Area Manager

Job Summary

The Distribution Center Area Manager is responsible for leading all operational activities within their assigned functional area of the distribution center. This role ensures efficient, safe, and cost-effective operations while meeting or exceeding performance targets for productivity, quality, and customer service. The Area Manager will lead a team of Leads and Crew Members to achieve operational excellence in support of the company's retail operations. West Marine is a Drug-Free and Equal Opportunity Employer.

Primary Responsibilities

Operational Management:

• Direct day-to-day operations within the assigned area (Inbound, Outbound, Inventory Control, or Facilities), ensuring all activities meet established performance standards and service level agreements
• Develop and implement operational plans that align with business objectives, peak season demands, and changing business needs
• Monitor key performance indicators including Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Culture metrics, taking corrective action when performance falls below target.
• Optimize workflows, labor allocation, and resource utilization to maximize efficiency and throughput

Team Leadership:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Leads and hourly Crew Members, typically ranging from 15-75 Crew Members depending on shift and functional area
• Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and create development plans for Crew Members
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and Crew Member engagement
• Partner with HR to address Crew Member relations issues and ensure consistent application of company policies

Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities for operational improvements and lead initiatives to enhance Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Culture
• Implement 5S, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate waste and drive efficiency
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including OpEx, IT, Transportation and Retail Store Operations to optimize end-to-end supply chain performance
• Champion the adoption of new technologies, automation, and systems to improve operational capabilities

Safety and Compliance:

• Maintain a safe work environment by enforcing safety policies, conducting regular safety audits, and addressing hazards promptly
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company safety standards, and industry best practices
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence
• Promote a safety-first culture and achieve safety performance targets

Budget & Cost Management:

• Manage departmental budget, controlling labor costs, overtime, and operational expenses
• Analyze financial performance and implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising safety or quality
• Optimize inventory accuracy and minimize shrink, damage, and waste within the operation

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration preferred or equivalent demonstrated years of career progression

Experience:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in inventory management, preferably within a distribution or warehouse environment
• Proven experience through examples of serving as an effective change management agent
• Proven experience in a managerial or supervisory role

Skills:

• Strong analytical, best practice identification, problem-solving and standardization skills
• Excellent organizational skills and abilities
• Proficient in inventory management processes, tools and Microsoft Office Suite
• Outstanding leadership and team collaboration skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Other Requirements:

• Willing to submit to a criminal background check and a pre-employment drug screening.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.

Physical Description

Typical Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Crew Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the Crew Member regularly works near moving equipment.
• Position is routinely exposed to hot and cold temperatures during Summer and Winter months in the Distribution Center

Essential Physical Tasks:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Crew Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the Crew Member is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, reach with hands and arms, use hands to handle or feel.
• The Crew Member is occasionally required to climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and bend. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds or team lift items greater than 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description is only meant to be a representative summary of the major responsibilities and accountabilities performed by the incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those in this description. To review many of the benefits West Marine offers, along with starting pay ranges for select states, please visit our benefits page at www.embbenefits.com/wm-home/. Join us at West Marine and help us provide the best boating experience for our customers!

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.