Warehouse Operations Manager

Shepherd Electric Company • SES Sterling, VA

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager — Sterling, VA Branch is the operational backbone of the Sterling Distribution Center. This role is responsible for building a distribution operation — 30–40 people across inbound, fulfillment, outbound, inventory, and fleet — that holds up when volume spikes, staffing is tight, and the margin for error is zero. You set the standard, develop the team, and own the outcomes, not just on the days it is easy, but on the days it is not. This role is not a caretaker position. It is a culture-building one. If you have led large distribution teams, know the difference between a well-run operation and a dependent one, and have the drive to build something better than what you inherited, this role was written for you.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing large teams (30+) in distribution, warehouse, or fulfillment environments
• Demonstrated track record of developing people — your former team members have grown
• Track record of hiring and evaluating talent against values, not just skills — you build teams that hold a standard, not just teams that execute tasks
• Experience owning full-cycle Distribution Center operations across inbound, fulfillment, outbound, inventory, wire room, nightshift and fleet
• 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
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement through data — Lean, continuous improvement, or equivalent experience
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and perform the physical requirements of the role
• Valid driver's license required

Nice To Haves

• bachelor's degree in operations, supply chain, or related field preferred
• Familiarity with Laurel-area delivery routes preferred
• Electrical product knowledge is a plus

Responsibilities

• Own daily operations across inbound, pick and pack, outbound, inventory control, wire room, night shift and fleet coordination — present on the floor, not behind a desk
• Maintain operational flow across all functions so work keeps moving without stalls, rework, or dropped handoffs
• Set and enforce accuracy and pace standards for the team each shift
• Coordinate with branches, dispatch, counter sales, and purchasing when time-sensitive exceptions arise
• Select, onboard, and develop warehouse supervisors and leads so the team executes without depending on heroics
• Recruit to the Compass — when hiring, evaluate candidates against Shepherd’s values, not just operational skills; cultural fit is a non-negotiable, not a tiebreaker
• Coach and hold team members accountable through direct, consistent feedback — not just documentation
• Build bench depth: your job is to develop leaders who can carry this operation forward without you in the room
• Delegate clearly, follow up on completion, and build a crew that holds itself to a standard
• Escalate performance or conduct concerns to the VP Warehouse Operations promptly and without delay
• Own inventory accuracy — cycle counts, physical inventory, bin location maintenance, and discrepancy resolution
• Treat inventory discrepancies as signals requiring root cause investigation, not isolated incidents to close out
• Ensure all inbound freight is received accurately, exceptions are documented, and overages, shortages, or damages are resolved before entering inventory
• Flag recurring discrepancy patterns to the VP Warehouse Operations for systemic review
• Ensure outbound orders leave clean — right product, right quantity, complete and accurate documentation
• Prioritize time-critical and priority-flagged orders with urgency and direct communication to affected teams
• Oversee fleet scheduling and driver coordination to ensure on-time, accurate outbound delivery
• Maintain familiarity with Laurel-area delivery routes and ensure routing functions smoothly
• Partner with dispatch and branch operations to resolve delivery exceptions in real time
• Maintain safe, organized operations — aisles clear, equipment functional, hazards addressed before they become incidents
• Oversee pre-shift equipment inspections and ensure maintenance needs are reported and resolved proactively
• Serve as the primary accountability layer for safety compliance — model it, enforce it, never treat it as a formality
• Surface inefficiencies, recurring errors, and workflow friction — and act on them, not just report them
• Recommend and test process changes that improve accuracy, speed, or team capacity
• Contribute to cross-branch consistency by sharing what works and adopting improvements from other locations
• Support branch expansion readiness — your operational systems should hold up when we open the next location
• Review and Use KPI’s and Error Tracking reporting (UET) to improve warehouse operations
• Review KPI’s regularly to look for areas of improvement amongst the operations teams, individual departments, and individual employees.
• Review error tracking dashboard (UET) regularly to address issues within Operations.
• Use the error tracking dashboard (UET) to report issues.
• Use KPI’s and UET’s as a tool for continuous improvement and coaching.

Benefits

• excellence in service, pricing, and products has been our mission since 1892
• As the oldest wholesale electrical distributor in the Baltimore/Washington area, we take pride in our exceptional customer service and extensive inventory.
• We have a rich history of partnering with industry leaders like Siemens and Eaton, and our commitment to quality and innovation has made us a trusted name in the industry.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED