Warehouse Supervisor - Receiving & Put Away

Description

Department: Warehouse Operations
Reports To: Vice President of Operations
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Schedule: 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., approximately 48 hours per week
Position Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Day Warehouse Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day receiving and put-away operations within a broadline food distribution warehouse. This position supervises a team of approximately 25 employees and is accountable for daily staffing, scheduling, workflow coordination, employee performance, receiving accuracy, and timely product placement.

The supervisor ensures that inbound products are received, inspected, documented, and stored accurately and efficiently while maintaining product integrity, inventory accuracy, food safety, and workplace safety standards. This position provides hands-on leadership, resolves routine operational issues independently, and coordinates with the Senior Warehouse Coordinator and Vice President of Operations on matters requiring additional support, approval, or direction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Receiving Operations

• Oversee daily receiving activities, including unloading, inspecting, verifying, and documenting incoming product.
• Ensure inbound shipments are checked against purchase orders, bills of lading, and other applicable receiving documents.
• Verify product quantities, descriptions, lot information, expiration dates, and product condition as applicable.
• Identify and address shortages, overages, damages, temperature discrepancies, and other receiving issues.
• Ensure receiving transactions and documentation are completed accurately and promptly.
• Coordinate with purchasing, inventory control, vendors, and other departments to resolve receiving discrepancies.
• Maintain an organized and efficient receiving dock to support continuous warehouse operations.

2. Put-Away and Product Storage

• Direct daily put-away activities to ensure product is moved promptly to the correct warehouse locations.
• Ensure products are stored in appropriate ambient, refrigerated, or frozen environments.
• Maintain proper product rotation, including FIFO (first in, first out) or FEFO (first expired, first out), as applicable.
• Monitor put-away completion, product location accuracy,  and timely system updates.
• Minimize product damage, misplacements, unnecessary handling, and congestion in receiving and storage areas.
• Ensure warehouse locations remain organized and are used efficiently.
• Coordinate with other warehouse functions to ensure product is available for timely order selection.

3. Employee Supervision, Staffing, and Scheduling

• Directly supervise and lead a team of approximately 25 receiving and put-away employees.
• Prepare and maintain employee schedules to ensure  appropriate staffing and operational coverage.
• Assign daily responsibilities, establish priorities, and adjust staffing based on inbound volume and business needs.
• Monitor attendance, punctuality, productivity, work quality, and compliance with company policies.
• Train, coach, and develop employees to maintain performance standards and operational consistency.
• Address employee performance and conduct concerns promptly and escalate matters requiring additional authority.
• Support onboarding, cross-training, and development of warehouse personnel.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and a safe, productive work environment.
• Communicate expectations clearly and ensure employees understand their responsibilities and daily priorities.

4. Inventory Accuracy and Warehouse Systems

• Ensure receiving and put-away transactions are entered accurately and promptly into the warehouse management system or other applicable company systems.
• Partner with inventory control and the Senior Warehouse  Coordinator to investigate and resolve product location discrepancies, receiving errors, and inventory variances.
• Ensure proper product labeling, scanning, identification, and transaction controls.
• Maintain accurate receiving records and documentation.
• Identify recurring errors and recommend corrective actions to improve inventory integrity and operational accuracy.

5. Safety, Food Safety, and Housekeeping

• Enforce company safety policies and safe equipment operating procedures.
• Ensure material-handling equipment is operated only by trained and authorized employees.
• Maintain compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, temperature-control, and product-handling requirements.
• Ensure receiving docks, aisles, storage areas, and equipment remain clean, organized, and free of unnecessary hazards.
• Promptly report workplace injuries, equipment malfunctions, unsafe conditions, and potential product contamination.
• Support company inspections, audits, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Take immediate action within the supervisor’s authority to address unsafe conditions and escalate significant concerns promptly.

6. Operational Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor receiving and put-away productivity, accuracy, timeliness, and service levels.
• Ensure inbound product is processed and put away within established operational timeframes.
• Identify workflow bottlenecks and recommend improvements to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• Monitor labor utilization and adjust staffing assignments to meet operational demands.
• Communicate daily operational results, staffing concerns, and workflow challenges to the Senior Warehouse Coordinator and      Vice President of Warehouse.
• Implement approved process changes and reinforce established warehouse procedures.
• Follow through on corrective actions and ensure identified issues are addressed.

7. Decision-Making Authority and Escalation

The Day Warehouse Supervisor is responsible for managing routine daily operations, directing employees, maintaining schedules, assigning work, and resolving operational issues within established company policies and delegated authority.

The supervisor is expected to exercise sound judgment, take ownership of daily results, and escalate matters that exceed their authority or require additional support or approval.

• Senior Warehouse Coordinator: Escalate receiving and put-away coordination issues, inventory or system discrepancies requiring additional support, workflow conflicts involving other warehouse functions, and operational matters requiring coordination beyond the supervisor’s team.
• Vice President of Warehouse: Escalate significant operational disruptions, major safety or food safety concerns, unresolved staffing or employee performance issues, requests for policy exceptions, and decisions involving resources, procedures, or authority beyond the supervisor’s scope.

The supervisor is expected to resolve routine issues independently, delegate appropriate tasks when authorized, and seek direction when necessary. Escalation does not relieve the supervisor of responsibility for monitoring the issue, communicating updates, and following through on the resolution.

8. Communication and Collaboration

• Maintain clear and consistent communication with the Senior Warehouse Coordinator, Vice President of Warehouse, and other   relevant departments.
• Communicate staffing needs, receiving priorities,  operational challenges, and performance concerns in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with inventory control, purchasing, transportation, and other warehouse functions to support efficient product flow.
• Maintain professional communication with employees, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support warehouse and company operations.

Requirements

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; additional education or relevant training preferred.
• Previous warehouse experience in food distribution, grocery distribution, or a similar high-volume distribution environment   required.
• Prior warehouse supervisory experience, including responsibility for employee scheduling and performance management,   required.
• Experience leading a sizable warehouse team preferred.
• Knowledge of receiving, put-away, inventory handling, warehouse organization, and material-handling practices.
• Familiarity with warehouse management systems, barcode scanning, inventory transactions, and receiving documentation.
• Understanding of food safety, temperature-controlled storage, product rotation, and warehouse safety practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands, make timely decisions, and resolve operational issues.
• Ability to operate or become qualified to operate applicable material-handling equipment.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in an active warehouse environment that may include ambient, refrigerated, and freezer areas.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and move throughout the warehouse during the workday.
• Ability to bend, reach, climb, and perform other physical activities reasonably associated with warehouse supervision.
• Ability to lift or move materials as reasonably required by the position, consistent with company safety practices.
• Ability to work around moving equipment, dock operations, and active warehouse traffic.
• Ability to work the established schedule and additional hours as operational needs require.