Warehouse Operations Manager

Nemera•Buffalo Grove, IL

About The Position

The Warehouse Operations Manager provides leadership and operational direction for Nemera’s warehouse and internal logistics network supporting its Buffalo Grove and Vernon Hills operations. The role is responsible for maintaining safe, reliable, compliant, and efficient warehouse operations while developing a scalable operating model to support future business growth. The manager leads warehouse execution across multiple buildings and shifts, including receiving, shipping, material handling, warehousing, internal transportation, inventory control, and production replenishment. The position also develops frontline leaders, maintains inventory and SAP transaction integrity, supports production material flow, oversees safety and regulatory compliance, manages performance and budgets, and plans for future capacity, infrastructure, and logistics needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; a degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, Business, or a related discipline is strongly preferred.
At least 5 years of progressive warehouse, distribution, logistics, or manufacturing-materials experience.
At least 5 years of supervisory or people-leadership experience in a warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience leading multi-shift operations.
Experience in a regulated, high-quality, or highly controlled manufacturing environment.
Strong knowledge of warehouse operations, material flow, inventory control, and production-support principles.
Working knowledge of SAP and applicable warehouse, inventory, production, and distribution processes.
Ability to develop supervisors, leads, and frontline employees.
Strong analytical, organizational, and structured problem-solving skills.
Ability to lead change and continuous improvement while maintaining day-to-day operational execution.
Ability to work effectively with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Finance, EHS, and other cross-functional teams.
Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications and data-driven performance management.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing multi-site or multi-building warehouse operations.
Experience implementing Lean manufacturing or Lean logistics principles, including Leader Standard Work, Gemba, visual daily management, 5S, and structured problem solving.
Experience improving inventory accuracy and transactional discipline within SAP.
Experience with SAP MM, WM/EWM, PP, or SD-related processes.
Experience with warehouse capacity planning, facility layouts, space utilization, and material-flow optimization.
Experience managing or evaluating third-party logistics and external warehousing solutions.
Experience implementing warehouse technology, automation, scanning, or material-handling equipment.
Experience supporting warehouse or manufacturing expansion and organizational growth.
Knowledge of budget management, capital planning, and business-case development.

Responsibilities

Lead warehouse and internal logistics operations across multiple buildings and shifts, maintaining consistent standards and meeting site-specific manufacturing needs.
Oversee receiving and putaway, shipping, material handling, raw material and finished goods warehousing, production replenishment, inter-building transfers, inventory movements, transportation, and applicable third-party logistics activities.
Maintain alignment between physical material movements and accurate, timely SAP transactions; establish escalation processes for shortages, shipment risks, discrepancies, equipment issues, and interruptions.
Establish daily operating routines and conduct Gemba walks to assess work, engage employees, identify abnormalities, and verify corrective actions.
Drive issues to root cause and improve standard work, training, process controls, layouts, equipment, and continuous-improvement projects.
Develop supervisors, leads, and other frontline leaders; define roles, decision rights, accountability, and escalation paths.
Assess staffing needs, maintain training and equipment qualification requirements, manage skills and cross-training matrices, and provide staffing flexibility across buildings and shifts.
Promote accountability, employee engagement, teamwork, continuous improvement, and open reporting of safety, quality, and operational concerns.
Lead inventory accuracy, reconciliation, SAP transaction integrity, inventory-control personnel, metrics, and corrective actions.
Ensure timely material availability for production; optimize replenishment, material movement, warehouse flow, and space utilization.
Ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance; maintain SOPs, training, and 5S standards; conduct inspections and audits; manage corrective actions, equipment use and maintenance, change control, and validation requirements.
Plan warehouse capacity, resources, and scalability; identify constraints; optimize space, labor, equipment, and processes; support network, automation, and growth initiatives; develop infrastructure and capital plans.
Establish warehouse KPIs and visual management, maintain performance-management routines across buildings and shifts, and monitor safety, service, production support, inventory accuracy, receiving, and labor productivity.
Hold teams accountable for corrective actions and verify that countermeasures produce sustainable results.
Develop and manage operating expenses and applicable capital budgets; review spending, explain variances, and take corrective action where appropriate.
Evaluate labor, overtime, equipment, transportation, external warehousing, and capital requirements against demand; manage applicable logistics-provider performance and identify cost and efficiency improvements while maintaining safety, quality, and service levels.