Senior Manager, Warehouse Optimization

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement Conduct rigorous technical evaluations of warehouse design, layout, and operational throughput to drive initiatives such as home slots, slot optimization, profile rebalancing, and layout reconfiguration. Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of engineered labor standards, time-and-motion studies, work measurement methodologies, and labor management system (LMS) integrations. Leverage operational modeling, workflow analysis, and technology (WMS/LMS) to optimize order-picking paths, travel times, and storage utilization. Utilize operational data, metrics, and business intelligence tools to generate technical insights, quantify operational bottlenecks, and drive scalable solutions. Identify and prioritize opportunities to eliminate waste, reduce costs, improve quality, and streamline processes across the operations value chain. Develop, implement, and maintain standardized processes, SOPs, guidelines, and operational best practices. Serve as a role model for continuous improvement by leveraging innovation, technology, and AI/ML where appropriate to improve operational performance. Leadership & Culture Articulate complex technical concepts clearly through high-level presentations, written proposals, and executive updates to influence decision-making across all organizational tiers. Build and promote an organizational culture centered on engineering precision, operational accountability, and cross-functional collaboration, elevating distribution standards across the enterprise. Mentor operational managers, facility leaders, and engineering teams on labor measurement methodologies, slot optimization strategies, and system-driven problem-solving to build long-term operational capabilities. Create and deliver structured training programs focused on Engineering Labor Standards (ELS), labor management system (LMS) utilization, home slotting strategies, and data-driven process optimization to cultivate technical proficiency across all sites. Influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization to drive alignment, adoption, and sustainable change. Demonstrate strong leadership presence, credibility, and cultural fit while working with diverse operational and cross-functional teams. Project Management & Reporting Develop, implement, and monitor project management frameworks for operational improvement initiatives. Lead high-impact engineering projects end-to-end, from technical evaluation and business case development through deployment, hyper care, and long-term sustainability. Build and maintain business intelligence reporting in partnership with analytics teams to align operational metrics with strategic objectives. Guide field teams through technical deployments, system adoption, and operational changes using structured change management methodologies. Provide updates, recommendations, and progress reporting to leadership on project status, risks, results, and next steps. Partner with leadership to align improvement initiatives with strategic business goals and operational priorities. Change Management Lead change initiatives to ensure successful adoption of new processes, tools, technologies, and operational standards. Develop and execute change management plans, including communication, training, stakeholder engagement, and implementation support. Partner with leadership to assess business impacts, mitigate resistance, and foster adaptability across teams. Support distribution centers with hands-on guidance during process changes, operational reviews, and initiative implementation. Qualifications and Educational Requirements Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Engineering, Operations Research, Systems Engineering, or a related field is preferred but not required. 7+ years of experience in Operational Excellence, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Engineering, or a related operational environment. Proven experience in warehouse evaluations, home slotting strategy, and slot optimization projects required. Experience developing, implementing, or supporting engineering labor standards within a distribution, warehouse, manufacturing, or logistics environment required. Extensive experience developing, deploying, and maintaining Engineering Labor Standards (ELS) and Labor Management Systems (LMS). Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data interpretation skills. Experience leading cross-functional projects and driving measurable operational improvements. Experience with change management and project management practices. Ability to influence and facilitate change without formal authority. Exceptional written and oral communication, facilitation, and executive presentation skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. Ability to travel approximately 75% based on business needs. Preferred Skills Advanced Industrial Engineering experience, including labor standards, time studies, process mapping, workflow analysis, and labor productivity modeling required. Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Labor Management Systems (LMS), or similar operational systems required. Experience in food distribution, cold chain, warehouse operations, logistics, or supply chain environments preferred. Experience with business intelligence, operational reporting, data visualization, and analytics tools such as Power BI. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent Continuous Improvement certification preferred. Ability to leverage innovation, including AI/ML, to improve productivity, reporting, and operational decision-making. Strong ability to build relationships, collaborate cross-functionally, and influence stakeholders at all levels. Hands-on, collaborative leadership style with a strong focus on culture, accountability, and continuous improvement. Benefits You Will Enjoy Comprehensive benefits packages include Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Plan, Disability Plan, and Life Insurance Plan. 401(k) Savings Plan. Paid Holidays. Personal Time Off. Employee Discounts. Quirch Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.