Operations Manager

Sonwil Distribution Center Inc•Buffalo, NY

About The Position

The Operations Manager plays a critical leadership role in supporting day-to-day and strategic operations within a highly automated, technology-driven distribution center. This position partners closely with the General Manager to execute operational plans, stabilize performance during ramp-up, and lead teams through continuous change in a fast-evolving environment. The Operations Manager is responsible for translating strategy into execution—ensuring labor, systems, equipment, and workflows operate safely, efficiently, and in alignment with customer requirements. Success in this role requires strong people leadership, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to adapt operations as automation, volume, and customer demands evolve.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent operational experience required.
3–5+ years of warehouse or distribution operations leadership experience, preferably in an automated or technology-enabled environment.
Demonstrated experience leading teams through change, system implementations, or operational ramp-ups.
Strong working knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and operational reporting tools.
Comfort working in data-rich environments; ability to interpret metrics and drive action.
Proven leadership ability to develop supervisors and influence employee engagement.
Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Forklift certification or ability to obtain certification.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word).
Ability to work across all shifts as operational needs require
Must wear steel toed boots/shoes.
Must wear safety vest.
Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

Lead daily warehouse operations across all shifts, ensuring inbound, outbound, and inventory activities meet safety, quality, service, and productivity expectations.
Partner with the General Manager to execute operational goals, ramp-up plans, and performance improvement initiatives.
Monitor operational metrics (labor productivity, throughput, service levels, errors, downtime) and initiate corrective actions when results fall outside targets.
Ensure warehouse operations remain audit-ready and compliant at all times.
Serve as a key operational leader in an automated environment, ensuring equipment, WMS workflows, and labor plans are aligned and functioning effectively.
Partner with engineering, IT, and automation vendors as applicable to troubleshoot issues, improve uptime, and optimize system performance.
Leverage WMS data, dashboards, and reporting tools to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, labor optimization, accuracy, and cost control.
Lead, coach, and develop Warehouse Supervisors and indirectly support Warehouse Specialists in a technology-enabled environment.
Provide clear expectations, consistent feedback, and performance coaching to support engagement and accountability.
Work closely with the General Manager and Human Resources to address employee relations matters, performance issues, and workforce planning needs.
Support staffing strategies, shift structures, training onboarding, and cross-training plans to meet changing operational demands.
Champion a strong safety culture; ensure compliance with OSHA, GMP, and Sonwil safety standards.
Investigate and resolve safety incidents, operational disruptions, and quality issues, implementing corrective and preventative actions.
Validate adherence to standard operating procedures, safe work practices, and automation safety protocols.
Support internal and external audits and regulatory requirements as applicable.
Support customer service and leadership discussions by providing operational insight, data, and recommendations.
Assist with customer tours, implementation support, and operational readiness for new or changing business.
Communicate operational changes clearly and effectively to supervisors and frontline employees.