Warehouse Operations Specialist

About the position

The Warehouse Operations Specialist acts as a strategic liaison between warehouse operations and cross-functional departments across the organization. This role is accountable for designing and leading comprehensive training programs, driving process consistency and improvement, managing high-level escalations, and ensuring clear and proactive communication across teams.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to support day-to-day warehouse operations, helping to resolve workflow disruptions, manage resource allocation, and maintain service level expectations.
• Participate in system testing and implementation of WMS/ERP updates or new digital tools, providing feedback on usability and training requirements.
• Support inventory management initiatives including audits, cycle counts, and KPI reporting.
• Champion continuous improvement through lean practices, standardization, and data-driven recommendations.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of high-level operational issues, including customer complaints, order discrepancies, and system errors.
• Own the escalation process from intake to resolution, ensuring timely responses and collaboration across affected teams.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) to address recurring issues, minimize future risk, and strengthen warehouse performance.
• Identify trends in escalations and complaints, and work with leadership to implement systemic process improvements.
• Serve as the senior liaison for all communication related to warehouse operations, ensuring transparency and alignment with internal teams including customer service, logistics, procurement, planning, and leadership.
• Coordinate and deliver updates on process changes, operational delays, and warehouse impact to service levels.
• Lead the development of internal warehouse communication tools and practices, such as SOP rollouts, team updates, and continuous improvement briefings.
• Design, lead, and continuously improve robust training programs for warehouse staff, including onboarding, safety compliance, equipment use, and process standardization.
• Own the development and delivery of cross-functional training initiatives to enhance workforce flexibility and performance.
• Conduct skills gap analysis and implement personalized development plans to upskill warehouse talent.
• Oversee the documentation and maintenance of all SOPs, training guides, and certification records to ensure compliance with regulatory and operational standards.
• Lead the implementation of new workflows and act as the subject matter expert and escalation point for process-related issues.
• Manage and support the warehouse trainer to ensure effective execution of training programs and consistency in knowledge delivery across all shifts.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in warehouse operations with increasing levels of responsibility; prior leadership or training experience required.
• Strong knowledge of WMS/ERP systems and proficiency in tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, and reporting software.
• Proven experience leading training programs, managing escalations, and collaborating across departments.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to identify trends, propose solutions, and implement improvements.
• Comfortable working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.

Nice-to-haves

• Understanding of receiving, picking, packing, shipping, inventory control, and material handling processes.
• Basic understanding of OSHA standards and warehouse safety protocols.
• Clear and professional communication with team members, leadership, and cross-functional departments.
• Work well as part of a team and across departments to coordinate warehouse activities.
• Ability to support internal teams and ensure high-quality service delivery.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid company holidays
• Paid time off
• Paid parental and caregiver leave
• Plus more! See benefits https://www.aheadbenefits.com/ for additional details.