Senior Manager, Warehouse & Distribution

Dover Food Retail•Chester, VA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Dover Food Retail (DFR) is seeking a Senior Manager of Warehouse and Distribution to lead the operational launch and ongoing excellence of their new Distribution Center in Richmond, VA. This role is responsible for the entire lifecycle of goods within the distribution center, from receiving to shipping. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with experience in Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, team building, managing multi-million dollar inventory, and driving high-performance results in a high-growth environment. This position will oversee 3 direct reports and 124 hourly associates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Industrial Engineering, or Business.
At least 15 years of training and experience required.
10–15+ years of progressive experience in warehouse/distribution.
5+ years in a senior leadership role.
Experience with new facility launches is a major plus.
In-depth knowledge and understanding of warehouses, inventory and manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of MRP is required.
Demonstrated understanding of warehousing best practices.
Knowledge of material control.
Ability to lead people to achieve outstanding results.
Ability to effectively manage time.
Strong analytical, communication, interpersonal, team development, and technical skills.
Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of management within and outside the company.
ERP (AS400 preferred), MS Outlook, Excel, Word and Power Point proficiency.
Solid math skills.
Understanding of English and Metric System - e.g., units and measurements: length, time, fractions and decimals.
Ability to inquire, assess, analyze and make key decisions.
Effective problem-solving skills and conflict resolution.
Able to engage employees to understand their role, utilize level of expertise in various processes and express their value to the organization.
Able to conduct effective meetings on an on-going basis with all levels of employees.
Qualified to operate all material handling equipment, including forklifts, scissor lifts, pallet jacks and others.
Regularly required to walk, sit and stand for prolonged periods of time.
Gross manual dexterity (operating a motor vehicle) is also required.
Ability to reach with arms and hands; bend, kneel, crouch and/or crawl.
Ability to see and hear.
Frequently lift and/or move up to 60lbs.

Nice To Haves

2 years specifically in a Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence role.
Expert-level knowledge of WMS, ERP systems, and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI or Tableau).
Deep understanding of OSHA safety protocols and HAZMAT shipping regulations.
APICS or ISM Certification.
APICS (CSCP/CPIM) or Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt preferred.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to present operational data to executive leadership.
Strong ability to lead teams through organizational change and a "Gemba-first" mindset (managing from the floor, not the desk).

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic startup of the new distribution facility.
Direct all daily receiving, warehousing, and distribution activities to ensure 100% on-time shipping and logistics precision.
Design and implement optimized warehouse layouts and workflows.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to maximize storage density and minimize touches.
Spearhead the integration and optimization of WMS systems.
Evaluate and implement future automation, such as robotics or RFID, to scale operations.
Lead site-wide Kaizen events and continuous improvement projects to eliminate the "eight waste" (DOWNTIME), specifically focusing on overproduction and unnecessary motion.
Develop and maintain an Operational Excellence Playbook, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and visual management tools to ensure process consistency across shifts.
Utilize DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodologies and statistical tools to reduce variability in order fulfillment and inventory accuracy.
Design and implement high-efficiency layouts using 5S and fixed-location principles to minimize travel distance and maximize picking speed.
Establish and monitor KPI-focused KPIs, such as Dock-to-Stock time, First-Pass Yield, and Order Cycle Time, using real-time data from the Warehouse Management System (WMS) to improve daily execution.
Act as a "Lean Champion," coaching supervisors and front-line associates to identify bottlenecks and suggest process improvements autonomously.