Director of Operations

Description

Who We Are

Joining the WOW Logistics team means becoming part of a culture that inspires employees to reach their full potential and rewards exceptional performance based on merit. These are among the values contained in the Little Orange Book, the foundation of our culture. As we enter an exciting phase of growth, new and existing employees have a tremendous opportunity to grow alongside the company as it scales.

How Your Role Fits In

The Director of Operations is responsible for leading and optimizing all aspects of frozen and cold warehouse operations within a third-party logistics (3PL) and contract services environment. This role ensures operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction across multiple client accounts in the food industry, with a strong emphasis on cold chain integrity, safety, and cost-effective service delivery. 

WOW Logistics provides exceptional customer service with a focus on safety and incident prevention, high facility productivity, accurate order execution, on-time delivery, and maintaining industry-leading employee retention.

This position offers remote flexibility and can be based anywhere within the United States. Due to the nature of our operations, up to 70% travel is required.  

What you’ll do:

Operational Strategy and Execution:

• Develop and execute end-to-end cold chain strategies (short- and long-term) specifically tailored for frozen and temperature-sensitive storage and distribution. Ensure alignment with client expectations, regulatory requirements, and evolving food industry standards. 
• Oversee daily operational excellence of multiple temperature-controlled facilities, with a strong focus on frozen storage, including Safety, Food Safety, internal KPIs, and fostering a positive culture for our team. 
• Serve as the primary operational contact for key cold chain food industry clients. Ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are met or exceeded and foster long-term partnerships. 
• Manage multiple frozen and refrigerated contract operations simultaneously, ensuring profitability, efficiency, and compliance with contractual obligations. 
• Collaborate cross-functionally with client services and account management to proactively address customer needs, resolve cold chain challenges, and deliver a seamless, end-to-end temperature-controlled logistics experience. 
• Lead strategic initiatives to enhance operational scalability, automation, and resilience in frozen food supply chains, including contingency planning for seasonal surges and supply disruptions. 

Team Leadership & Development 

• Recruit, train, and develop high-performing teams across multiple sites.  
• Lead, Coach, and develop warehouse managers and frontline staff, including succession planning to support growth 
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement 
• Lead a proactive safety culture by implementing and enforcing rigorous safety protocols and training programs. 

Financial and Performance Management 

• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for cold chain efficiency, manage budgets, and drive financial performance and profitability across all operational areas. 
• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives using lean principles, automation, and data analytics to enhance productivity and reduce operational costs. 
• Drive end-to-end cold chain performance across warehousing, transportation, and distribution, with a focus on maintaining product integrity, minimizing waste, and optimizing cost-to-serve. 
• Drive high levels of productivity through effective labor planning, process optimization, and performance management. 

Regulatory Compliance and Safety 

• Ensure adherence to all regulatory and industry standards (FDA, USDA, OSHA, HACCP, SQF) for food safety and temperature-sensitive handling. 

What it takes to succeed:

• Experience:  15 years of progressive leadership experience in warehouse or distribution operations, with at least 10 years in frozen or temperature-controlled environments of 500,000 sq ft. 
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).  
• Additional skill sets: Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Strong knowledge of warehouse management systems (WMS), ERP platforms, and automation technologies. Proven track record of driving operational improvements and managing large teams. Familiarity with regulatory requirements for food safety and cold storage logistics

Our Commitment to You

At WOW Logistics, fostering a supportive work environment is an integral part of our shared pursuit of excellence. We demonstrate our commitment through an array of benefits, including incentive pay based on role, tuition reimbursement, employee recognition programs, health insurance, paid vacation, and more. Learn about our competitive benefits package on our website.

Equal Opportunity Employer

WOW Logistics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

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