Distribution Manager

Description

The Distribution Manager owns day-to-day operations at the Houston 2 (H2) warehouse, a dedicated distribution facility serving production homebuilders with doors and builder-direct materials. This role is responsible for receiving, staging, loading, and on-time delivery of door units and production builder packages to active job sites across the greater Houston market. The Distribution Manager leads the warehouse, delivery, and field rep teams, drives safety and inventory accuracy, and ensures H2 consistently meets builder delivery schedules. 

Key Responsibilities

Warehouse & Distribution Operations

• Manage all inbound receiving, put-away, staging, and outbound loading for doors and production builder material.
• Organize the warehouse floor by builder, community, and door style to support fast, accurate pulling and staging of job packages.
• Coordinate with the Door Shop on pre-hung door production schedules to align finished units with delivery commitments.
• Plan and manage daily delivery routing and dispatch to maximize truck utilization and on-time job-site delivery.
• Verify load accuracy against job slips and purchase orders before trucks leave the yard; drive a zero-shortage culture.
• Maintain yard, dock, and racking organization, housekeeping, and equipment readiness (forklifts, flatbeds, delivery trucks).

Builder & Branch Coordination

• Serve as the operational point of contact for builder superintendents on delivery timing, sequencing, and job-site issues.
• Communicate daily with branch managers, account managers, and dispatch on home starts, schedule changes, and priority loads.
• Resolve shortages, damage claims, and returns quickly and document root causes to prevent repeat issues.
• Support turnkey trim, exterior door, and cabinet install schedules by ensuring material lands on site ahead of labor.

Field Rep Oversight

• Manage and direct the field rep team, setting daily site coverage priorities based on delivery schedules and active job phases.
• Ensure field reps verify work in the field – confirming deliveries are complete, accurate, and installed material meets expectations before issues reach the builder.
• Hold field reps accountable for consistent, professional communication with builder superintendents on site conditions, readiness, and delivery timing.
• Leverage field reps as a second set of eyes in the field – capturing photos, reporting shortages, damage, theft risk, or site problems back to the warehouse and account managers same-day.
• Review field rep reports daily and route findings to the appropriate branch, dispatch, or account manager for resolution.

Inventory Control

• Own inventory accuracy at H2, including cycle counts, bin location integrity, and participation in scheduled stock counts.
• Monitor stock levels on high-velocity door SKUs and builder-committed material; escalate gaps to Purchasing before they impact starts.
• Control shrink through receiving discipline, load verification, and adherence to the company Shrink Control Program.

Team Leadership

• Hire, train, schedule, and develop warehouse and driver personnel; build bench strength for leads and operators.
• Set daily production and delivery targets, hold morning huddles, and hold the team accountable to performance standards.
• Manage timekeeping, overtime, and labor cost to plan.
• Conduct performance reviews, coaching, and corrective action in partnership with HR.

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce all safety policies including forklift certification, PPE, load securement, and DOT compliance for delivery fleet.
• Conduct regular safety meetings, equipment inspections, and incident investigations; maintain OSHA recordkeeping.
• Ensure facility compliance with fire, occupancy, and local code requirements.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Report daily/weekly KPIs: on-time delivery rate, loads shipped, order accuracy, labor hours, and safety incidents.
• Identify and implement process improvements in staging, routing, and load-out to reduce cost per delivery.
• Participate in weekly store leadership tactical meetings and support company-wide operational initiatives.

Requirements

Qualifications

• 5+ years of warehouse, distribution, or logistics management experience; building materials, millwork, or door distribution strongly preferred.
• Proven experience serving production homebuilder accounts and job-site delivery operations.
• Working knowledge of door products (interior/exterior, pre-hung units, slabs, frames) and builder material packages preferred.
• Experience managing delivery fleets, routing, and DOT requirements; CDL knowledge a plus.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of building accountable, safety-first teams of 10+.
• Proficiency with inventory/ERP systems, dispatch tools, and Google Workspace or Microsoft Office.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor's degree in logistics, supply chain, or business a plus.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Ability to work in a non-climate-controlled warehouse and outdoor yard environment year-round.
• Ability to lift up to 75 lbs, stand and walk for extended periods, and safely operate forklifts and material handling equipment.
• Early morning start times; occasional extended hours and Saturdays during peak building season.

Key Performance Indicators

• On-time, complete delivery rate to builder job sites.
• Order/load accuracy and shortage rate.
• Inventory accuracy and shrink results.
• Labor cost as a percentage of throughput.
• Safety record (recordable incidents, near misses, equipment damage).