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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Supervisor Assistant

💰 $38,000 - $55,000 (USD)

LogisticsWarehouse OperationsSupply ChainDistributionManufacturing

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Supervisor Assistant supports the Warehouse Supervisor by coordinating daily inbound/outbound operations, supervising frontline staff, optimizing inventory accuracy, enforcing safety and quality standards, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires hands-on experience with warehouse management systems (WMS), material handling equipment, KPI tracking, and frontline coaching to ensure efficient, compliant, and cost-effective distribution center performance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Associate / Material Handler
  • Forklift Operator / Machine Operator
  • Inventory Control Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Warehouse Supervisor / Shift Supervisor
  • Operations Team Lead
  • Distribution Center Supervisor / Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Inventory Analyst
  • Shipping & Receiving Lead
  • Logistics Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise daily warehouse operations including receiving, put-away, storage, picking, packing, staging and shipping to meet OTIF (on-time-in-full) and throughput targets while maintaining accuracy and product integrity.
  • Assist the Warehouse Supervisor with allocating labor and scheduling shifts, assigning daily work tasks, balancing workload across teams, and adjusting resources during peak periods or unexpected volume changes.
  • Oversee and validate inbound receiving processes: check bills of lading, verify quantities against purchase orders, inspect product condition, flag discrepancies, and coordinate returns or claims with procurement and vendors.
  • Lead cycle counting and full physical inventory efforts, reconcile variances, investigate root causes of stock differences, and implement corrective actions to improve inventory accuracy and shrink reduction.
  • Operate and train staff on the warehouse management system (WMS) and RF scanning tools; create and maintain location directives, slotting, and bin utilization to optimize pick paths and reduce travel time.
  • Monitor daily KPIs (pick error rate, on-time shipments, dock-to-stock time, inventory accuracy, labor productivity) and produce concise performance reports for the Supervisor and Operations Manager.
  • Coach, mentor and develop warehouse associates on best practices for picking, packing, material handling, safety compliance, and quality control; complete performance feedback and assist in disciplinary actions as needed.
  • Maintain strict safety and regulatory compliance (OSHA, DOT, hazardous materials handling), lead toolbox talks, conduct daily safety audits, and ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is used correctly.
  • Oversee outgoing shipping processes including carrier coordination, load verification, palletizing, labeling, manifests, and freight documentation to ensure compliance with carrier and customer requirements.
  • Implement lean warehouse principles (5S, Kaizen) to streamline processes, reduce waste, improve ergonomics, and increase operational throughput.
  • Manage returns processing (RMA), inspecting returned goods, routing to quarantine or disposition, and updating records to minimize financial exposure and expedite resolution.
  • Support equipment operations and maintenance: ensure forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors and sortation equipment are operated safely, scheduled for maintenance, and reported promptly when faults occur.
  • Coordinate cross-dock, flow-through, and staging activities to reduce storage time, lower handling costs, and accelerate order fulfillment for time-sensitive shipments.
  • Execute accurate order consolidation, cartonization and packing guidelines to protect goods in transit and reduce damage claims, including verifying SKU, quantities and special handling instructions.
  • Facilitate onboarding, training plans and cross-training schedules for new hires and seasonal staff to maintain flexible multi-skilled teams during demand fluctuations.
  • Assist with continuous improvement projects such as warehouse layout redesign, slot optimization, automation integration, and WMS configuration changes to increase efficiency and throughput.
  • Respond to escalations and complex customer or carrier issues, investigate root causes, and coordinate corrective action with customer service, quality and transportation teams.
  • Prepare and maintain accurate operational documentation: SOPs, shift logs, inventory reports, incident reports, and change logs for audit and compliance readiness.
  • Support cost control initiatives by monitoring labor hours, overtime, waste, and non-conformance costs; propose operational changes to improve productivity and reduce spend.
  • Participate in audits (internal, vendor, customer), provide required documentation, walk auditors through processes, and implement remediation plans for any findings.
  • Ensure hazardous materials and regulated products are received, handled, stored, and shipped in accordance with applicable regulations and company policy; maintain accurate MSDS/SDS and labeling.
  • Drive vendor and carrier coordination: schedule appointments, manage shipment windows, verify pre-advice documentation, and escalate delays that impact service levels.
  • Collaborate with procurement, planning and customer service to prioritize orders, manage expedited shipments, and communicate operational constraints or capacity bottlenecks.

Secondary Functions

  • Support continuous data collection and basic analysis of operational metrics (daily throughput, pick rate, error trends) and summarize insights for supervisor review.
  • Participate in WMS or automation implementation testing and user acceptance activities, providing frontline feedback to functional teams.
  • Lead ad-hoc operational improvement initiatives, pilot process changes on the floor, and document SOP updates following successful trials.
  • Assist with workforce planning: forecast staffing needs, coordinate temp agency relationships, and assist in seasonal labor onboarding.
  • Maintain and update health & safety training records, incident logs, and corrective action tracking to support compliance and insurance requirements.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) experience — e.g., Manhattan, Oracle WMS, SAP EWM, Blue Yonder.
  • RF scanner and handheld device proficiency for receiving, picking and cycle counts.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic macros) for operational reporting and variance analysis.
  • Knowledge of inventory control techniques: cycle counting, ABC analysis, SKU rationalization, and bin/slotting strategies.
  • Certified forklift (OTR/stand-up) and powered industrial truck experience; familiarity with pallet jacks and reach trucks.
  • Strong understanding of shipping documentation: BOLs, manifests, packing lists, commercial invoices, and carrier-specific EDI/ASN basics.
  • Basic knowledge of OSHA, DOT, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling, and workplace safety requirements.
  • Experience with Lean/5S, Kaizen, or continuous improvement methodologies in a distribution environment.
  • Familiarity with ERP or order management systems and integrations (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) for order flow and inventory reconciliation.
  • KPI monitoring and reporting: on-time shipments, pick accuracy, dock-to-stock, order cycle time, and labor productivity measurement.
  • Experience with returns processing (RMA), quality inspection, and disposition workflows.
  • Ability to read and interpret packing specifications, product labels, and storage requirements (temperature, hazardous classifications).

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and front-line coaching skills with the ability to motivate and develop hourly staff.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication; able to brief stakeholders and complete clear shift handovers.
  • Problem-solving and analytical mindset to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance competing operational demands.
  • High attention to detail and quality focus to maintain high inventory accuracy and reduce order errors.
  • Adaptability to changing priorities, peak seasons, and evolving technology solutions.
  • Collaborative team player who works cross-functionally with planning, procurement, freight, and customer service.
  • Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills for managing staff issues and customer or carrier disputes.
  • Customer-focused orientation, ensuring internal and external SLAs are met and expectations managed.
  • Initiative and ownership — capable of driving projects from concept to implementation on the warehouse floor.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Education:
Associate's degree or technical certificate in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Distribution
  • Operations Management
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial Technology / Manufacturing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2 - 5 years in warehouse/distribution center roles with demonstrated responsibility for operational tasks

Preferred:
3+ years in warehouse operations with at least 1 year in a lead/assistant supervisory capacity; hands-on experience with WMS, RF scanning, forklift operation and measurable KPI ownership

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