop distribution center supervisors, leads, and hourly employees, establishing clear accountability, decision rights, backup coverage, and escalation paths.
Create a safe, respectful, and engaged work environment through visible floor leadership, regular communication, timely feedback, recognition, and consistent application of policies.
Plan staffing and overtime based on order volume, workload, skill requirements, and service commitments; maintain effective shift handoffs and coverage for critical roles.
Build and maintain role-based training, cross-training, and skills matrices; ensure employees are qualified before performing assigned work.
Address performance, attendance, conduct, and employee relations matters promptly in partnership with Human Resources.
Own daily receiving, put away replenishment, picking, packing, staging, loading, parcel fulfillment, and shipping performance across wholesale, eCommerce, retail, and other customer channels.
Establish and audit standard work, leader routines, visual controls, and escalation processes to ensure predictable execution across shifts.
Coordinate with Customer Service, Supply Chain, Sales, Production, Quality, and other partners to prioritize workload, resolve constraints, and meet customer requirements.
Ensure bills of lading, shipping labels, proofs of pickup, carrier documentation, export documents, and other shipment records are accurate, complete, and retained as required.
Manage carrier pickup performance, dock scheduling, detention and demurrage exposure, freight claims, chargebacks, and shipping complaints; implement corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
Support new customers, new products, packaging changes, and special programs by translating requirements into documented warehouse processes, training, capacity plans, and controls.
Maintain inventory accuracy through disciplined receiving, location control, cycle counting, variance investigation, reconciliation, and root-cause corrective action.
Monitor warehouse capacity, slotting, storage utilization, pallet and location standards, replenishment logic, product flow, and offsite inventory movement.
Use ERP, warehouse, scanning, parcel, transportation, and reporting systems effectively; maintain data discipline and documented downtime or contingency procedures.
Ensure material handling equipment, racking, docks, doors, security systems, and warehouse work areas are maintained in safe and serviceable condition in coordination with Facilities and Maintenance.
Maintain strong housekeeping, 5S discipline, access control, and an orderly work environment.
Develop, manage, and explain the annual operating budget and capital needs, including labor, temporary labor, supplies, equipment, leases, freight-related expenses, and cost per unit.
Own a balanced KPI scorecard that includes safety, order accuracy, on-time shipment, dock-to-stock, inventory accuracy, productivity, labor cost, damage, complaints, freight exceptions, and other business priorities.
Review performance at an established daily, weekly, and monthly cadence; investigate misses, assign actions, verify completion, and communicate risks and results.
Lead Lean and Kaizen activities using structured problem-solving, standard work, root-cause analysis, and sustainment checks; prioritize measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people.
Identify and justify equipment, technology, layout, automation, and process improvements; prepare business cases and capital requests with expected benefits, risks, and implementation plans.
Ensure site operations comply with applicable safety, environmental, transportation, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, and emergency response requirements, as well as company standards.
Maintain required inspections, training, records, labels, storage controls, and corrective actions for powered industrial trucks, racking, docks, emergency equipment, hazardous materials, aerosols, waste, and other regulated activities.
Ensure personnel who prepare, handle, store, or ship regulated materials are appropriately trained and follow documented procedures.
Act as the distribution center emergency coordinator during working and non-working hours when designated by the company emergency or contingency plan.
Partner with Safety and Environmental leadership on incident response, near-miss follow-up, waste determinations, disposal profiles, manifests, permits, audits, and recordkeeping.
Ensure hazardous and universal waste containers are properly identified, closed or covered, stored, inspected, and transferred for disposal in accordance with approved procedures.
Ensure international and hazardous material shipments have complete and accurate documentation and are handled by qualified personnel.
Provide operational input into SIOP, customer onboarding, eCommerce growth, network and warehouse strategy, transportation decisions, new product commercialization, packaging, and inventory initiatives.
Identify capacity, labor, carrier, facility, system, and compliance risks; recommend practical mitigation and contingency plans.
Maintain effective working relationships with Manufacturing, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Quality, Facilities, carriers, 3PLs, and suppliers.
Demonstrate the organization’s Core Values and perform other duties as assigned.