Operations Manager

Office Depot • Romeoville, IL

19d

About The Position

The Operations Manager directs, optimizes, and executes daily distribution and/or transportation activities within assigned market areas. The role may oversee receiving, order fulfillment, shipping/loadout, and/or transportation, and is accountable for the assigned area’s P&L, staffing, cost control, safety, service, and key performance indicators. The Operations Manager ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies and works with site and regional leadership to improve productivity, quality, and efficiency. This leader hires, engages, and develops associates while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The position manages operational performance and resources, builds relationships with stakeholders and customers, leads and develops a team of approximately 20–50 coworkers, administers safety and compliance programs, and manages multi-departmental budgets and process-improvement initiatives. Other duties may be assigned to support business needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of experience.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, including the ability to influence and align cross-functional teams.
• Deep knowledge of warehouse and/or transportation operations, procedures, and best practices.
• Sound decision-making skills in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and motivate employees to achieve operational, safety, and service goals.
• Microsoft Office skills, including Outlook and Teams.
• English language skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and accountable.
• Collaborative approach and ability to build strong relationships across functions and levels.
• Ability to set clear expectations, monitor progress, and hold self and others accountable for results.
• Ability to lead through change and provide timely, candid coaching and feedback.
• Flexibility to adjust priorities to meet evolving business needs.
• Comfort meeting with customers and clients to build partnerships, understand needs, and identify growth opportunities.
• Financial acumen, including ability to forecast, interpret results, and adjust plans and resources based on changing conditions.

Nice To Haves

• Study in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or Distribution Management preferred.
• Leadership experience in Distribution, Transportation, and/or Operations preferred.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage receipt, storage, order fulfillment, loading, and/or transportation activities, including third-party providers, while maintaining focus on KPIs, quality, service, and cost.
• Use forecasting tools and methodologies to align labor, capacity, and resources with current and anticipated volume.
• Monitor and act on productivity, quality, utilization, and other operational performance data to drive continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders, external customers, and third-party providers or carriers.
• Participate in leadership meetings, customer visits, and third-party audits; identify business opportunities and process improvements.
• Recruit, hire, train, and develop team members and ensure appropriate staffing and coverage.
• Lead and motivate approximately 20–50 coworkers, conduct performance reviews and coaching conversations, and make salary recommendations.
• Communicate goals, expectations, and priorities and foster accountability, engagement, collaboration, and transparent communication.
• Administer training, qualification, and safety programs to support regulatory and company policy compliance.
• Communicate and enforce policies, procedures, and standard work.
• Maintain facility and work areas in a clean, safe, and healthy condition.
• Own multi-departmental P&Ls, budget performance, cost control, and operational efficiency.
• Identify and implement cost-to-serve reduction initiatives while maintaining or improving service levels.
• Apply Lean principles to streamline processes and improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving and process-improvement initiatives and standardize best practices.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Additional benefits package (details not specified).
• Opportunities to move and grow within the organization.
• May be eligible to participate in an incentive program, subject to the Incentive Plan terms and conditions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager