Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Solutions Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Solutions Coordinator owns the analysis, specification, rollout, and continuous improvement of warehouse solutions — from WMS feature configuration and RF device setup to process redesign and KPI reporting. Acting as the bridge between operations, IT, and business stakeholders, the coordinator translates operational challenges into technical requirements, runs pilot programs, and ensures successful adoption of new processes and systems. The role requires data-driven decision making, project coordination, and a pragmatic approach to change management to deliver measurable improvements in inventory accuracy, order fulfillment, and labor productivity.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Supervisor or Lead focused on daily operations and process improvement
Logistics Coordinator or Inventory Analyst with hands-on WMS experience
Systems Analyst or Implementation Specialist supporting distribution or manufacturing operations

Advancement To:

Warehouse Solutions Manager / WMS Manager
Supply Chain Solutions Manager or Continuous Improvement Manager
Director of Warehouse Operations or Head of Distribution Systems

Lateral Moves:

WMS Analyst / WMS Business Analyst
Process Improvement Specialist / Lean Six Sigma Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead end-to-end WMS (Warehouse Management System) configuration projects: gather operational requirements, create design specifications, configure system parameters, coordinate testing, and manage go-live activities to ensure functionality aligns with operational workflows.
Partner with operations leadership to map current-state warehouse processes, identify inefficiencies and safety risks, and develop detailed process-improvement plans that include SOP updates, layouts, and technology interventions.
Serve as the primary point of contact for WMS and ERP integration efforts, coordinating data mapping, API or middleware configuration, and user acceptance testing to maintain accurate inventory and order flow across systems.
Develop and maintain detailed business requirement documents (BRDs), functional requirement documents (FRDs), and test scripts for new warehouse features, wireless device rollouts, and automation interfaces.
Design and implement RF/mobile device configurations, barcode labeling standards, and scanning logic to increase pick/putaway accuracy and reduce cycle times across multi-site distribution networks.
Execute pilot programs for new warehouse technologies (voice picking, pick-to-light, conveyors, sortation) and capture quantitative results to define scale-up strategies, ROI, and change management plans.
Build and maintain operational dashboards and KPI scorecards (inventory accuracy, order cycle time, on-time shipments, labor productivity, dock-to-stock) using Excel, BI tools, or WMS reporting modules to support data-driven decisions.
Analyze inventory discrepancies, root-cause issues, and exception patterns; coordinate corrective action plans with inventory control, receiving, and replenishment teams to reduce shrink and improve reconciliation processes.
Coordinate cross-functional working sessions between operations, IT, procurement, and vendors to prioritize enhancements, manage release schedules, and ensure alignment on scope and timelines.
Develop and deliver training materials, process playbooks, and hands-on training sessions for warehouse personnel and super-users to guarantee consistent adoption of new systems and standardized work.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean methodologies and Six Sigma tools to optimize layout, slotting, wave management, batch picking strategies, and storage utilization.
Manage vendor relationships and oversee external integrators and consultants, ensuring deliverables meet contractual requirements and that change requests are evaluated for business impact and cost.
Create and maintain system master data governance practices for SKUs, locations, units of measure, and wave templates to ensure data integrity across WMS and adjacent systems.
Plan and coordinate seasonal or promotional capacity expansions, temporary workforce onboarding, and contingency procedures for peak events to maintain SLA compliance.
Lead root-cause investigations and post-implementation reviews after incidents or go-lives to capture lessons learned, update risk registers, and revise contingency plans.
Establish and enforce security and access controls within WMS and warehouse-related systems, auditing user roles and permissions periodically to minimize operational risk and maintain data confidentiality.
Collaborate with transportation and customer service teams to align fulfillment logic, order prioritization rules, and shipping workflows to improve on-time delivery and reduce expedite costs.
Evaluate potential automation and mechanization opportunities (ASRS, conveyors, automated sorters) by creating business cases, cost/benefit analysis, and phased implementation plans aligned with network strategy.
Monitor regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to warehouse operations (OSHA, hazardous materials handling, import/export controls) and incorporate necessary system checks and SOPs.
Drive continuous monitoring of cycle count programs, spare parts forecasting, and critical-part visibility to ensure downstream production and customer service continuity.
Manage project timelines, change control logs, budget tracking, and stakeholder communications for warehouse technology initiatives to ensure timely delivery within budget and scope.
Facilitate regular operational review meetings with site leadership to review KPIs, implement corrective actions, and standardize best practices across multiple distribution centers.
Create detailed test plans and lead regression testing for WMS upgrades and patches, coordinating with IT to schedule minimal impact windows and ensure full rollback plans are in place.
Act as escalation point for complex warehouse system incidents, coordinating cross-functional incident response, communications, and temporary manual workarounds until permanent fixes are implemented.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist procurement and asset tracking teams with lifecycle management of warehouse hardware and peripherals.
Support continuous documentation of SOP changes, system release notes, and training artifacts for audit readiness.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) implementation and configuration (e.g., Manhattan, Blue Yonder/JDA, HighJump, Oracle WMS, SAP EWM).
ERP integration experience (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or equivalent) and understanding of master data flows.
Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, advanced formulas) and experience building operational models.
SQL proficiency for extracting, validating, and analyzing WMS/ERP data to produce actionable insights.
Experience with barcode/RFID, RF handheld configuration, and mobile device management.
Familiarity with automation technologies and integration points (conveyors, sorters, ASRS, WCS/WMS interfaces).
Reporting and dashboarding experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or Looker).
Project management skills, including planning, risk management, release coordination, and basic resource allocation.
Process mapping and improvement tools (Value Stream Mapping, SIPOC, 5S, Kaizen).
Knowledge of inventory control practices: cycle counting, ABC analysis, stock reconciliation, and shrink mitigation.

Soft Skills

Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration—ability to translate technical details into operational language.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for training, documentation, and executive reporting.
Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities and bias for measurable outcomes.
Change management and training delivery skills to drive user adoption in fast-paced warehouse environments.
Prioritization and time management—capable of juggling multiple concurrent projects and site requests.
Attention to detail and a systematic approach to testing and release validation.
Leadership and influence without direct authority—ability to motivate frontline teams and site leaders.
Flexibility and resilience to handle operational peaks, emergent issues, and shifting priorities.
Customer-focused orientation—internal and external customer service mindset to meet SLAs.
Negotiation and vendor management skills for working with integrators and hardware suppliers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Business Operations, Information Systems, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s plus certifications (APICS/CPIM, CSCP, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt) or a master’s degree in Supply Chain, MBA, or Industrial Engineering.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management / Logistics
Industrial Engineering / Operations Research
Business Administration / Management Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of combined warehouse operations and systems experience, with at least 2 years of direct WMS implementation or configuration exposure.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive experience in distribution systems roles, including multiple successful WMS go-lives, process re-engineering projects, or automation deployments.
Demonstrated experience working across multiple distribution sites and with cross-functional technical teams.