Systems Implementation and Optimization Manager

A Day in the Life

The Systems Implementation & Optimization Manager leads the rollout, adoption, stabilization, and continuous improvement of Aspire products, platform capabilities and warehouse management solutions. This role bridges IT, Product, Development, and warehouse Operations to ensure solutions are operationally practical, technically sound, scalable, and measurable.  The Manager is accountable for ensuring Aspire products, features and operational applications are successfully deployed, adopted, and optimized within warehouse operations.  While Product owns product strategy and feature direction, and Development owns software delivery, this role leads implementation readiness, rollout execution, change management, operational readiness and knowledge transfer to site leadership and designated trainers, process alignment and post-go-live continuous improvement to maximize operational performance and business value.

This is an onsite opportunity with frequent travel required throughout North America

What does success look like in this role?

• Aspire (Inhouse - WMS ) initiatives are implemented with clear scope, requirements, test coverage, training, cutover planning, and operational ownership.
• New products and features achieve sustained adoption and deliver measurable operational value after go-live.
• Warehouse processes are standardized where appropriate, while valid site and client requirements are documented and managed.
• System defects, process gaps, training needs, and enhancement opportunities are distinguished clearly and routed to the right owner.
• Operations, IT, Product, Development, and vendors have timely visibility into progress, risks, decisions, and results.

Annual Salary :

$95,000 - $121,000

Location:

15101 Santa Ana Ave., Fontana, CA 92337

All About You

What You'll bring to the role:

• Deep understanding of warehouse operations, inventory control, order fulfillment, and 3PL or multi-client distribution environments.
• Hands-on proficiency with WMS configuration, implementation, testing, troubleshooting, and optimization; experience with Aspire or comparable enterprise WMS platforms is an asset.
• Strong project and change leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple sites, workstreams, dependencies, and priorities.
• Ability to convert complex operational needs into clear requirements, process maps, test cases, training, and actionable plans.
• Working knowledge of data analysis and reporting tools. SQL, SSMS, Power BI, Excel, or comparable tools are preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean, root-cause analysis, standard work, value-stream mapping, and other continuous improvement methods.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills across technical and operational audiences.
• Practical, solutions-oriented leadership style with sound judgment, attention to detail, and accountability for results.
• Ability to lead through influence, remain effective during go-live pressure, and adapt to changing operational priorities.

The Must Haves:

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, Supply Chain, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in WMS implementation, warehouse systems, distribution operations, process improvement, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading WMS or warehouse technology implementations from requirements through go-live and stabilization.
• Experience in a multi-site, multi-client, 3PL, or complex distribution environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and external vendors without relying solely on direct authority.
• Project management, Lean, Six Sigma, change management, or related certification is an asset.
• Must have physical ability to carry out essential job functions, including but not limited to, sitting for long periods of time, occasionally walking and standing, climbing ladders/stairs, and tolerating conditions such as dust, dirt, noise, odors, heat, cold, etc. when stepping into the warehouse

Things You Will be Doing

• Aspire (in house - WMS) Implementation & Rollout Leadership
• Lead end-to-end Aspire product and feature implementations across warehouse sites, including discovery, process assessment, requirements, configuration, testing, knowledge transfer, cutover, go-live, stabilization, and transition to support.
• Develop implementation plans, milestones, readiness criteria, resource requirements, risk logs, decision logs, and stakeholder communications.
• Coordinate site readiness across users, devices, infrastructure, master data, configuration, integrations, SOPs, reporting, and support coverage.
• Provide hands-on support during pilots and go-lives, including issue triage, prioritization, escalation, workarounds, and post-startup follow-through.
• Product & Feature Optimization
• Evaluate released features for usability, adoption, reliability, scalability, and operational impact.
• Partner with Product and Development to translate operational needs into clear business requirements, functional requirements, acceptance criteria, process maps, and test scenarios.
• Facilitate structured feedback loops with warehouse leaders and end users; identify recurring friction points and recommend configuration, training, process, reporting, or software changes.
• Lead post-implementation reviews and maintain prioritized improvement roadmaps supported by evidence and business value.
• Operational Process Improvement
• Assess inbound, inventory, replenishment, putaway, picking, packing, shipping, returns, value-added services, labor planning, and related warehouse workflows.
• Use Lean and continuous improvement methods to reduce waste, manual intervention, rework, travel, exceptions, and process variation.
• Design future-state workflows that align system capabilities with physical warehouse layout, labor practices, client requirements, safety standards, and service-level commitments.
• Partner with Operations to define standard work, controls, escalation paths, and ownership that support sustained improvements.
• Requirements, Testing & Release Readiness
• Facilitate workshops with process owners and subject matter experts to document current state, future state, gaps, dependencies, and controls.
• Own or coordinate test strategy, test plans, functional and end-to-end testing, user acceptance testing, defect management, regression testing, and go-live signoff.
• Validate that proposed solutions meet business requirements without introducing unacceptable operational, inventory, integration, reporting, or client risk.
• Partner with release teams to confirm deployment readiness, rollback planning, communications, and support procedures.
• Adoption, Training & Change Management
• Develop role-based training plans, SOPs, quick-reference guides, job aids, and train-the-trainer materials.
• Build site champions and super-user networks to strengthen local ownership, adoption, and first-line support.
• Monitor adoption and compliance after release; address resistance or inconsistent use through coaching, process clarification, access changes, or product improvements.
• Communicate changes in clear operational language for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Performance, Data & Governance
• Define baseline and target measures for each initiative, such as inventory accuracy, throughput, cycle time, exception volume, rework, adoption, SLA performance, and support demand.
• Use Aspire data, operational reporting, user feedback, and root-cause analysis to identify trends and validate improvement outcomes.
• Maintain implementation documentation, configuration decisions, process standards, test evidence, training records, and lessons learned.
• Support enhancement governance by validating business need, operational impact, cross-site applicability, and whether the need is best addressed by process, training, configuration, reporting, or development.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Act as a key liaison among Operations, IT, Product, Development, Client Services, Integrations, Inventory, Transportation, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Lead meetings, workshops, and decision forums; communicate status, risks, tradeoffs, dependencies, and required decisions.
• Mentor project team members, super users, and operational leaders in Aspire capabilities, implementation discipline, and continuous improvement practices.
• Travel to warehouse sites as required and perform other duties in support of business and technology priorities.

WORKING CONDITIONS & TRAVEL

• Travel to warehouses and distribution sites is required from time to time, including support during implementation and go-live periods.
• Work may occur in office, remote, and active warehouse environments. The role requires the ability to walk and stand for extended periods when on site, use stairs, and tolerate typical warehouse conditions such as noise, dust, temperature variation, and equipment traffic.
• Occasional work outside standard business hours may be required to support releases, cutovers, or operational stabilization.

Perks

• Staff purchase program - wear the brands you love!
• Staff benefits plan - choose the benefits that are right for you!
• Flexible and fun work environment - work hard and play hard!
• Internal opportunities - we believe in growing our own!

NRI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.