Outbound Manager ELR

At La Bodega, how we work is defined by shared values that include absolute integrity, respect, and collaboration. However, it's more than that; it's smart and highly driven people united in purpose to serve one another.

Bring your energy and unique perspective and you'll have the opportunity to grow with us professionally, personally, and financially. You'll be part of a team that genuinely cares about helping you succeed, and you'll work alongside talented colleagues, while making a difference in our communities.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Outbound Manager plans, coordinates, and directs outbound distribution center operations to ensure customer and store orders are selected, staged, loaded, and shipped safely, accurately, efficiently, and on time. This position leads supervisors, leads, and team members while managing labor, productivity, order accuracy, trailer readiness, dock activity, and scheduled departures. The Outbound Manager partners with Transportation, Inventory Control, Receiving, Grocery, Meat, Produce, Loss Prevention, Human Resources, and other departments to resolve operational issues, improve processes, and maintain a positive, accountable work environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead daily outbound operations, including order selection, staging, loading, and shipping.

• Ensure outbound loads are completed accurately and ready for scheduled departure times.

• Plan staffing and labor requirements based on order volume, workload, priorities, and business needs.

• Provide leadership, coaching, development, and accountability to outbound supervisors, leads, and team members.

• Maintain a visible leadership presence on the warehouse floor and respond quickly to operational barriers.

• Monitor productivity, overtime, labor utilization, order accuracy, damages, shortages, and other outbound performance indicators.

• Coordinate with Transportation and yard personnel regarding trailer availability, dock assignments, loading progress, and departure schedules.

• Partner with Inventory Control and operational departments to investigate and resolve shortages, mis-picks, damages, and shipment discrepancies.

• Ensure products are loaded onto the correct trailer and assigned to the correct destination.

• Maintain proper handling practices for Grocery, Meat, Produce, and temperature-sensitive products.

• Identify process improvements that increase throughput, accuracy, service, and operational efficiency while controlling costs.

• Promote and maintain a positive work environment that encourages teamwork, accountability, recognition, and achievement of performance goals.

• Champion safety, housekeeping, and 5S standards throughout outbound operations.

• Ensure team members comply with required PPE, powered industrial truck, loading dock, trailer, and equipment safety procedures.

• Participate in incident investigations and ensure corrective actions are completed in a timely manner.

• Support hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and development of outbound team members.

• Communicate service risks, late loads, operational issues, and corrective action plans to appropriate partners and management.

• Other related duties as assigned.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related field; the education requirement may be substituted on a year-for-year basis with relevant experience; or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
• Three or more years of leadership experience in warehouse, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations, preferably in a grocery, food, retail, or high-volume distribution environment.
• Experience leading supervisors, leads, and large operational teams.
• Strong working knowledge of outbound warehouse operations, labor planning, order selection, staging, loading, shipping, and dock management.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, motivate, and hold teams accountable.
• Ability to analyze operational performance, identify trends, solve problems, and implement corrective actions.
• Effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to successfully manage concurrent projects, multiple priorities, and strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong working knowledge of workplace safety requirements and safe warehouse operating practices.
• Experience with warehouse management systems and proficiency in Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Committed to providing excellent customer service, preserving confidential information, and being reliable, dependable, and organized.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, holidays, and other hours based on operational needs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK CONDITIONS:

The physical demands and work conditions below represent those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Some requirements may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities:

• The work environment is typical of a distribution center.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and use the hands to handle objects, tools, or controls.
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, and/or carrying up to 75 lbs.
• Must be flexible with work schedule that supports a 24-hour production facility.
• Successful performance requires vision abilities that include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level ranges from quiet to loud.
• Exposure to extreme temperature changes, moisture, noise, odors, and moving equipment.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE

The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, and the requirements and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that an employee may be required to perform. The Employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business or the work environment change.