Custom Warehouse Manager
JEDCo Brands, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Full-Time
Reports To
Custom Operations Manager
Department
Custom Warehouse / Operations
FLSA Status
Exempt
Direct Reports
Custom Warehouse Associates
Location
Baltimore, MD (On-Site)
Position Summary
The Custom Warehouse Manager owns the day-to-day operation of JEDCo's custom order warehouse — from the moment blank goods arrive to the moment decorated product ships. This role is first and foremost a people leader: you will Lead, Manage, and Hold Accountable a team of warehouse associates to drive on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, and production start-date compliance. You bring calm structure to a fast-moving, deadline-driven environment, model our core values on the floor every day, and continuously raise the bar on quality, accountability, and process.
Our Core Values
Every JEDCo team member is expected to live and model our four core values:
▸ Going Above & Beyond — Do more than what's required; set a higher standard.
▸ Serve Others — Put the team, the customer, and the company first.
▸ Growth & Improvement — Pursue better — in yourself, your team, and your processes.
▸ Kindness & Respect — Treat every person with dignity, always.
Key Responsibilities
1. Lead, Manage & Hold Accountable
- Directly supervise and develop all custom warehouse associates; set clear daily, weekly, and monthly performance expectations and hold the team to them.
- Conduct regular one-on-ones and team huddles; deliver real-time coaching, structured performance feedback, and timely recognition.
- Execute the full management lifecycle: staff selection, onboarding, training, development, performance reviews, discipline, behavior modification, and separations in partnership with HR.
- Interpret, train on, and consistently enforce company policies and procedures; keep open communication channels by answering questions and explaining the "why."
- Monitor workplace performance, lead training initiatives, and motivate associates to continuously improve.
- Monitor team morale; identify issues early and escalate to HR or leadership as appropriate.
- Manage and plan staffing schedules — including overtime, additional shifts, and peak-season surge — to meet operational needs.
- Partner with the Custom Operations Manager to align headcount with order volume and seasonal demand.
- Model JEDCo core values in every interaction; set the tone for how the warehouse floor operates.
2. Production Start-Date Management
- Own the production start-date calendar: confirm that every order has a valid, achievable start date before it enters the production queue.
- Schedule and coordinate production, staffing, and inventory on both a short-term and long-term basis to meet customer deadlines.
- Coordinate with Customer Service, Custom Operations, and Print Production to lock in start dates that align with decoration lead times and customer ship requirements.
- Track and manage progress against deadlines; plan capacity accordingly and adjust schedules proactively when volume or priorities shift.
- Monitor the order pipeline daily; flag orders at risk of missing start dates and drive resolution before a delay becomes a customer issue.
- Maintain start-date adherence metrics; report status to the Custom Operations Manager and contribute to weekly scorecard reviews.
- Partner with Purchasing to ensure blanks are on hand — or committed — before a production start date is confirmed.
- Escalate supply or capacity constraints that threaten start-date integrity in a timely manner.
3. Inventory Management
- Manage people and processes to ensure proper inventory management procedures are followed and the highest levels of inventory accuracy are maintained.
- Maintain accurate physical inventory of all custom warehouse goods: blank garments, in-progress orders, finished decorated product, and consumable supplies.
- Schedule and execute cycle counts and periodic full physical counts; audit and adjust inventory in NetSuite and reconcile variances promptly.
- Establish and enforce put-away, labeling, and bin-location standards so any associate can find any SKU quickly and accurately.
- Monitor stock levels for blank goods used in custom programs; initiate purchase orders or replenishment requests to prevent production stoppages.
- Limit shrinkage and waste; identify and flag slow-moving, excess, aged, or damaged inventory for disposition review.
- Manage back-order and substitution processes in alignment with the Back Order Management SOP; communicate status to Customer Service.
- Ensure decorated finished goods are properly sorted, quality-inspected, and staged for shipment without sitting in limbo.
- Maintain up-to-date familiarity with inventory control best practices, bookkeeping fundamentals, and logistics processes relevant to warehouse operations.
4. Warehouse Operations & Quality
- Oversee receiving of blank goods: verify PO accuracy, inspect for damage or defects, check in to NetSuite, and route to appropriate storage locations.
- Manage the pick, pack, and ship process for custom orders; ensure accuracy, proper packing standards, and on-time outbound performance.
- Enforce quality control checkpoints at receiving, pre-decoration staging, and final pack-out; escalate decoration or garment defects to the appropriate team.
- Establish standardized warehouse practices and SOPs to achieve an efficient operation; document and update procedures as processes evolve.
- Develop and suggest efficiency ideas and cost-reduction measures; assist with implementing changes across inbound and outbound operations.
- Keep the warehouse clean, organized, and OSHA-compliant; conduct regular safety walk-throughs and address hazards immediately.
- Ensure equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, scanners, etc.) is operated safely, inspected regularly, and maintained per schedule.
- Maintain current knowledge of applicable federal and state safety and employment regulations.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication
- Serve as the primary warehouse point of contact for Custom Operations, Customer Service, Sales, and Print Production.
- Set warehouse and team goals in collaboration with leadership and other team leads; communicate progress clearly and consistently.
- Communicate proactively with Customer Service on any order issues that could affect ship dates; provide accurate, reliable ETAs.
- Coordinate with the Print Production team to align on job sequencing, garment availability, and decoration turnaround timelines.
- Participate in weekly operations meetings and L10 meetings; report on team metrics, start-date performance, and inventory health.
- Contribute to EOS Rocks, Scorecards, and continuous improvement initiatives that touch warehouse operations.
Qualifications
Required
- 5–7 years of experience working in a warehouse environment, with a minimum of 3 years in a management or supervisory role.
- Demonstrated track record of leading, motivating, coaching, training, rewarding, and recognizing hourly warehouse teams.
- Proven ability to hold teams accountable to results through clear expectations, consistent follow-through, and direct feedback.
- Experience managing production scheduling or start-date coordination in a make-to-order or custom environment.
- Solid understanding of inventory management processes: receiving, cycle counting, put-away, order fulfillment, and shipping.
- Familiarity with bookkeeping basics, inventory control practices, and warehouse logistics.
- Working knowledge of ERP or WMS systems; NetSuite experience strongly preferred.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable communicating across all levels of an organization.
- Intermediate–Expert proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word; comfortable with organizational computer applications.
- Strong decision-making, problem-solving, time management, and strategic planning abilities.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule based on operational needs, including peak-season overtime.
- Physical strength and stamina to lift up to 50 lbs and walk or stand for extended periods on the warehouse floor.
Preferred
- Background in decorated apparel — screen printing, embroidery, heat transfer, or similar decoration methods.
- Familiarity with Antera, NetSuite, or other decorated-apparel order management platforms.
- Experience in an EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System / Traction) environment.
- Knowledge of licensed branded merchandise programs (automotive, beverage, lifestyle brands).
- Forklift certification or willingness to obtain.
How Success Is Measured
In this role, you will be evaluated on:
Start-Date Adherence
% of custom orders entering production on or before confirmed start date
On-Time Ship Rate
% of custom orders shipped on or before customer-committed date
Inventory Accuracy
Cycle count variance rate vs. NetSuite system of record; shrinkage minimization
Team Performance
Performance review completion, coaching documentation, training completion, turnover
Receiving Accuracy
PO check-in accuracy and speed; defect identification rate at receiving
Safety
Zero recordable incidents; timely safety walk-throughs and corrective actions
Operational Efficiency
SOP documentation, process improvement contributions, and cost-reduction ideas implemented
About JEDCo Brands, Inc.
JEDCo Brands is a Baltimore-based licensed decorated apparel and branded merchandise company with deep roots in retail and specialty channels. We hold licenses for iconic brands including Jeep, Ford, Chevy, Coors, Busch Light, and Guinness/Diageo, and we serve major retail partners including TSC, Bass Pro Shops, Academy Sports, and Lowe's. Our decoration arm, Print Production, handles screen printing and embellishment in-house. We run our business on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS/Traction), which means clear roles, measurable goals, and a team that knows exactly what winning looks like.
JEDCo Brands is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.