Director of Warehouse Operations & Logistics : Location: Joliet, IL
We’re looking for a high-ownership, entrepreneurial Director of Warehouse Operations & Logistics to run day-to-day warehouse and logistics operations for a growing company. This is not a desk job and not a corporate “middle manager” role.
You will own execution — people, process, inventory, and transportation — with clear KPIs, real authority to improve systems, and direct impact on profitability and customer satisfaction.
This role starts hands-on and execution-focused, and evolves as processes tighten and the operation matures — allowing more time for planning, analysis, optimization, and strategic cost control.
If you thrive wearing multiple hats, building structure, and treating operations like a business within a business, this role is for you.
What You’ll Own (Your Scorecard):
You are accountable for performance across these core KPIs:
- On-time, in-full (OTIF) shipping
- Inventory accuracy & cycle count variance
- Labor productivity & overtime control
- Freight and transportation cost per order / per pound
- Transportation cost variance vs. expected / quoted
- Safety, cleanliness, and SOP compliance
- Order accuracy & quality errors
You will have the authority — and expectation — to improve these metrics.
The Role (How You’ll Spend Your Time):
This is a hands-on leadership role with increasing strategic responsibility over time.
- You will spend significant time on the warehouse floor early on:
- Leading by example
- Coaching associates and supervisors
- Removing bottlenecks
- Enforcing SOPs and safety standards
- Establishing consistent execution and accountability
- As processes, training, and KPIs stabilize, your focus will increasingly shift to:
- Planning and optimization
- Data analysis and reporting
- Transportation strategy and cost control
- Continuous improvement initiatives
You are expected to flex your time based on what the operation needs, not a fixed schedule.
Key Responsibilities:
People & Leadership
- Lead, train, and hold warehouse associates accountable to clear standards
- Run daily huddles to align on priorities, volume, and performance targets
- Build a culture of ownership, safety, and continuous improvement
- Ensure labor compliance (breaks, lunches, scheduling)
- Identify skill gaps and implement training programs that reduce dependency on constant supervision
Warehouse Operations
- Oversee all warehouse functions: receiving, put-away, inventory control, picking, packing, and shipping
- Ensure accurate, on-time order fulfillment
- Perform and manage cycle counts; maintain high WMS accuracy
- Conduct regular quality audits on inbound and outbound orders
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe facility aligned with SOPs
Transportation, Logistics & Cost Control
- Own inbound and outbound transportation strategy, including domestic and ocean freight
- Manage carrier relationships across parcel, LTL, FTL, and ocean transportation
- Understand and manage all transportation-related costs and accessorials, including:
- Fuel surcharges
- Detention, demurrage, and port fees
- Accessorial charges and pass-through costs
- Create and maintain auditing processes to ensure freight invoices match contracted rates, quotes, and expected costs
- Bid out freight, select carriers, and negotiate cost-effective and reliable rates
- Create ASNs, loads, and BOLs; ensure compliance with customer routing and documentation requirements
- Actively identify transportation cost savings and eliminate billing variances
- Partner with purchasing and sales to align inventory flow, inbound timing, and outbound commitments
Continuous Improvement & Analysis
- Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements across warehouse and transportation
- Improve SOPs, layouts, workflows, and carrier performance
- Track KPIs, analyze trends, and report results transparently
- Build repeatable systems that reduce errors, cost leakage, and manual effort
- Treat the operation like a business within the business
Who Thrives in This Role
- You like owning outcomes, not just tasks
- You’re comfortable making decisions and being accountable for results
- You enjoy building structure where it doesn’t fully exist yet
- You think in terms of cost, efficiency, and scalability
- You prefer a smaller, agile environment over heavy bureaucracy
- You can shift between the floor and analysis without losing effectiveness
Qualifications
- 3+ years of warehouse and/or logistics leadership experience
- Strong understanding of inventory control, WMS, and fulfillment operations
- Solid working knowledge of transportation, including ocean freight and associated fees
- Experience managing carriers, freight spend, and invoice auditing
- Comfortable working hands-on in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency with WMS systems (Katana preferred) and Microsoft Office
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience considered
- Forklift / reach truck certification preferred or ability to obtain
Compensation & Growth
- Base salary: $90,000–$110,000, depending on experience
- Performance bonus up to 10% of base tied to: OTIF shipping, Inventory accuracy, Labor efficiency & overtime control, Transportation and freight cost reduction, Invoice accuracy and variance elimination
- Health and wellness benefits
- Paid time off
- Real opportunity to grow responsibility, scope, and influence as the company scales
Why This Role Is Different
- Clear KPIs and real ownership — not micromanagement
- Authority to improve processes and build systems
- Direct impact on transportation costs, service levels, and profitability
- Leadership visibility and a genuine growth runway
- A chance to build, optimize, and scale, not just maintain
If you’re looking for a role where you can take ownership, wear multiple hats, and run warehouse and logistics operations like a business — we want to hear from you!