Warehouse Associate Lead

Department: Warehouse Management

Shift: Various shifts from 5am-10pm

Reports to: Warehouse Manager

Job Summary:

As a Warehouse Associate Lead, you will be responsible for the warehouse’s managers, employees, including mentoring, performance evaluations, scheduling and assigning duties. You will also be responsible for maintaining the store’s brand, ensuring all warehouse functions are running smoothly, and that your staff also promotes the American Furniture Warehouse culture. You will oversee the operational and organizational standards of the warehouse, as well as execute strategies dictated by the corporate, marketing, human resources, and executive teams. The ideal Warehouse Associate Lead develops strategies to improve warehouse operations, increases profitability, motivates employees, and strives to set goals to ensure continuous improvement.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for assisting the Warehouse, Facility, Store and Regional Managers in the successful and timely flow of production work.
• Oversee the Warehouse Associates and all areas of the warehouse operations
• Strategically manage, coordinate, and supervise the Warehouse Associates and entire warehouse ensuring we remain in compliance with the company’s policies
• Recruit and hire quality employees to meet the needs of business in partnership with Human Resources
• Evaluate employees based on performance and other metrics
• Create schedules, approve payroll, and assign duties to employees as necessary
• Manage purchasing, inventory, maintenance, and other operational functions of the warehouse.
• Develop strategies for better workplace efficiency and goal achievement
• Coordinate training of new employees and ensure that current employees are receiving ongoing training.
• Ensure we maintain a safe working environment for employees and remain compliant with all OSHA and DOT regulations for the facility.
• Maintain warehouse cleanliness to avoid damage of products entering and leaving the facility
• Provide input on labor needs based on workflow and direction from upper management and Human Resources
• Complete accurate warehouse productivity reports for upper management
• Improve the operational systems, processes and policies in support of the organizational mission
• Recommend tools, fixtures, equipment or layout changes to improve workflow, productivity, quality of employee performances.
• Liaise between managers, customers and employees.
• Oversee warehouse opening and closing procedures: ensuring exterior doors are properly secured, exterior and interior lights on or off, all alarms are set and doors locked.
• Oversee daily cleaning and appearance of warehouse which includes assigning cleaning duties as necessary.
• And all other duties assigned by the Warehouse Manager, Store Manager, Regional Manager, C.E.O, President, or Operations Manager as directed.
• Organize the warehouse to maximize both floor space and storage racking utilization
  

Compensation Package:

Pay rate: Starting at $18.00/hour and up depending on experience.

Pay grade B: $16.00 - $29.71

Supervision Given and Received:

This position supervises a warehouse staff of 10-20 employees. This position is supervised directly by the Warehouse Manager.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills with experience as a Warehouse Manager, Store Manager or similar role
• Budgeting and payroll experience
• Hands-on experience with STORIS software, Dispatch Track, and Microsoft Suite
• Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on AFW’s success
• Strategic planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Ability to lead team meetings and motivate others
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
  

Personal Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Analytical - Ability to analyze, collect and research data and read reports, fierce attention to detail.
• Mathematical Skills -Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Reasoning Ability - Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; contributes to building positive team spirit; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; displays orientation to profitability; demonstrates knowledge of the market and competition.
• Interpersonal Skills – Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; remains open to others & ideas and tries new things.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; supports AFW’s goals and values.
• Judgment – Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; works well in group problem solving situations; has a cooperative spirit; ability and authority to plan work, meet deadlines and coordinate time sensitive activities across personnel in multiple departments.
• Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently.
• Safety and Security – Observes and leads safety and security procedures and initiatives.
• Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time. Must be available to travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary.
  

Computer Skills:

Ability to navigate multiple computer systems, type 25 wpm, advanced familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), advanced internet research skills, and experience with STORIS. Ability to regularly use computers for ordering, communication, documentation, scheduling, maintenance of organizational content on shared drives.

Certificates and Licenses:

Certifications and licenses related to business and safety are preferred.

Education and Experience:

Four-year college or university program degree; or two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Demands:

• Capacity to maneuver in confined and at times congested areas.
• Capability to stand, walk, stoop, & bend for 8 hours or more daily.
• Continuous use of arms, hands, fingers, eyes, legs, and back.
• Ability to lift, lower, push and pull all sizes of merchandise up to 100 lbs. and the skill to handle/manipulate merchandise up to 250 lbs. frequently.
• Lifting, gripping, bending, kneeling, stooping and moving merchandise for 8 hours or more daily.
• Requires the ability to maneuver in confined and at times congested areas.
• Requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, stoop, & bend for 8 a day.
• Requires constant use of arms, hands, fingers, eyes, legs, and back.
  

American Furniture Warehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. Working Safely is a Condition of Employment at American Furniture Warehouse – an Affirmative Action Employer M/F/D/V.

A pre-employment drug screen, background and fit for duty exam check must be passed upon job offer.

Since 1975, our motto has been Under Promise and Over Deliver and this is exactly what we do on a daily basis! At AFW, we strongly believe in recognizing those who exemplify excellence, and reward them for contributing to our collective success. We strive to provide a great work environment for our employees and give them the knowledge and tools needed to provide our customers with an even greater buying experience. At American Furniture Warehouse We Do It Right the First Time!