VMI Manager

Shepherd Electric Supply•Laurel, MD

22h•$70,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

The VMI Manager owns the reliability of the Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) program end to end. This role involves setting the standard, building the team, and owning the outcomes daily. The VMI Manager is responsible for the people, inventory integrity, and daily execution that keep the VMI program running smoothly, ensuring Specialists are prepared and job sites do not stall waiting on Shepherd. The role requires discipline, organization, and accuracy from staging to final discrepancy resolution, building a team that upholds these standards. Key responsibilities include VMI program ownership and daily operations, team leadership and development, inventory integrity and receiving, outbound fulfillment and vehicle readiness, coordination with Specialists, customers, and cross-functional teams, and process improvement and facility safety.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required
3+ years of warehouse, inventory, logistics, or VMI experience, preferably in a distribution or wholesale environment
Experience leading or supervising a team in a fast-paced distribution or wholesale setting
DOT physical certificate required for delivery duties, or ability to obtain prior to first delivery
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Outlook; familiarity with warehouse management systems
Ability to stand for extended periods and perform physical tasks including lifting up to 50 lbs. using proper technique
Strong verbal and written communication skills — comfortable coordinating across sales, Specialists, and branch teams
Valid driver's license required
Strong attention to detail and commitment to getting things right the first time
Dependable attendance and a team-oriented mindset
Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements

Nice To Haves

Electrical product knowledge is a plus

Responsibilities

Own the daily rhythm of the VMI operation — staging open on time, priorities identified, and orders moving before Specialists arrive
Set the operational tone every day so the program runs reliably without follow-up needed from branch leadership
Ensure replenishment orders go out clean — right product, right quantity, complete and accurate — across every account the program serves
Prioritize time-critical and priority-flagged replenishment with urgency and direct communication to affected Specialists and teams
Select, onboard, and develop the VMI team — including coordinators and Specialists — so the program 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
Develop depth and continuity in the VMI function so the program is never dependent on a single person
Escalate performance or conduct concerns to the Operations Manager promptly and without delay
Oversee inbound receiving for the VMI program — freight and stock replenishment received accurately, put away promptly, and manifests closed only after discrepancies are resolved
Ensure PO shipments from UPS, FedEx, and trucking carriers are received and put away the same day
Own the VMI team's cycle count goals — hitting them monthly and using counts to protect inventory accuracy, not just to check a box
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
Ensure the wire area is managed to standard — reels tagged with lot numbers, empties replaced, organization maintained
Ensure all replenishment orders going to VMI vehicles and job sites are picked, packed, and labeled accurately
Oversee Direct Sales Order (SO) shipments tied to VMI accounts — proactive follow-up with writers on open and pending items before they have to ask
Ensure VMI vehicles are loaded correctly and staged so Specialists are never left waiting
Coordinate coverage at the counter and in the field so customer needs are met without gaps
Coordinate proactively with VMI Specialists on inventory needs, vehicle issues, and job site timing
Represent Shepherd professionally on deliveries and job site visits — on time, accurate, and courteous
Communicate proactively with sales, counter, purchasing, and branch teams on VMI status and exception resolution
Partner with branch operations to resolve replenishment and delivery exceptions in real time, not after the fact
Surface inefficiencies, recurring errors, and workflow friction in the VMI function — and act on them, not just report them
Recommend and test process changes that improve replenishment accuracy, speed, or team capacity
Keep the VMI staging area and warehouse organized and clean at all times — a standard, not a nice-to-have
Model and enforce safety compliance on every shift, and ensure hazards and maintenance needs are reported and resolved before they become failures