Position Summary
The Director of Logistics is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the plant's internal logistics and warehouse operations. This role owns the physical design and layout of the warehouse, the transactional integrity of inventory movements (receiving, put-away, and goods issue accuracy), the flow of materials from the warehouse to production lines, and the transportation of products to our customers.
The Director will build, coach, and lead a high-performing multi-site team that reliably supports uninterrupted production.
This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a blend of operational discipline, systems/process expertise, and people management in a fast-paced industrial manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
Warehouse Layout & Design
• Design and continuously optimize the physical layout of the warehouse to maximize storage density, throughput, and safety, including racking configuration, slotting strategy, and flow paths.
• Partner with Production, Engineering, and Safety teams to align warehouse layout with production line requirements and material presentation needs (e.g., point-of-use storage, line-side kitting areas).
• Lead or oversee warehouse expansion, reconfiguration, or relocation projects as the business grows.
Inventory Transactions & Systems Control
• Own the accuracy and timeliness of all inventory transactions: receiving, put-away, goods issue, transfers, and returns within the D365 ERP system.
• Establish and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for each transaction type to ensure data integrity between physical inventory and system records.
• Serve as the warehouse subject matter expert on the D365 ERP system, partnering with IT/Systems teams on enhancements, upgrades, and issue resolution.
• Drive adoption of scanning, barcoding, or RFID technologies to improve transaction accuracy and reduce manual entry errors.
• Develop and lead a cycle count program that achieves and sustains high inventory accuracy targets (99%+ accuracy), reducing reliance on disruptive full physical inventories.
• Own key inventory KPIs and report performance to plant and operations leadership.
Material Flow to Production
• In coordination with Material Planning and Production teams, design and manage material replenishment strategies (kanban, min/max, pull systems) that ensure production lines never experience material shortages or line-down events.
• Coordinate closely with Production Planning, Scheduling, and Manufacturing leadership to align material delivery with production schedules and takt time.
• Optimize point-of-use delivery routes, staging areas, and line-side inventory levels to balance space, cost, and service level.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for any material flow disruptions affecting production.
Transportation
• Lead the arrangement of outbound freight and logistics to deliver on time to the customer.
• Responsible for between-site shipping and logistics to ensure flow of materials to final assembly.
Team Leadership
• Lead, coach, and develop warehouse supervisors, leads, and associates across all shifts, building a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Establish staffing plans, shift schedules, and labor standards to meet production and shipping demands cost-effectively.
• Conduct performance management, training, and development planning for the warehouse team.
• Champion a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with OSHA and company safety standards (forklift operation, material handling, ergonomics).
• Apply Lean/Six Sigma principles (5S, standard work, value stream mapping) to drive measurable improvements in accuracy, throughput, cost, and safety.
• Partner cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Purchasing/Procurement, Planning, and Engineering to support overall plant performance.
Qualifications
Required Qualifcaitons
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Logistics, Business, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 8+ years of progressive warehouse/materials management experience in a manufacturing environment, including 3+ years in a leadership role overseeing multiple supervisors or teams.
• Demonstrated experience with warehouse layout design and reconfiguration projects.
• Strong hands-on experience with ERP/WMS transactions (receiving, put-away, goods issue, cycle counting) — D365 experience strongly preferred.
• Strong experience with implementing cycle count programs within a warehouse setting.
• Experience supporting a production/manufacturing environment with kitting and line-side material delivery.
Preferred
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) or similar.
• Experience with automated material handling equipment or WMS implementations.
• Experience in a production line manufacturing environment.
Core Competencies
• Strategic Logistics & Warehouse Leadership
• Inventory Management & Transactional Integrity
• Warehouse Layout Design & Optimization
• Material Flow & Production Support
• Transportation & Distribution Management
• ERP/WMS Systems Expertise (D365 Preferred)
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
• Cycle Count Programs & Inventory Accuracy
• Data Analysis & Operational Decision Making
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration
• Team Development, Coaching & Performance Management
• Project Management & Process Improvement
• Operational Excellence & KPI Management
• Safety Leadership & OSHA Compliance
• Change Management & Execution
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
• Primarily based on the warehouse floor within an active manufacturing plant; requires regular walking, standing, and movement throughout the facility.
• Occasional lifting up to 25-50 lbs.
• Exposure to a typical industrial/manufacturing environment (noise, temperature variation, forklift and equipment traffic).