What are the responsibilities and job description for the Yard Manager position at Otter Tail Corporation?
Key Responsibilities
- Direct daily yard operations, including storage, staging, movement, loading, shipping, and housekeeping of PVC pipe and related materials.
- Organize yard layout and product placement to maximize space utilization, accessibility, and safe equipment movement.
- Coordinate with Production and Traffic Manager to ensure finished goods are available, staged correctly, and loaded on schedule.
- Supervise yard personnel, assign work, monitor productivity, and provide coaching, training, and performance feedback.
- Maintain accurate inventory locations and support cycle counts, physical inventories, and discrepancy resolution.
- Oversee receiving and outbound yard activity, including verification of product counts, condition, and related documentation.
- Ensure forklifts, loaders, trailers, and pipe-handling equipment are inspected regularly and reported for maintenance or repair as needed.
- Enforce company safety rules, PPE requirements, equipment inspection practices, traffic flow expectations, and safe material handling procedures.
- Maintain a clean, orderly, and secure yard environment, including proper stacking, loading zones, lane clearance, scrap control, and hazard correction.
- Investigate operational issues, safety incidents, and near misses, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Track basic yard performance measures such as inventory accuracy, equipment readiness, and load/staging efficiency.
- Support continuous improvement efforts that reduce congestion, improve responsiveness, and strengthen yard reliability.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required; additional training in operations, logistics, inventory, or supervision preferred.
- Three to five years of experience in yard operations, manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, or building materials environments.
- Prior supervisory or lead experience in an outdoor industrial setting preferred.
- Working knowledge of forklift and mobile equipment safety, inventory practices, and material staging processes.
- Basic computer skills, including email, spreadsheets, and inventory or operating systems used to track materials.
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 7:00AM – 4:00PM
Lunch Breaks: 30-minutes unpaid break
Scheduling Needs: Scheduling needs are subject to change based on department requirements. Supervisors will communicate any necessary adjustments in advance.
JOB DESCRIPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
I have received a copy of the job description for my position:
Position: _______________________________________________
Revision Date: __________________________________
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 7:00AM – 4:00PM
Lunch Breaks: 30-minutes unpaid break
Scheduling Needs: Scheduling needs are subject to change based on department requirements. Supervisors will communicate any necessary adjustments in advance.
I have reviewed this job description, and I understand all my job duties and responsibilities. I can perform the essential functions as outlined. I understand that my job may change on a temporary or regular basis according to the needs of my location or department without it being specifically included in the job description. If I have any questions about job duties not specified in this description that I am asked to perform, I should discuss them with my immediate supervisor or a member of the Human Resources staff.
I further understand that future performance evaluations and merit increase to my pay are based on my ability to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description to the satisfaction of my immediate supervisor. I have discussed any questions I may have had about this job description prior to signing this form.