Warehouse Operations & Logistics Manager
2 days ago
Shorewood
Warehouse Operations & Logistics Manager : Location: Joliet, IL We’re looking for a high-ownership, entrepreneurial Warehouse Operations & Logistics Manager to run day-to-day warehouse and logistics operations for a growing company. This is not a desk job and not a corporate “middle manager” role. You will own execution — people, process, inventory, and transportation — with clear KPIs, real authority to improve systems, and direct impact on profitability and customer satisfaction. This role starts hands-on and execution-focused, and evolves as processes tighten and the operation matures — allowing more time for planning, analysis, optimization, and strategic cost control. If you thrive wearing multiple hats, building structure, and treating operations like a business within a business, this role is for you. What You’ll Own (Your Scorecard): You are accountable for performance across these core KPIs: • On-time, in-full (OTIF) shipping, • Inventory accuracy & cycle count variance, • Labor productivity & overtime control, • Freight and transportation cost per order / per pound, • Transportation cost variance vs. expected / quoted, • Safety, cleanliness, and SOP compliance The Role (How You’ll Spend Your Time): This is a hands-on leadership role with increasing strategic responsibility over time. • You will spend significant time on the warehouse floor early on:, • Leading by example, • Coaching associates and supervisors, • Removing bottlenecks, • Enforcing SOPs and safety standards, • Establishing consistent execution and accountability, • As processes, training, and KPIs stabilize, your focus will increasingly shift to:, • Planning and optimization, • Data analysis and reporting, • Transportation strategy and cost control Key Responsibilities: People & Leadership • Lead, train, and hold warehouse associates accountable to clear standards, • Run daily huddles to align on priorities, volume, and performance targets, • Build a culture of ownership, safety, and continuous improvement, • Ensure labor compliance (breaks, lunches, scheduling), • Identify skill gaps and implement training programs that reduce dependency on constant supervision Warehouse Operations • Oversee all warehouse functions: receiving, put-away, inventory control, picking, packing, and shipping, • Ensure accurate, on-time order fulfillment, • Perform and manage cycle counts; maintain high WMS accuracy, • Conduct regular quality audits on inbound and outbound orders, • Maintain a clean, organized, and safe facility aligned with SOPs Transportation, Logistics & Cost Control • Own inbound and outbound transportation strategy, including domestic and ocean freight, • Manage carrier relationships across parcel, LTL, FTL, and ocean transportation, • Understand and manage all transportation-related costs and accessorials, including:, • Fuel surcharges, • Detention, demurrage, and port fees, • Accessorial charges and pass-through costs, • Create and maintain auditing processes to ensure freight invoices match contracted rates, quotes, and expected costs, • Bid out freight, select carriers, and negotiate cost-effective and reliable rates, • Create ASNs, loads, and BOLs; ensure compliance with customer routing and documentation requirements, • Actively identify transportation cost savings and eliminate billing variances, • Partner with purchasing and sales to align inventory flow, inbound timing, and outbound commitments Continuous Improvement & Analysis • Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements across warehouse and transportation, • Improve SOPs, layouts, workflows, and carrier performance, • Track KPIs, analyze trends, and report results transparently, • Build repeatable systems that reduce errors, cost leakage, and manual effort, • Treat the operation like a business within the business Who Thrives in This Role • You like owning outcomes, not just tasks, • You’re comfortable making decisions and being accountable for results, • You enjoy building structure where it doesn’t fully exist yet, • You think in terms of cost, efficiency, and scalability, • You prefer a smaller, agile environment over heavy bureaucracy, • You can shift between the floor and analysis without losing effectiveness Qualifications • 3+ years of warehouse and/or logistics leadership experience, • Strong understanding of inventory control, WMS, and fulfillment operations, • Solid working knowledge of transportation, including ocean freight and associated fees, • Experience managing carriers, freight spend, and invoice auditing, • Comfortable working hands-on in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, • Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills, • Proficiency with WMS systems (Katana preferred) and Microsoft Office, • Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience considered, • Forklift / reach truck certification preferred or ability to obtain Compensation & Growth • Base salary: $90,000–$110,000, depending on experience, • Performance bonus up to 15% of base, tied to:, • OTIF shipping, • Inventory accuracy, • Labor efficiency & overtime control, • Transportation and freight cost reduction, • Invoice accuracy and variance elimination, • Health and wellness benefits, • Paid time off, • Real opportunity to grow responsibility, scope, and influence as the company scales Why This Role Is Different • Clear KPIs and real ownership — not micromanagement, • Authority to improve processes and build systems, • Direct impact on transportation costs, service levels, and profitability, • Leadership visibility and a genuine growth runway, • A chance to build, optimize, and scale, not just maintain If you’re looking for a role where you can take ownership, wear multiple hats, and run warehouse and logistics operations like a business — we want to hear from you!