Regional Operations Director

Johnson Brothers•St. 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 operations. It carries full financial P&L responsibility, including delivery of the annual operating plan, disciplined cost management, asset stewardship, and productivity and efficiency initiatives that support profitable growth and reliable customer service. The director leads Branch Directors of Operations across the region, oversees regional safety and compliance, and drives cost reduction, productivity, route efficiency, capacity planning, process improvement, and workforce planning. The role partners with corporate Operations, Sales, Finance, and HR, and uses analytics and operational systems to identify performance gaps and improve results. The position oversees company-owned distribution centers, infrastructure, trucks, trailers, warehouse and material-handling equipment, and related capital investments. It ensures preventive maintenance, asset replacement planning, and capital projects support safe, reliable, cost-effective operations; ensures applicable regulatory compliance; and develops leadership talent through assessment, succession planning, coaching, and development. Regional travel of 75% or more is required, along with regular work in distribution center, warehouse, delivery, fleet, office, and facility environments.

Requirements

15 or more years of progressive regional operations leadership experience with direct responsibility for multiple distribution sites for a DSD company.
Demonstrated success leading geographically dispersed operations 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 costs, 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.
Ability to regularly work within distribution center, warehouse, delivery, fleet, office, and facility environments and respond to operational priorities across a multi-state network.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Lead Branch Directors of Operations across the region, providing direction, operating discipline, coaching, and accountability.
Serve as the regional executive sponsor for 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 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 leaders accountable for sustained results.
Promote the use of analytics, routing technology, labor management systems, and warehouse management systems to improve operational performance and decision-making.
Monitor operating measures including OTIF, cases and revenue per mile and 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, material-handling equipment, and 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 maintain an active leadership presence across the multi-state region.
Regularly work within distribution center, warehouse, delivery, fleet, office, and facility environments and respond to operational priorities as business needs require.