Shipping Department Manager

Shepherd Electric Supply•Richmond, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Shipping is the last checkpoint before a promise is kept or broken. Every order that leaves this facility on time, complete, and correctly documented is a commitment fulfilled to a contractor counting on those materials to stay on schedule. Every error — wrong product, missing documentation, late departure — lands on a job site and on our reputation. The Shipping Manager owns that final checkpoint across a 100,000-square-foot distribution center with a 20-person team. At a facility running three shifts, the outbound function cannot afford to be reactive — it has to be disciplined, organized, and accurate from the moment staging begins to the moment the last truck rolls out. You set the standard, build the team, and own the outcomes every day.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required
5+ years of warehouse management experience, preferably in a shipping, fulfillment, or distribution environment
Experience managing teams of 15 or more in a fast-paced distribution or wholesale setting
Familiarity with Southern and Western Maryland, Washington DC suburbs, and Northern Virginia delivery area preferred
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Outlook; familiarity with warehouse management systems
Forklift, pallet jack, and reach truck certification required or ability to obtain through onsite training
Strong verbal and written communication skills — comfortable coordinating across sales, dispatch, and branch teams
Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and perform the physical requirements of the role
Valid driver’s license required
Willingness to cover alternate shifts when operational needs require it
Electrical product knowledge is a plus
Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements

Nice To Haves

Electrical product knowledge is a plus

Responsibilities

Ensure every outbound order leaves clean — right product, right quantity, complete and accurate documentation
Verify shipping documentation is complete on every outbound shipment before departure — no exceptions
Prioritize time-critical and priority-flagged orders with urgency and direct communication to affected teams
Coordinate staging so drivers load efficiently and depart on time, every route, every day
Ensure will-call orders are staged and ready before customers arrive
Select, onboard, and develop a 20-person shipping team — including leads — so the function executes without depending on heroics
Coach and hold team members accountable through direct, consistent feedback — not just documentation
Manage timecards, performance evaluations, and day-to-day accountability with consistency and fairness
Delegate clearly, follow up on completion, and build a crew that holds itself to a standard
Escalate performance or conduct concerns to the Operations Manager promptly and without delay
Develop leads so the shipping function has depth and continuity across all shifts
Oversee inbound receiving processes as needed — ensuring freight is received accurately and exceptions are documented before product enters inventory
Manage fulfillment, inventory, and receiving staff coordination to keep inbound and outbound flow moving without bottlenecks
Treat inventory discrepancies as signals requiring root cause investigation, not isolated incidents to close out
Flag recurring discrepancy patterns to the Operations Manager for systemic review
Coordinate with dispatch and drivers to ensure on-time, accurate outbound delivery across Southern and Western Maryland, Washington DC suburbs, and Northern Virginia
Assist with truck maintenance coordination — report needs proactively so vehicles are never a reason for a missed route
Partner with dispatch and branch operations to resolve delivery exceptions in real time, not after the fact
Maintain safe, organized shipping operations — staging areas clear, equipment functional, hazards addressed before they become incidents
Oversee pre-shift equipment inspections and ensure maintenance needs are reported and resolved proactively
Operate and ensure team compliance with forklift, pallet jack, and reach truck certification requirements
Model and enforce safety compliance on every shift — never treat it as a formality
Surface inefficiencies, recurring errors, and workflow friction in the shipping function — and act on them, not just report them
Recommend and test process changes that improve outbound accuracy, speed, or team capacity
Communicate proactively with sales, counter, purchasing, and branch teams on outbound status and exception resolution
Be willing to cover other shifts when operational needs require it — the Laurel DC runs 24 hours, Monday through Friday