Warehouse Manager

Company Description

Empire Bakery Commissary specializes in producing case-ready cakes, cookies, and single-serve desserts for traditional retailers. We excel in implementing custom programs, tailoring designs, packaging, and labeling to meet the unique needs of our customers. Operating from a 75,000-square-foot facility in Salem, VA, with 2,800 frozen pallet positions, we are SQF Level 2 and Kosher certified. Our mission is to create memorable, hand-decorated desserts for every occasion while being an employer of choice that attracts and rewards exceptional team members.

Role Description

The Warehouse Manager provides strategic and hands-on leadership for all warehouse operations supporting a high-volume, fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This role oversees receiving, storage, inventory control, and distribution of raw materials and finished goods while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, workplace safety standards, and operational excellence practices. The Warehouse Manager drives accuracy, efficiency, continuous improvement, and strong cross-functional communication to support production flow, customer satisfaction, and organizational goals. Demonstrates respect, honesty, inclusion & safety.

Essential Job Duties:

Leadership & Team Development

· Lead, mentor, schedule, and develop warehouse staff to ensure high performance, engagement, and accountability.

· Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management of warehouse employees.

· Foster a culture of safety, teamwork, inventory accuracy, continuous improvement, open communication, and operational excellence.

Inventory Control & Systems

· Manage inventory accuracy through cycle counts, audits, reconciliation, and root cause analysis.

· Ensure accurate documentation and transaction integrity within NetSuite or equivalent ERP/WMS platforms.

· Oversee FEFO rotation, raw material checks, and lot traceability in compliance with food safety protocols.

Logistics & Supply Chain Coordination

· Coordinate inbound freight, outbound shipments, and dock scheduling to ensure timely delivery and production readiness.

· Build and maintain relationships with freight carriers and logistics partners; negotiate rates and resolve service issues.

· Collaborate closely with Production, QA, Purchasing, Maintenance, and other departments to maintain seamless operational flow.

Safety, Compliance & Quality

· Enforce federal, state, and company warehousing, material handling, and safety regulations.

· Ensure safe operation of material-handling equipment; enforce operator certifications and training compliance.

· Responsible for reporting any issues that impact food safety or quality immediately or issues brought to his/her attention by other associates.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Logistics, or related field required.

· Minimum 5 years of experience in warehouses, distribution, or shipping & receiving roles within manufacturing; food industry experience strongly preferred.

· Minimum 5 years supervisory/leadership experience.

· Experience with ERP systems (NetSuite, SAP, or similar) and strong computer literacy in Excel and Word

· Forklift certification or experience preferred.

· Strong communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.

Physical requirements:

· Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

· Ability to work in cold storage/freezer environments as low as -10°F.

· Walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching intermittently and use of hands and arms, extended reaching, pushing and pulling.

Disclaimer:

• The physical requirements & job duties are repetitive only & not exhaustive of the tasks employees may be required to perform. Empire reserves the right to require additional performance/duties as needs of the business dictates.