Inbound Manager, Warehouse Operations (1st shift inbound)

Cardinal Health•Whitestown, IN

3d•$89,000 - $127,200•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading day-to-day operations in a high-volume distribution center. Operations is responsible for material handling and product distribution, including warehousing and fulfillment of materials and products, transportation, inventory management, and labor planning. This role drives operational excellence by leading teams, improving processes, monitoring performance metrics, and ensuring safe, efficient, compliant, and customer-focused execution. The Operations Manager partners with site leadership, support functions, peers, and cross-functional stakeholders to align resources, resolve operational and project-related issues, and support a high-performing team culture.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Engineering, Technology, or equivalent work experience, preferred
Six or more years of experience in operations, distribution, manufacturing, logistics, fulfillment, warehouse operations, or a related environment preferred.
Previous experience leading, supervising, coaching, or managing employees in a fast-paced operational setting.
Experience using performance metrics, operational dashboards, reports, or business data to drive decisions and improve results.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
Ability to manage changing priorities, respond to operational issues, and exercise sound judgment in time-sensitive situations.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, motivate, and partner effectively across teams.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn operational systems, reporting tools, and warehouse management platforms.
Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods, access operational areas, and move throughout the facility as needed.
May occasionally require pushing, pulling, bending, reaching, or moving materials, or lifting products that could weight up to 50 pounds, consistent with operational leadership responsibilities.
Schedule flexibility is required to support business needs, including early mornings, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, peak periods, or emergency operational support.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a distribution center, fulfillment center, or production facility using automated material handling systems, sortation equipment, robotics, conveyance, and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), preferred
Experience leading Inbound and/or Outbound distribution operations, including receiving, put-away, replenishment, inventory control, slotting, dock operations, order fulfillment, picking, packing, shipping, transportation coordination, and customer delivery execution, preferred
Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, operational excellence, or process improvement methodologies, preferred
Experience managing labor planning, budgets, operating expenses, productivity goals, or resource allocation, preferred
Experience with warehouse management systems, enterprise resource planning systems, inventory systems, or related operational technology, preferred
Knowledge of safety, quality, compliance, and regulatory standards applicable to operations, preferred
Demonstrated ability to lead change, improve engagement, build leadership capability, and develop high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, motivate, and develop hourly associates, supervisors, and operational team members to achieve safety, quality, service level, productivity, and engagement goals.
Promote a safety-first culture through training, accountability, observation, proactive risk reduction, and consistent execution of company standards.
Manage daily operational execution, including workflow prioritization, inventory accuracy, quality standards, productivity targets, and customer delivery expectations.
Build and execute staffing plans based on forecasted volume, business priorities, and available resources.
Monitor key performance indicators to identify trends, anticipate risks, and drive data-informed decisions.
Partner with Safety, Human Resources, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Transportation, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to meet site and organizational objectives.
Identify root causes of operational challenges and implement sustainable solutions that improve efficiency, service, cost, quality, and employee experience.
Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, standard work, GEMBA walks, process mapping, or other operational excellence practices.
Support the talent lifecycle, including interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, coaching, recognition, and corrective action.
Communicate business priorities, operational performance, project updates, and improvement plans clearly while gaining alignment across team members, peers, leadership, and other stakeholders.
Participates in developing policies and procedures to achieve specific operational goals while ensuring employees operate within company guidelines and performance expectations.
Partners effectively with frontline employees, supervisors, and senior leadership to drive operational excellence, resolve complex issues, and build consensus among key stakeholders.
The Operations Manager is expected to lead with integrity, accountability, inclusion, and visible floor presence while communicating clearly, executing with discipline, and modeling Cardinal Health’s commitment to operational excellence.
This role requires active presence in a distribution center.