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

HarperCollins Publishers • Brownsburg, IN

23h • Onsite

About The Position

This unique project-to-leadership role is for a warehouse leader who is curious about the "how" behind warehouse operations and wishes to help build the tools their team uses. During the initial 6–12 months, the role serves as a bridge between Operations, Warehouse Management System (Manhattan Active), and Leadership, partnering with a Business Analyst. You will assist with testing activities, driving readiness across people, process, and systems. After the testing period, the role transitions to a front-line Manager, directly training and leading Supervisors and employees and leveraging your 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. The operation will be running a 24/5 overall 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.
• 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.
• Provide strategic leadership to the supervisory team and their direct reports.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage all aspects of warehouse operations in a radio frequency (RF)-enabled environment.
• Manage warehouse personnel and ensure compliance with company, federal and state regulations.
• Track attendance, coach and lead employees with a view to employee growth and development, monitor performance, and manage overtime and other compensation changes.
• Direct warehouse activities to ensure efficient and economical utilization of facilities for storing and distributing inventory.
• Maintain process management, productivity measures, and quality controls.
• Review, track and analyze critical success measures and compare the results with the targets on a regular basis.
• Develop and plan for improvement in areas such as order filling errors, late deliveries and overall service levels.
• Evaluate employees’ performance in achieving standards.
• Respond to production problems by implementing solutions.
• Enforce compliance with all appropriate policies, procedures, safety roles and government regulations.
• Study current and future needs of the company as it relates to the management of receiving, stocking, inventory, returns, shipping, and order filling; develop and recommend improvements to current warehouse practices to promote efficiency, accuracy, faster service and lower costs.
• Prepare or assist in the preparation of the department budget and manage to the budget.
• Ensure 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