Operations Manager – Central Distribution Center

Shepherd Electric Supply•Laurel, MD

1d•$110,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager — Central Distribution Center is the operational backbone of the Laurel Distribution Center. Every fill rate, every on-time delivery, every accurate order that leaves this facility traces back to how well this operation runs — and how well this leader leads it. This is not a floor supervision role with a bigger title. This is the role responsible for building a distribution operation — 80–90 people across inbound, fulfillment, outbound, inventory, and fleet — that holds up when volume spikes, staffing is tight, and the margin for error is zero. You set the standard, develop the team, and own the outcomes, not just on the days it is easy, but on the days it is not. We are bringing in someone from outside because we want fresh perspective, new capability, and the energy to actively change how this operation works — not maintain the status quo. This role is not a caretaker position. It is a culture-building one. If you have led large distribution teams, know the difference between a well-run operation and a dependent one, and have the drive to build something better than what you inherited, this role was written for you. How This Role Connects to Our Compass We Keep Our Promises You own shift outcomes across 80–90 people and five functional areas. If something is off — inventory discrepancy, late shipment, unsafe condition — you address it before it becomes someone else's problem. Your team's reliability is your reputation. We Stay Hungry You bring energy to this floor every day — not just effort. You are always asking what could be faster, more accurate, or better organized. You surface patterns, not just incidents, and you push for root cause over quick fixes. You came from outside Shepherd because you bring something we don’t have yet — use it. We Grow Together Your success is measured by the leaders you develop, not just the operation you run. You build bench depth, so the Distribution Center does not depend on heroics. Cross-functional coordination — with branches, purchasing, and sales — is part of how you show up. We Own It You hold yourself accountable first. No excuses, no blame. When a process fails, you redesign it. When a person is struggling, you engage — you do not wait for HR to prompt you. Ownership at your level means the whole team knows what the standard is. We Go Above & Beyond You anticipate before the ask. Sales knows your fulfillment is trustworthy. Drivers leave on time. Customers never wonder if the Distribution Center came through. You see the gap before it becomes a complaint, and you close it.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in operations, supply chain, or related field preferred
5+ years of leadership experience managing large teams (50+) in distribution, warehouse, or fulfillment environments
Demonstrated track record of developing people — your former team members have grown
Track record of hiring and evaluating talent against values, not just skills — you build teams that hold a standard, not just teams that execute tasks
Experience owning full-cycle Distribution Center operations across inbound, fulfillment, outbound, inventory, wire room, nightshift and fleet
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Outlook; familiarity with warehouse management systems
Forklift, pallet jack, and reach truck certification required or ability to obtain through onsite training
Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement through data — Lean, continuous improvement, or equivalent experience
Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and perform the physical requirements of the role
Valid driver's license required

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Laurel-area delivery routes preferred
Electrical product knowledge is a plus
Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements

Responsibilities

Own daily operations across inbound, pick and pack, outbound, inventory control, wire room, night shift and fleet coordination — present on the floor, not behind a desk
Maintain operational flow across all functions so work keeps moving without stalls, rework, or dropped handoffs
Set and enforce accuracy and pace standards for the team each shift
Coordinate with branches, dispatch, counter sales, and purchasing when time-sensitive exceptions arise
Select, onboard, and develop warehouse supervisors and leads so the team executes without depending on heroics
Recruit to the Compass — when hiring, evaluate candidates against Shepherd’s values, not just operational skills; cultural fit is a non-negotiable, not a tiebreaker
Coach and hold team members accountable through direct, consistent feedback — not just documentation
Build bench depth: your job is to develop leaders who can carry this operation forward without you in the room
Delegate clearly, follow up on completion, and build a crew that holds itself to a standard
Escalate performance or conduct concerns to the VP Warehouse Operations promptly and without delay
Own inventory accuracy — cycle counts, physical inventory, bin location maintenance, and discrepancy resolution
Treat inventory discrepancies as signals requiring root cause investigation, not isolated incidents to close out
Ensure all inbound freight is received accurately, exceptions are documented, and overages, shortages, or damages are resolved before entering inventory
Flag recurring discrepancy patterns to the VP Warehouse Operations for systemic review
Ensure outbound orders leave clean — right product, right quantity, complete and accurate documentation
Prioritize time-critical and priority-flagged orders with urgency and direct communication to affected teams
Oversee fleet scheduling and driver coordination to ensure on-time, accurate outbound delivery
Maintain familiarity with Laurel-area delivery routes and ensure routing functions smoothly
Partner with dispatch and branch operations to resolve delivery exceptions in real time
Maintain safe, organized operations — aisles clear, equipment functional, hazards addressed before they become incidents
Oversee pre-shift equipment inspections and ensure maintenance needs are reported and resolved proactively
Serve as the primary accountability layer for safety compliance — model it, enforce it, never treat it as a formality
Surface inefficiencies, recurring errors, and workflow friction — and act on them, not just report them
Recommend and test process changes that improve accuracy, speed, or team capacity
Contribute to cross-branch consistency by sharing what works and adopting improvements from other locations
Support branch expansion readiness — your operational systems should hold up when we open the next location
Review and Use KPI’s and Error Tracking reporting (UET) to improve warehouse operations
Review KPI’s regularly to look for areas of improvement amongst the operations teams, individual departments, and individual employees.
Review error tracking dashboard (UET) regularly to address issues within Operations.
Use the error tracking dashboard (UET) to report issues.
Use KPI’s and UET’s as a tool for continuous improvement and coaching.