Fine Woodworks Outbound Operations Lead

Why This Role Matters

Our team at Fargo Woodworks crafts made-to-order furniture—conference tables, executive desks, reception stations, and sideboards—built in Fargo and shipped across the country. Your mission: ensure each custom build departs our shop in perfect condition and arrives the same way.

Your Impact (Bullet-Point Snapshot)

• Own final prep: perform last-stage assembly and quality checks.
• Record the details: clean, photograph, and document every component.
• Engineer protection: disassemble as needed, wrap, cushion, and label for safe transit.
• Pack with precision: place components into the correct crates; stage and load safely.
• Run the schedule: align daily Shipping priorities, readiness checklists, ship dates, and handoffs with Production.
• Crate smarter: collaborate with the Crate Builder on size, materials, structural strength, and timing.
• Verify the paperwork: components, destinations, dims, weights, carrier/service, labels, documents, tracking logs.
• Coordinate pickups: parcel, LTL, and others—keep status accurate and escalate delays early.
• Anticipate challenges: oversize items, missing info, special handling, delivery/installation needs.
• Lead the crew: train, coach, and set clear daily expectations as the team scales.
• Keep it tight: maintain safe, organized, clean shipping, staging, crate-material, and loading areas.
• Continuously improve: investigate damage/failures and turn findings into standards and training.
• Build the system: processes, checklists, documentation, tools, materials planning, staffing capacity.
• Step in: tackle the day’s highest-priority work when dates, quality, or safety are at risk.

What You Bring

• Background in shipping/receiving, crating/packaging, warehousing, manufacturing final assembly, logistics ops, or similar hands-on settings.
• Experience coordinating or guiding others (formal management not required).
• Proof of growing responsibility and owning outcomes end-to-end.
• Follow-through, initiative, accountability, and practical problem-solving.
• Detail focus across product condition, component accuracy, labels, photos, records, and shipment data.
• Ability to balance priorities, schedules, documentation, and productive floor work.
• Clear, timely communication—flag risks early and propose next steps.
• Skilled, safe use of hand/power tools and material-handling equipment.
• Full-time, on-site in Fargo, North Dakota.

Preferred Pluses

• Protecting, packing, crating, or shipping custom furniture, cabinetry, fixtures, architectural products, or other large, finish-critical goods.
• Parcel and LTL freight know-how: pickup scheduling, bills of lading, labels, tracking, claims docs, shipping software.
• Crate-building/rough carpentry: measurements, cut lists, structural reinforcement.
• Final assembly, QC inspection, photo documentation; pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar equipment.
• Creating checklists/standards, training content, layout improvements, or process enhancements.
• Interest in expanding into broader Shipping leadership as we grow.

How We Define Success

• Ownership from first touch to on-time handoff—no loose ends.
• Proactive planning—crates, materials, info, carrier timing, and constraints handled in advance.
• Right-sized packaging decisions that protect every finish based on product and route.
• Early, accurate communication on status, risks, and recovery plans.
• Respectful leadership—clear expectations, useful training, consistent follow-through, willing to work alongside the team.
• Sound judgment and initiative while maintaining safety, quality, and accuracy.
• Standards, training, and capacity that scale the department effectively.

Physical & Safety Notes

• Ability to perform the essential physical functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Standing/moving most of the shift; frequent bending, reaching, kneeling, wrapping, and handling of large components.
• Lift/carry up to 75 lbs solo; team-lift or use equipment for heavier furniture and crates.
• Active shop environment: dust, noise, material-handling equipment, seasonal temperature changes.
• Use required PPE; operate hand tools, power tools, pallet jacks, and forklifts safely.

What You’ll Get

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Stable, year-round full-time work (we’re growing, not seasonal)
• Real ownership of your area—plus the systems to do it right
• Training and headroom to grow—we promote from within
• Brag-worthy work: heirloom-grade furniture shipped nationwide

Who Fits Here

• Builders who care deeply about the final result.
• Dependable teammates who show up every day.
• Owners, not order-takers—people who prefer to run their area.
• Problem-solvers who speak up early instead of passing issues downstream.
• Craftspeople motivated to improve—not coast.

Baseline Proficiencies

• Driver’s license
• Shipping/Receiving
• Packaging experience
• Meets physical requirements
• Excellent communication skills
• Forklift experience