Job Description: Logistics Operations Manager
Department: Logistics
Location: Macon, Georgia
Reports To: Senior Logistics Manager
Direct Reports: Operations Supervisor and other operational personnel as assigned
Position Summary: The Logistics Operations Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day operational execution of warehouse activities, with primary accountability for picking operations, labor utilization, productivity, staging, loading, and outbound shipment execution.
This position provides strategic and hands-on leadership to improve warehouse performance, establish consistent operating standards, strengthen supervisory accountability, and ensure customer orders are processed accurately, safely, and efficiently.
The Logistics Operations Manager will directly manage the Operations Supervisor and partner closely with the Logistics Assistant Manager, Receiving, Inventory Control, Internal Audit, Manufacturing, Planning, IT, and other cross-functional teams.
The successful candidate will bring proven warehouse leadership experience, strong analytical capabilities, and a track record of improving operational performance through people development, process discipline, and measurable results.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Warehouse Operations and Execution
- Lead daily warehouse operations, with primary responsibility for outbound execution and picking activities.
- Oversee picking, staging, loading, load securement, and related material-handling processes.
- Ensure customer orders are processed accurately, completely, and within established shipping schedules.
- Establish clear operating expectations, standard work, and accountability across warehouse teams.
- Monitor daily workload, staffing levels, order priorities, and operational constraints to ensure efficient execution.
- Coordinate with the Logistics Assistant Manager to align operational priorities with receiving, inventory availability, audit requirements, and material flow.
- Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks, workflow interruptions, and service issues.
2. Leadership and Workforce Management
- Directly supervise and develop the Operations Supervisor, establishing clear expectations and measurable performance objectives.
- Ensure supervisors effectively manage employee assignments, attendance, productivity, safety, and performance.
- Establish consistent routines for shift planning, daily communication, performance reviews, and issue escalation.
- Develop a culture of ownership, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Support employee onboarding, cross-training, skills development, and succession planning.
- Partner with Human Resources to address employee relations, performance management, retention, and workforce development.
- Evaluate staffing requirements and recommend adjustments based on volume, workload, productivity, and business needs.
3. Productivity and Performance Management
- Establish and maintain operational KPIs to measure warehouse performance.
- Monitor picking productivity, labor utilization, order completion, shipping accuracy, damage, overtime, and other relevant performance indicators.
- Analyze performance trends, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
- Develop and execute improvement plans to reduce picking errors, warehouse damage, rework, wasted motion, and operational delays.
- Use data to improve labor planning, equipment utilization, workflow design, and overall warehouse efficiency.
- Provide regular performance updates and recommendations to the Senior Logistics Manager.
- Establish measurable 90-day, 6-month, and 12-month improvement objectives.
4. Safety, Quality, and Process Compliance
- Ensure warehouse activities are conducted in accordance with company safety policies and applicable requirements.
- Reinforce safe forklift operation, material handling, staging, loading, and load-securement practices.
- Ensure operational teams follow established procedures for order handling, product protection, and shipment preparation.
- Partner with Internal Audit to address picking discrepancies, product damage, and shipment errors.
- Investigate recurring operational issues and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient warehouse environment.
5. Continuous Improvement and Cost Management
- Identify opportunities to improve warehouse layout, picking methods, material flow, staffing models, and operating procedures.
- Lead process-improvement initiatives that improve productivity, quality, safety, and customer service.
- Evaluate labor costs, overtime, equipment utilization, and other controllable operating expenses.
- Support the development and implementation of standard operating procedures.
- Use appropriate problem-solving and continuous-improvement methods to eliminate waste and improve consistency.
- Partner with the Senior Logistics Manager to develop operational plans and recommend investments or process changes that support business objectives.
6. Warehouse Transition and Startup Leadership
- Lead the operational planning and execution activities associated with the MG3 warehouse transition and future-state Plant 1 operations.
- Develop transition plans, milestones, staffing requirements, and operational readiness checklists.
- Coordinate with Manufacturing, IT, Logistics, and other stakeholders to ensure warehouse processes, systems, equipment, and staffing are ready for implementation.
- Establish future-state picking, staging, loading, and material-flow processes before operational cutover.
- Identify transition risks, develop mitigation plans, and communicate project status to leadership.
- Support testing, training, and implementation of applicable warehouse systems and processes.
- Stabilize operations after transition and track performance against established targets.
7. Cross-Functional Coordination
- Work closely with the Logistics Assistant Manager, who oversees Receiving and related inventory and audit functions, to maintain clear accountability across the department.
- Coordinate with Manufacturing and Planning to align material availability, production requirements, and shipping priorities.
- Partner with IT on warehouse systems, scanner functionality, data accuracy, and process improvements.
- Collaborate with Customer Service and other internal stakeholders to resolve shipment-related issues.
- Communicate operational risks, service concerns, resource needs, and improvement opportunities to the Senior Logistics Manager.
- Support department-wide initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- At least 5 years of progressive experience in warehouse, distribution, manufacturing logistics, or related operations.
- At least 3 years of experience leading supervisors, team leaders, or multiple operational teams.
- Demonstrated experience managing high-volume warehouse operations and outbound order fulfillment.
- Proven ability to improve productivity, quality, safety, and operational performance using measurable KPIs.
- Experience with labor planning, workforce management, and operational problem-solving.
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret performance data and develop corrective actions.
- Experience using warehouse management systems (WMS), ERP platforms, inventory systems, or comparable operational technology.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present operational results and recommendations to leadership.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading a warehouse relocation, startup, expansion, consolidation, or major operational transition.
- Experience in a manufacturing or distribution environment involving palletized building materials or similar products.
- Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, standard work, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.
- Experience managing labor costs, overtime, productivity targets, and departmental budgets.
- Familiarity with ERP-driven warehouse transactions, barcode scanning, inventory traceability, and shipping controls.
- Experience developing frontline supervisors and building effective leadership teams.
Core Competencies
- Operational leadership and accountability
- People development and performance management
- Data-driven decision-making
- Process improvement and problem-solving
- Workforce planning and productivity management
- Safety and quality discipline
- Change management and project execution
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Clear communication and sound judgment
- Ability to balance immediate operational demands with long-term improvement initiatives