Manager of Distribution

Position Summary:
The Manager of Distribution is responsible for planning, directing, and controlling the operations of the Warehouse and Material Handling departments. Ensures efficient warehousing and timely distribution of all products to meet customer requirements for service excellence. Manages the efficiency of the operation to drive continuous improvement in cost per unit handled.

Provides team with strong leadership and direction to achieve positive in the areas of safety, service, quality, housekeeping, cost control, and people, while ensuring compliance with company policies/procedures. Leadership of the function includes developing strategic and tactical plans to drive continuous performance improvement and development of the associates within the team.



Position Responsibilities:
• Ensure service excellence by managing on-time delivery, shipment accuracy, and case fill performance for our customers.
• Manage labor productivity through utilization of performance standards that identify actual vs. goal variances. Establish corrective action processes to improve performance.
• Implement operational strategies and processes to drive continuous improvement of performance as measured in cost per unit.
• Develop and track actual performance metrics versus budget/target. Ensure that performance metrics are fully utilized and effectively used by supervisors and associates.
• Manage costs to budgeted levels. Utilize benchmarking and best-practices to drive significant cost reductions in operating expenses.
• Improve inventory accuracy through effective utilization of RF/Operating system execution and process modifications.
• Drive reductions in dumps/donations by ensuring proper rotation and picking procedures.
• Manage the tote washing, waste recovery, baler, pallet/bin/tote repair operations.
• Develop and implement communication processes to ensure effective information flow between production, demand planning, transportation, and customer logistics.
• Ensure proper GMP standards and cold-chain management processes are in place. Facilitate process for frequent monitoring of associate practices, forklift equipment, facility housekeeping, cooler temperatures within proper range, pre-cooled trailers, and commodity storage requirements are followed.
• Facilitate the proper housekeeping of the warehouse and yard.
• Ensure the integrity of the warehouse, facility, and material handling equipment.
• Ensure the departments remain compliant with all requirements, policies and procedures as outlined by the Safety Manager to include state & federal regulatory agencies. This includes facilitation of safety meetings/training, safety audits, injury investigations, and correcting unsafe conditions and behaviors.
• Develop and implement automation and facility capital projects.
• Develop annual operating budgets, capital, and longer-range strategic plans for each function. These plans are used to establish performance objectives to maximize the profitability of Ready Pac Produce.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for every position within the department. Facilitate reviews to determine that associates are properly trained, understand, and utilize the SOPs.
• Provide coaching and development of the management team and associates to achieve individual and team competency. This will include performance evaluations and formalized action and developmental plans.
• Complete planning activities with department managers each week to address staffing requirements, raw material, and finished goods storage/capacity concerns.
• Support the Sales team in making joint customer calls and, as appropriate, addressing quality and service concerns of customers.
• Other tasks as assigned.