Distribution Center Manager

Distribution Center Manager – Fairbanks Morse Defense

Summary: Take the lead at Fairbanks Morse Defense as a Distribution Center Manager and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment. You will oversee the full spectrum of distribution operations, ensuring exceptional service for internal and external customers while fostering a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

This role offers a unique opportunity to:

· Lead and inspire a diverse team of salaried and hourly employees, including unionized staff.

· Implement lean manufacturing and process improvement initiatives that make a real impact.

· Optimize inventory, logistics, and transportation to drive efficiency and reduce waste.

· Work closely with cross-functional teams to enhance on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.

· Develop innovative systems and strategies that improve productivity and accountability.

At Fairbanks Morse Defense, you’ll be part of a team committed to excellence, innovation, and professional growth, while contributing to the production of critical components that power engines and defense systems. If you’re a hands-on leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and wants to make a measurable impact, this is the role for you.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

· Responsible for leading a team of both salaried and hourly (unionized) employees in the distribution of aftermarket parts to external customers as well as providing parts and kits for engine production to internal customers.

· Build a team through leadership, motivation and skills development. Make recommendations for manpower levels, make hiring decisions, manage performance, initiate cross training, administer discipline as appropriate.

· Responsible for maintaining department budgets; enhancement, review and maintenance of all operational and logistics policies and procedures; implement policies; maintain security and control of inventory.

· Improve on-time delivery through implementation of lean manufacturing processes.

· Work closely with purchasing and production groups to ensure/improve on-time delivery.

· Develop and execute inventory stocking, accuracy and location management strategies.

· Decrease obsolete inventory and improve inventory turns.

· Manage inbound and outbound transportation networks and logistics.

· Allocate resources effectively and fully utilize assets to produce optimal results.

· Implement strategies in alignment with strategic initiatives and provide a clear sense of direction and focus.

· Monitor operations and trigger corrective actions as needed.

· Share a trusting relationship with the workgroup and recruit, manage and develop staff.

· Collect and analyze data to find places of waste or excess overtime.

· Commit to execute and improve plant safety procedures.

· Develop systems and processes that track and optimize productivity and standards, metrics and performance targets to ensure effective return on assets.

· Address employees’ issues or grievances and administer collective bargaining agreements.

· Influence and learn from below.

· Stay up to date with the latest production management best practices and concepts.

· Continually improve and develop Electronic Kanban or other appropriate replenishment system.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

· Proven experience with supervision and the ability to provide leadership, motivation and direction to a team of both hourly union and non-union as well as salaried employees.

· Must be experienced with distribution, warehousing, traffic and supply chain management in a manufacturing environment.

· Change agent with proven experience providing leadership, motivation and direction.

· Capable of working well with all levels of people (executives as well as plant employees) in a small, fast paced, hands-on, environment.

· Experience with: Electronic Document Management (EDM), Radio Frequency Identification (RFI), Bar coding; Inventory Control; Kanban systems; transportation/freight services; cycle count programs; packaging.

· Must have working knowledge of import/export compliance.

· Working experience with an ERP system, preferably Oracle.

· Be knowledgeable of safety, quality, productivity, demand creation, inventory and stewardship processes.

· Computer literacy.

· Ability to create accountability and to lead by example.

· Strong team building, decision-making and people management skills.

· Proven work experience as a Distribution Center Manager.

· Proven managerial experience.

· Strong lean manufacturing experience as a change agent and demonstrated use of common tools such as problem solving, visual management and Kaizen methodology.

· Adequate knowledge of business and management principles (budgeting, strategic planning, resource allocation and human resources).

· Bachelor’s degree is required.

· US Citizenship Requirement: This position requires access or potential access to Unclassified Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information, which is Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals (NOFORN) data. Therefore, to meet NOFORN requirement, you will have to provide proof of US Citizenship and attest that you do not have dual citizenship. Acceptable proof of US Citizenship is a US Passport, US Birth Certificate or Naturalization Certificate.

Additional Notes: This specification is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to effective customer service delivery, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are the basic requirements of all positions at Fairbanks Morse Defense.