Operations Manager – Lumberyard

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of a busy lumberyard while maintaining a strong focus on customer service and business growth.

This position is ideal for a leader who understands the lumber and building materials industry, knows how to run an efficient yard, and enjoys working directly with contractors, builders, remodelers, and other customers. The Operations Manager will be responsible for leading the yard team, managing inventory and logistics, ensuring safety and efficiency, and developing strong customer relationships.

The successful candidate will combine operational discipline with a customer-first mindset and will take ownership of the overall performance, appearance, safety, and profitability of the lumberyard.

Key Responsibilities

Lumberyard Operations

• Oversee all daily lumberyard activities, including receiving, stocking, picking, loading, staging, and order fulfillment.
• Ensure lumber and building materials are properly stored, organized, protected, and readily accessible.
• Coordinate deliveries and pickups to ensure accurate and timely customer service.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and professional yard that reflects positively on the company.
• Monitor inventory levels, product availability, transfers, and inventory accuracy.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflow, productivity, and operating efficiency.
• Ensure equipment, forklifts, trucks, and other yard assets are properly maintained and operated safely.

Customer Service & Relationship Management

• Serve as a key point of contact for contractors, builders, remodelers, and retail customers.
• Develop strong, long-term relationships with customers by providing responsive service and knowledgeable product support.
• Resolve customer concerns, order issues, delivery problems, and product-related questions quickly and professionally.
• Work closely with sales personnel to ensure customer orders are fulfilled accurately and on time.
• Understand customer needs and identify opportunities to increase sales, improve service, and retain key accounts.
• Create a customer experience that differentiates the company from competitors.

Team Leadership

• Lead, train, coach, and develop lumberyard and delivery personnel.
• Establish clear expectations for productivity, safety, attendance, customer service, and accountability.
• Schedule employees and allocate resources to effectively support daily business demands.
• Foster a team culture based on professionalism, teamwork, accountability, and pride in the operation.
• Recognize strong performance while addressing performance issues promptly and fairly.

Sales & Business Development

• Partner with sales leadership to support revenue and gross-margin objectives.
• Identify opportunities for additional sales through product knowledge and understanding of customer needs.
• Monitor customer activity and market conditions to identify opportunities for growth.
• Maintain strong relationships with contractors and professional customers to encourage repeat business.
• Support pricing, product availability, special orders, and customer-specific requirements.

Financial & Operational Performance

• Monitor key performance indicators including sales, gross margin, inventory turns, labor costs, delivery expenses, and operating expenses.
• Manage controllable expenses while maintaining high service levels.
• Minimize inventory shrinkage, damage, waste, and errors.
• Analyze operational performance and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Help achieve company sales, profitability, and productivity objectives.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain a safe working environment for employees, customers, and vendors.
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies and applicable OSHA requirements.
• Promote proper forklift, equipment, loading, unloading, and material-handling procedures.
• Conduct or participate in regular safety meetings and inspections.
• Immediately address unsafe conditions and behaviors.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in lumber, building materials, distribution, construction supply, or a related industry.
• Previous supervisory or management experience in a lumberyard, building materials operation, warehouse, or distribution environment.
• Strong understanding of lumber and building materials and their applications.
• Proven ability to lead a team in a fast-paced, physically active environment.
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable interacting directly with contractors, builders, purchasing personnel, and other professional customers.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Experience with inventory management, purchasing, logistics, or distribution operations.
• Ability to understand and manage sales, gross margin, inventory, and operating-performance metrics.
• Forklift/heavy equipment experience is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with inventory management systems and Microsoft Office.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who knows the lumber business and enjoys working with people. They are equally comfortable walking the yard, helping solve a customer problem, coaching an employee, reviewing inventory, or working with the sales team to win additional business.

We are looking for someone who:

• Takes ownership and leads by example.
• Is highly visible and engaged with customers and employees.
• Understands that operational excellence and customer service go hand-in-hand.
• Has strong knowledge of lumber and building materials.
• Can balance immediate operational demands with longer-term business objectives.
• Communicates effectively with both customers and employees.
• Is comfortable making decisions and holding people accountable.
• Takes pride in maintaining a safe, organized, professional lumberyard.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be demonstrated by:

• Improved operational efficiency and productivity.
• Accurate inventory and reduced product loss or damage.
• Consistently high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Strong customer retention and growth of contractor/business accounts.
• Improved sales and gross-margin performance.
• Safe, clean, and well-organized yard operations.
• Reliable and efficient delivery performance.
• A motivated, accountable, and high-performing yard team.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Ownership shares.
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• Stable, growth-oriented work environment.

Position Type

Full-Time | On-Site | Operations Leadership

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced lumber or building-materials professional who wants to take ownership of a location and play a significant role in its operational performance, customer relationships, and growth.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.