Production & Warehouse Lead

Position Summary

The Production & Warehouse Lead oversees daily production and warehouse operations, providing frontline leadership, coordination, and operational accountability across both functions. This role ensures efficient workflow, accurate order execution, inventory integrity, and on-time delivery while maintaining quality, safety, and compliance standards.

While this position is not a full-time hands-on role, the Lead is expected to learn, understand, and remain proficient in all production and warehouse processes and be capable of temporarily filling operational roles as needed to support team coverage during absences, call-outs, or peak periods.

The role serves as a key operational liaison between Production, Warehouse, Customer Service, Purchasing, Sales, and other internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Team Oversight

• Lead, coach, and support production and warehouse personnel through daily direction, accountability, and performance feedback.
• Assign and balance daily workloads across production and warehouse functions to meet operational priorities.
• Adjust staffing plans and workflows to support demand fluctuations, absences, and business needs.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management activities.
• Reinforce company policies, quality expectations, safety requirements, and regulatory compliance

Production Operations & Coverage

• Oversee daily production workflow, schedules, and priorities to ensure efficient and on-time order completion.
• Support production planning by aligning schedules with real-time operational conditions.
• Monitor work-in-process (WIP), throughput, and order timelines, making adjustments when required.
• Ensure materials required for production are available, accurate, and properly staged.
• Verify quality standards are met and assist with issue resolution when deviations occur.
• Maintain working knowledge of all production processes and provide temporary hands-on support as needed for coverage or critical situations.

Warehouse, Shipping & Receiving Operations

• Oversee warehouse activities including receiving, storage, picking, packing, and shipping.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of outbound and inbound shipments, including parcel, LTL, TL, LCL, and FCL freight.
• Coordinate carrier scheduling, pickups, and special shipment requirements.
• Resolve shipment discrepancies and escalations as needed.
• Maintain effective material flow between warehouse and production operations.
• Remain trained in warehouse operations and equipment to support short-term coverage when required.

Inventory & ERP Management

• Ensure accurate execution of ERP transactions related to production orders, warehouse movements, shipping, receiving, and serialization.
• Oversee cycle counts, inventory adjustments, and discrepancy resolution.
• Maintain accurate labeling, documentation, and product traceability.
• Monitor data integrity and proactively address issues impacting inventory accuracy or order fulfillment.

Communication & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as a primary operational point of contact for internal stakeholders regarding order status, material availability, and shipment timing.
• Communicate proactively with Customer Service, Production, Purchasing, Sales, and Technical Support.
• Provide regular feedback to management on performance trends, constraints, staffing needs, and improvement opportunities.

Safety, Compliance & Workplace Organization

• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized production and warehouse environment.
• Support OSHA compliance, PPE usage, safety training, and reporting of unsafe conditions.
• Assist with equipment inspections and coordination of preventive maintenance activities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in production, manufacturing, warehouse, or logistics environments.
• Strong understanding of production processes, inventory control, and shipping/receiving operations.
• ERP system experience required; SAP or similar preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills (reporting, data tables; pivot tables preferred).
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain within first 3 months.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on quality and efficiency.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to work on feet for extended periods when supporting operations.
• Regular lifting up to 50 lbs.; occasional lifting above 50 lbs.
• Ability to operate warehouse equipment such as pallet jacks and forklifts.
• Ability to wear required PPE when present in production or warehouse areas.
• Flexibility to support operational needs during coverage situations.