- Salary
- $85k – $95k/yr
- Location
- Chicago, IL, US
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Operations
- Seniority
- Manager
- Education
- Bachelor
- Source
- Breezy HR
Description
The Operations Manager is responsible for leading day-to-day operations within a highly complex temperature-controlled warehouse environment. This role provides leadership across multiple operational functions, including warehousing, distribution, transportation support, inventory management, fulfillment, value-added services, and customer-specific programs. The Operations Manager oversees multiple teams and leaders while driving operational excellence, safety, customer satisfaction, productivity, and financial performance. This position plays a critical role in supporting business growth, onboarding new customers, implementing process improvements, and ensuring service levels are consistently achieved across a diverse customer portfolio. The ideal candidate is a proven leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, effectively manages competing priorities, develops high-performing teams, and delivers exceptional customer service.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
• Lead and develop supervisors, warehouse managers, leads, and frontline associates across multiple
operational departments and shifts.
• Drive a culture of safety, food safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement
throughout the facility.
• Manage daily warehouse operations including receiving, storage, shipping, inventory control,
fulfillment, repack, and value-added services.
• Partner with customers and internal stakeholders to ensure operational requirements and service
expectations are consistently achieved.
• Monitor facility performance through key operational metrics, labor management, productivity
reporting, and customer KPIs.
• Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve
service performance.
• Develop staffing plans and labor strategies that align with business demands and seasonal
fluctuations.
• Support customer onboarding initiatives, operational transitions, and new business implementation
activities.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, food safety requirements, regulatory standards, and
customer-specific requirements.
• Lead performance management activities, including coaching, training, employee development,
corrective action, and succession planning.
• Collaborate with maintenance, quality assurance, transportation, and customer service teams to
drive operational success.
• Participate in budgeting, forecasting, and cost management initiatives to support facility
financial objectives.
• Maintain a strong floor presence and actively engage with employees, customers, and operational
leaders throughout the facility.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Skills
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent work experience considered.
• 5+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in warehousing, distribution,
manufacturing, logistics, or supply chain operations.
• Experience managing leaders, supervisors, and large frontline employee populations.
• Experience within a food, beverage, cold chain, or temperature-controlled environment preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing complex customer requirements, service-level expectations, and
operational performance metrics.
• Experience with warehouse management systems (WMS), inventory management, and labor planning.
• Exceptional leadership and team development skills with strong operational and business acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and drive continuous
improvement initiatives.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, analytical, problem-solving, decision-making,
conflict-resolution, and employee-engagement skills.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities; proficiency with WMS, ERP platforms,
and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range: $85,000–$95,000 annually. NorthPoint Fresh offers a competitive compensation package
designed to reward performance and support professional growth. Eligible employees may have access
to performance-based incentive opportunities, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, paid time
off, retirement savings programs, professional development opportunities, and other
company-sponsored benefits.
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
• Physical activity: Regularly walk warehouse floors and spend extended periods in a
temperature-controlled environment.
• Lifting requirements: Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• Work environment: Ability to work in both office and warehouse settings, including refrigerated,
cold storage, and ambient areas.
• Operational environment: Ability to safely navigate warehouse equipment traffic, loading docks,
and active operational areas.
• Personal protective equipment: Must be able to wear required PPE as applicable to the work area.
• Schedule flexibility: May be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, or extended hours
based on operational and customer needs.