Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Operations Director

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Operations Director leads all aspects of warehouse and distribution operations to deliver reliable, safe, and cost-effective fulfillment. This role is accountable for strategic and tactical planning of receiving, putaway, picking, packing, shipping, returns, inventory control, labor management, capital projects, and systems (WMS/ERP) integrations. The Director partners with commercial, supply chain, procurement, and finance stakeholders to optimize throughput, reduce costs, improve service levels, and scale operations to support company growth.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Manager / Distribution Center Manager
Operations Manager / Logistics Manager
Supply Chain Manager

Advancement To:

Vice President, Operations
Head of Global Distribution / Director of Supply Chain
Senior Operations Executive / Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Lateral Moves:

Director, Continuous Improvement
Director, Transportation & Logistics

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and execute the end-to-end warehouse operations strategy aligned to corporate objectives, including throughput targets, service-level agreements (SLAs), and cost per order metrics across single or multiple distribution centers.
Own P&L responsibilities for warehouse operations, preparing budgets, monitoring spend, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and delivering quarterly/annual financial targets.
Lead operational planning for peak seasons and promotional events, including capacity planning, temporary labor strategies, contingency plans, and cross-functional readiness reviews to ensure service continuity.
Design and implement labor management programs that set staffing models, productivity standards, piece rates or incentive pay structures, and workforce scheduling to optimize labor cost and service levels.
Direct inventory control and accuracy programs using cycle counting, root-cause analysis, reconciliation workflows, and shrinkage reduction initiatives to maintain >99% inventory fidelity.
Oversee receiving, putaway, replenishment, picking, packing, shipping, returns processing, and value-added services to ensure efficient flows and on-time delivery to customers and stores.
Lead WMS (Warehouse Management System) and ERP integrations or upgrades, including requirements definition, vendor selection, system configuration, testing, training, and post-implementation stabilization.
Establish and monitor operational KPIs (e.g., OTIF, order accuracy, dock-to-stock, cycle times, cost per line, inventory turns) and deliver weekly/monthly performance reviews with senior leadership.
Develop and execute continuous improvement and Lean initiatives (Kaizen, 5S, Six Sigma projects) to reduce waste, improve lead times, and increase throughput capacity without proportional headcount growth.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, environmental regulations, and company safety standards; lead safety culture initiatives, incident investigations, and corrective action programs to reduce lost-time incidents.
Manage capital projects and facility improvements (racking, automation, conveyors, sortation, robotics), including requirements definition, vendor management, CAPEX justification, and implementation oversight.
Build and develop high-performing operations teams, including recruitment, onboarding, coaching, succession planning, performance management, and leadership development for managers and supervisors.
Implement and maintain robust vendor and carrier management practices, negotiating service levels and contracts to align inbound/outbound performance with customer expectations and cost targets.
Lead cross-functional planning with procurement, demand planning, transportation, and customer service to align inventory positioning, replenishment policies, and fulfilment strategies.
Drive change management for operational process changes and new technology rollouts, creating communications plans, training curricula, and adoption metrics to maximize ROI.
Develop contingency and business continuity plans for supply chain disruptions, including backup facilities, alternate carriers, and emergency staffing models.
Oversee quality control and product handling standards to minimize damages, returns, and customer claims while enforcing standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Implement data-driven decision making by leveraging operational reporting, dashboards, and analytics (Power BI, Tableau, Excel) to identify trends and prioritize improvement opportunities.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with key internal stakeholders (sales, e-commerce, finance) and external customers/vendors to resolve escalations and improve service.
Monitor and optimize order fulfillment models (ship-from-store, regional hubs, cross-dock, direct-to-consumer) to improve speed-to-customer and reduce total landed cost.
Create and execute sustainability initiatives in operations (energy efficiency, packaging optimization, waste reduction) to support ESG objectives and reduce operational costs.
Ensure accurate and timely compliance reporting for audits, certifications, and customer compliance requirements (e.g., FDA, retailer scorecards).

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional analytics and ad-hoc operational reporting requests to inform executive decision-making and capital allocation.
Participate in strategic sourcing and contract negotiations for facility services, equipment leasing, and third-party logistics (3PL) partnerships.
Contribute to the company’s supply chain strategy by participating in network design projects, SKU rationalization, and seasonality planning.
Mentor and coach rising leaders across operations, providing a pipeline for future DC managers and site leaders.
Represent operations in customer or vendor executive meetings to review SLAs, scorecards, and continuous improvement roadmaps.
Lead or participate in facility due diligence for potential site acquisitions, leases, or expansions to assess operational fit and CAPEX requirements.
Run regular operational audits including safety, quality, inventory, and process audits to ensure standards are maintained.
Coordinate with IT and Security to maintain secure access controls, inventory protection measures, and data integrity across warehouse systems.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) implementation & configuration — experience with Manhattan, Blue Yonder, Oracle WMS, or equivalent.
ERP integration experience (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and strong cross-system data mapping skills.
Inventory management methodologies: cycle count programs, ABC analysis, demand-driven replenishment.
Labor planning and workforce management tools and methodologies, including forecasting and productivity modeling.
Strong Excel skills (advanced formulas, pivot tables) and experience with reporting tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
Understanding of automation and material handling systems: conveyors, sorters, AS/RS, robotics, and conveyors.
Continuous improvement methodologies: Lean, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt preferred), Kaizen events.
P&L management, budgeting, CAPEX planning, and cost-to-serve analysis.
Regulatory and safety compliance knowledge: OSHA, DOT, hazardous materials handling (if applicable).
Project management experience, including leading cross-functional technology and process implementations.
Knowledge of transportation fundamentals and integration of warehouse operations with inbound/outbound logistics.
Experience managing multi-site operations and distributed inventory networks.

Soft Skills

Strategic leadership with proven ability to translate strategy into executable operational plans.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills — able to influence senior leaders and frontline teams.
Analytical mindset with data-driven decision-making and problem-solving orientation.
Change management capability to lead organization-wide process and system transformations.
Coaching, mentoring, and team development — builds high-performing operational teams.
Customer-centric orientation — balances cost with service to meet internal and external customer expectations.
Resilience and adaptability under pressure, particularly during peak season and disruptions.
Negotiation and vendor management skills for 3PL and equipment/service contracts.
Attention to detail and process discipline to enforce SOPs and quality standards.
Time management and prioritization across competing operational priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree or MBA, or advanced certification in Supply Chain Management or Operations Management.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Logistics & Transportation
Business Administration / Management
Industrial or Mechanical Engineering
Operations Management
Finance (for P&L responsibilities)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8–15 years in warehouse/distribution and logistics roles, including progressive leadership responsibility.

Preferred:

10+ years leading complex warehouse or distribution center operations, including multi-site management.
Proven experience managing budgets and P&L responsibility, capital projects, and large cross-functional implementations.
Track record of delivering operational KPIs (OTIF, order accuracy, inventory accuracy) and leading WMS/ERP implementations.
Experience with automation and robotics deployments is highly desirable.
Experience managing teams of 50–500+ employees or overseeing multiple sites with combined headcount responsibility.