Regional Operations Director

Johnson Brothers•Saint Paul, MN

About The Position

The Regional Operations Director provides strategic and operational leadership across distribution centers in Minnesota, Iowa, Spencer, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Nebraska. The role leads Branch Operations and is accountable for warehouse, delivery, office, and facilities functions, with full financial P&L responsibility. The director delivers the annual operating plan through disciplined cost management, asset stewardship, and productivity and efficiency initiatives that support profitable growth and reliable customer service. The role leads Branch Directors of Operations, promotes regional safety and regulatory compliance, and oversees operating plans, cost and productivity initiatives, labor strategies, performance analytics, operating assets, and capital projects. It also develops leaders and succession plans, advances cross-market standardization and continuous improvement, and fosters accountability, employee engagement, operational excellence, and responsible asset ownership. Regional travel of 75% or more is required to maintain an active leadership presence across the region. The role regularly works within distribution center, warehouse, delivery, fleet, office, and facility environments and responds to operational priorities across the multi-state network as business needs require. Johnson Brothers is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on protected status under applicable laws.

Requirements

At least 15 years of progressive regional operations leadership experience with direct responsibility for multiple distribution sites for a DSD company.
Demonstrated success leading a geographically dispersed operation through site or branch operations leaders.
Proven full P&L ownership and experience delivering annual operating plans, budgets, cost reductions, productivity gains, and capital priorities.
Experience operating with company-owned assets, including distribution centers, trucks, trailers, warehouse equipment, material-handling equipment, and facility infrastructure.
Deep knowledge of DSD operations, warehousing, inventory control, delivery, transportation, fleet management, routing, and facility operations.
Strong financial and analytical capability, including the ability to translate operating metrics into corrective actions and financial results.
Demonstrated ability to lead change, standardize processes, reduce cost, improve efficiency, and sustain results across multiple markets.
Strong executive communication, cross-functional collaboration, talent development, and accountability skills.
Ability to travel regionally 75% or more and regularly work within distribution center, warehouse, delivery, fleet, office, and facility environments.
Ability to respond to operational priorities across a multi-state network as business needs require.

Nice To Haves

Experience within alcoholic beverage, consumer packaged goods, foodservice, wholesale distribution, or a comparable multi-site distribution environment is strongly preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, Finance, or a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead Branch Directors of Operations across the region, providing direction, operating discipline, coaching, and accountability.
Serve as the executive sponsor for regional safety, ensuring compliance, reducing accidents, improving driver and warehouse safety performance, and promoting accountability.
Own branch operating P&Ls and deliver annual operating plans.
Develop and execute cost-reduction, productivity, route-efficiency, capacity-planning and utilization, and process-improvement initiatives while protecting service, safety, and quality.
Develop labor strategies and staffing models to meet staffing needs while maintaining productivity and cost objectives.
Partner with corporate Operations, Sales, Finance, and HR to optimize service, capacity, cost, and talent.
Use data and analytics to identify performance gaps, establish corrective actions, and hold branch leadership accountable for sustained results.
Champion analytics, routing technology, labor management systems, and warehouse management systems to improve operational performance and decision-making.
Monitor operating measures including OTIF, cases per mile, cases per stop, revenue per mile, revenue per stop, planned versus actual performance, cost per case, preventive maintenance compliance, safety scores, perfect invoice, inventory and order accuracy, mis-picks, and fill rates.
Oversee company-owned operating assets, including distribution centers, facility infrastructure, trucks, trailers, warehouse equipment, and material-handling equipment, as well as related capital investments.
Ensure preventive maintenance programs, asset replacement plans, and capital projects support safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local alcoholic beverage, transportation, workplace safety, and operating requirements.
Build a strong leadership bench through talent assessment, succession planning, coaching, and development of Branch Directors of Operations and their teams.
Lead cross-market standardization, best-practice sharing, network optimization, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
Maintain a culture of accountability, employee engagement, operational excellence, and responsible asset ownership.
Travel regionally 75% or more and regularly work in distribution center, warehouse, delivery, fleet, office, and facility environments.
Respond to operational priorities across a multi-state network as business needs require.