First Shift Manager, Warehouse (Operational Readiness) - (Brownsburg, IN Onsite)

HarperCollins Publishers • Brownsburg, IN

3d • $100,000 - $115,000 • Onsite

About The Position

This unique project-to-leadership role is for a warehouse leader who is curious about the "how" behind operations and wishes to help build the tools their team uses daily. For the initial 6-12 months, the role acts as a bridge between Operations, Warehouse Management System (Manhattan Active), and Leadership, partnering with a Business Analyst. Responsibilities include assisting with testing activities and driving readiness across people, process, and systems. After this testing period, the role transitions to a front-line Manager, directly training and leading Supervisors and employees, and leveraging system and process knowledge to drive daily performance. The current day-shift schedule is planned for 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the overall operation running a 24/5 schedule.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in a warehouse or distribution environment.
• Proven ability to coach employees, foster teamwork, and build positive working relationships across the floor.
• Knowledge of inventory management systems and warehouse best practices.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, backed by a solid foundation in basic mathematics.
• Solid understanding of warehouse workflows and inventory processes; reach truck experience is a plus.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to solve problems in a fast-paced setting.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) for reporting and daily communication.
• Highly organized with a sharp attention to detail in documentation and record-keeping.
• Willingness to work extended hours or weekends as needed to meet customer demand and participate in scheduled physical inventories.

Nice To Haves

• reach truck experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Ensure the warehouse is fully prepared to operate efficiently under the new WMS (MAWM).
• Lead and execute Unit Testing, System Integration Testing, and User Acceptance Testing.
• Identify and recommend WMS configuration and process improvements to increase operational efficiency.
• Drive department physical readiness, including layout, equipment and supplies.
• Develop and formalize SOPs and training materials aligned to actual system behavior.
• Design department level reporting to support daily execution and leadership visibility.
• Assist with the development of a detailed staffing plan by department, role, and shift.
• Provide slotting strategy support to improve pick efficiency and space utilization.
• Support Labor Management (LM) standards, reporting, and supervisor enablement.
• Partner with Operations and IT to resolve issues and drive go live readiness.
• Responsible for employees in the warehouse; tracks attendance, coaches and leads employees with a view to employee growth and development, monitors performance, and manages overtime and other compensation changes.
• Directs warehouse activities to ensure efficient and economical utilization of facilities for storing and distributing inventory.
• Maintains process management, productivity measures, and quality controls.
• Reviews, tracks and analyzes critical success measures and compares the results with the targets on a regular basis.
• Develops and plans for improvement in areas such as order filling errors, late deliveries and overall service levels.
• Evaluates employees’ performance in achieving standards.
• Responds to production problems by implementing solutions.
• Enforces compliance with all appropriate policies, procedures, safety roles and government regulations.
• Studies current and future needs of the company as it relates to the management of receiving, stocking, inventory, returns, shipping, and order filling; develops and recommends improvements to current warehouse practices to promote efficiency, accuracy, faster service and lower costs.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of the department budget and manages to the budget.
• Ensures cleanliness of facility.

Benefits

• comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "elective" benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed