Shipping Lead

National Pen•Shelbyville, TN

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Shipping Lead is responsible for leading and owning all day-to-day shipping operations at the Tennessee factory, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant order fulfillment. This role is critical to operational success and customer experience, with direct accountability for shipping performance, daily execution, and continuous improvement. As the Shipping Lead, you will provide hands-on leadership on the shop floor, set daily priorities, and ensure all outbound volume is cleared in line with carrier cut-offs and service-level commitments. You will work closely with Warehouse, Inventory, Customer Service, and the North America Logistics Manager to maintain high operational standards and support factory throughput. This role owns shipping execution, reverse logistics, and performance management, using OTIF (On Time In Full) and OTS (On Time Shipped) as key success metrics. The Shipping Lead acts as the primary owner of the COMET shipping system at site level and drives problem resolution, stability, and process improvement. The role requires strong operational leadership, the ability to prioritize under pressure, and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Logistics, or related field preferred.
Minimum 3–5 years of experience in shipping, logistics, or warehouse operations, with at least 1–2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
Experience in a manufacturing or high-volume distribution environment strongly preferred.
Proficiency with shipping systems, ERP platforms (e.g.COMET), and carrier portals.
Strong understanding of domestic and international shipping regulations, including customs compliance and documentation.
Ability to analyze shipping data and KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
Proven ability to lead and motivate a team, manage schedules, and resolve operational issues quickly.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work cross-functionally with production, customer service, and logistics teams.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities under time-sensitive conditions.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Lean principles or other process improvement methodologies is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead daily shipping operations, setting priorities and ensuring all orders are processed, released, and shipped on time in line with carrier cut-offs and service levels
Act as the on-site owner for shipping execution, ensuring daily volume is fully cleared and business priorities are met
Prepare, review, and ensure accuracy of all shipping documentation, including bills of lading, packing slips, invoices, and regulatory paperwork
Own the COMET shipping system at site level, including issue identification, ticket management, escalation, and basic troubleshooting
Monitor, manage, and report shipping performance using OTIF and OTS metrics; proactively address gaps and risks
Work closely with the North America Logistics Manager to review performance, constraints, and improvement actions
Lead and manage reverse logistics, including returns, re-shipments, and carrier claims
Serve as the primary point of contact for carriers and vendors, coordinating collections, tracking deliveries, and resolving transportation issues
Ensure full compliance with carrier requirements, documentation standards, safety rules, and internal specifications
Coordinate closely with the Warehouse team to ensure correct packaging, labeling, staging, and handling of all outbound shipments
Monitor inventory availability and order readiness, escalating risks related to shortages, delays, or capacity constraints
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on shipping accuracy, speed, cost efficiency, and process stability
Maintain accurate shipment records and prepare regular operational and performance reports for management
Support audits, safety requirements, and regulatory compliance related to shipping operations
Partner with Customer Service to resolve shipment-related inquiries, delivery issues, and tracking requests