Shipping and Receiving Manager (4486)

Position Summary

The Shipping and Receiving Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, strategy, and performance of the shipping and receiving department. This role owns department results across all shifts, directly manages Shipping/Receiving Supervisors, and is accountable for inventory accuracy, safety compliance, labor and expense budget, and audit readiness within a fast-paced, high-speed, refrigerated production and bottling environment. The Manager sets department priorities, develops supervisory talent, and serves as the primary point of accountability for shipping and receiving performance to facility leadership.

Primary Objective

To lead and continuously improve shipping and receiving operations across all shifts, ensuring department goals for safety, inventory accuracy, service levels, and cost are met through strong supervisory leadership, sound systems management, and cross-functional coordination.

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Team Management

• Directly manage and develop Shipping/Receiving Supervisors across all shifts, setting clear expectations and holding them accountable for results.
• Own hiring, performance management, coaching, and disciplinary decisions for the department in partnership with HR.
• Build succession and cross-training plans to ensure supervisory coverage across all shifts.
• Set department priorities and communicate them consistently through the Supervisor team.

Strategic Operations Oversight

• Own overall performance of inbound and outbound operations across the facility, including order fulfillment, on-time shipping, and receiving accuracy.
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives to increase throughput, reduce cost, and improve accuracy.
• Plan department staffing levels and shift structure in coordination with the Materials Manager and workforce planning.
• Evaluate and approve exceptions to standard operating procedures when warranted.

Inventory & Systems Management

• Own the accuracy and integrity of inventory data across NetSuite and RFSmart for the department.
• Oversee cycle count programs and lead root-cause investigation and corrective action for recurring discrepancies.
• Partner with IT and Materials leadership on system improvements, upgrades, and issue resolution.

Safety & Compliance Leadership

• Own department safety performance, including incident review, corrective action, and safety culture initiatives.
• Ensure full compliance with GMPs and participate in SQF, Organic, and Non-GMO audit readiness for the department.
• Lead department response to internal and third-party audits, including corrective action plans.

Cross-Functional Communication

• Serve as the department's primary liaison to Production, QA, Maintenance, Planning, and Logistics leadership.
• Escalate and resolve constraints, shortages, and service issues that affect facility operations.
• Provide regular performance reporting and updates to the Materials Manager and facility leadership.

Budget & Resource Management

• Manage department labor and operating budget, including overtime control and expense tracking.
• Approve equipment, supply, and staffing requests within department budget authority.
• Partner with Materials Manager on capital planning for warehouse equipment and facility needs.

Facility & Equipment Oversight

• Ensure proper maintenance and safe operation of forklifts, pallet jacks, dock levelers, and RF equipment.
• Maintain department work areas in an organized, clean, and audit-ready condition at all times.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 3–5 years of progressive leadership experience in warehouse, distribution, or logistics operations, including experience managing supervisors.
• Experience in food manufacturing or cold-chain logistics strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/WMS systems required (NetSuite/RFSmart experience a strong plus).

Skills & Abilities

• Proven leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable managing multiple competing priorities.
• Solid understanding of warehouse safety practices and regulatory/food-safety compliance requirements.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and warehouse management/reporting systems.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/move up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the warehouse and dock areas for extended periods.
• Ability to work in cold, noisy environments.

Work Environment

• Refrigerated warehouse, production, and loading dock areas.
• Exposure to cold temperatures, noise, and moving equipment.
• Occasional outdoor exposure (yard/trailer checks).
• PPE required at all times.