Warehouse Lead - Early AM
About The Position
Every order Shepherd promises to a customer has to leave this building correctly. The Warehouse Lead – Shipping Department owns that moment — the pull, the pack, the verify, the load. When this function runs clean, customers get what they ordered, drivers leave on time, and the branch keeps its word. When it does not, everyone downstream feels it. This is not a role where close enough is acceptable. Shipments that go out wrong cost time, trust, and money — and they put other people’s work at risk. You are the last line of quality control before product leaves the building, and the person who sets the standard for how the shipping crew shows up every shift. The Richmond branch is growing. The shipping function needs to grow with it without losing accuracy or pace. That starts here.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Forklift and pallet jack certification required or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
- Proficiency with warehouse management systems and standard computer tools (Excel, email)
- Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and stand for extended periods
- Valid driver’s license required
- Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements
Nice To Haves
- Experience in outbound shipping, fulfillment, or distribution preferred
- Familiarity with shipping documentation — bills of lading, packing slips, carrier requirements
Responsibilities
- Pull, stage, and verify outbound orders before they leave the building — right product, right quantity, every time
- Confirm shipping documentation is complete and accurate on every outbound shipment
- Identify and resolve discrepancies between the order and the pick before the order is loaded
- Prioritize time-sensitive and flagged orders with urgency and direct communication to dispatch and sales
- Ensure will-call orders are staged and ready before the customer arrives
- Ensure bills of lading, packing slips, and delivery documentation are completed accurately for every shipment
- Maintain organized records of outbound activity, exceptions, and carrier interactions
- Flag recurring documentation errors or carrier issues to the Warehouse Manager for systemic review
- Coordinate with dispatch on daily truck schedules, load sequencing, and route priorities
- Communicate proactively with carriers on timing, exceptions, and special handling requirements
- Resolve outbound exceptions in real time — do not hold up a truck waiting for someone else to decide
- Set the pace, accuracy standards, and safety expectations for the shipping crew each shift
- Delegate picking, packing, staging, and loading tasks clearly and follow up on completion
- Support onboarding and on-the-floor training for new shipping team members
- Escalate performance or conduct concerns to the Warehouse Manager promptly and directly
- Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and dock equipment safely and in compliance with Shepherd standards
- Conduct pre-shift equipment inspections and report maintenance needs before they become failures
- Keep the shipping area and dock organized — staged orders clearly marked, aisles clear, hazards addressed
- Support safety compliance at the team level — you are the first layer of accountability on the dock
- Surface pick errors, staging bottlenecks, documentation gaps, and workflow friction to the Warehouse Manager
- Recommend and test process changes that improve accuracy, throughput, or team capacity
- Cross-train on adjacent functions — receiving, inventory control — to increase team flexibility
Benefits
- Excellence in service, pricing, and products has been our mission since 1892.
- Exceptional customer service and extensive inventory.
- Rich history of partnering with industry leaders like Siemens and Eaton.
- Commitment to quality and innovation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
