Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehousing and Shipping Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehousing and Shipping Manager leads day-to-day distribution center operations and shipping/receiving activities to ensure accurate, timely order fulfillment, safe work environments, and continuous process improvement. This role combines operational leadership, inventory and carrier management, people development, and data-driven performance management to support company supply chain objectives and customer service targets.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Supervisor / Lead
Shipping & Receiving Coordinator
Inventory Control Specialist

Advancement To:

Director of Warehouse Operations
Regional Distribution Manager
Head of Logistics / Supply Chain Operations

Lateral Moves:

Transportation Manager
Inventory Planning Manager
Continuous Improvement / Lean Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead and manage all warehouse and shipping operations including receiving, put-away, inventory control, picking, packing, staging, and outbound shipping to meet or exceed on-time delivery, accuracy, and cost-per-order KPIs.
Develop, implement and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for warehouse workflows, shipping/receiving processes, returns processing (RMA), and special project handling to ensure consistency and scalability.
Own inventory accuracy and reconciliation programs—design and execute cycle count strategies, root-cause analysis for discrepancies, and corrective action plans to achieve target inventory accuracy.
Manage carrier relationships and negotiate freight rates, service level agreements, and volume discounts while balancing service, speed, and cost to optimize outbound and inbound transportation spend.
Use warehouse management systems (WMS) and ERP integrations (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) to schedule work, monitor throughput, generate operational reports, and ensure accurate order processing and system transactions.
Plan and execute staffing models, shift schedules, and labor forecasting to match demand variability from sales, promotions, and seasonal peaks while minimizing overtime and maximizing productivity.
Monitor, analyze, and report operational KPIs (order accuracy, dock-to-stock time, ship cycle time, pick productivity, cost per unit) and present actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
Directly supervise, coach, and develop warehouse supervisors, team leads, and frontline associates—conduct performance reviews, create development plans, and build a high-performance culture focused on safety and continuous improvement.
Establish and enforce health, safety, and regulatory compliance programs (OSHA, DOT, ADR where applicable) including PPE requirements, ergonomics, incident investigation, and safety training to reduce workplace incidents.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen events, and value stream mapping to eliminate waste, reduce lead times, and improve throughput across the distribution center.
Manage inbound receiving processes including cross-dock planning, quality inspection coordination, vendor compliance enforcement, and returns management to reduce chargebacks and expedite time-to-stock.
Oversee packing standards, packaging optimization and dimensional weight management to control shipping costs, reduce damages, and improve customer satisfaction.
Coordinate cross-functional activities with procurement, planning, customer service, and sales to prioritize orders, resolve escalations, and support promotions or product launches.
Implement and manage warehouse technology solutions including barcode scanning, RF devices, automation, pick-to-light systems, and conveyor/sortation equipment to improve accuracy and speed.
Own budget management for the distribution center—prepare and monitor operating budgets, capital requests for facility improvements or equipment, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Ensure compliance with customer-specific requirements, vendor compliance scorecards, and third-party logistics (3PL) partner SLAs when applicable.
Lead root-cause investigations for shipping errors, carrier claims, damages, and lost inventory, and implement systemic corrective/preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
Oversee space utilization, slotting strategies, and facility layout planning to maximize storage density while maintaining efficient material flow and accessibility.
Drive seasonal and peak planning efforts—temp labor strategy, contingency plans, and capacity expansion or contraction tactics to meet demand spikes without sacrificing service.
Manage returns and reverse logistics processes—design efficient RMA workflows, disposition strategies, refurbishment, and restocking to recover value and reduce waste.
Supervise warehouse security, access controls, and loss-prevention programs, and work with loss-prevention teams to investigate shrink, internal theft, or fraud.
Ensure accurate billing, audit trail, and documentation for inbound/outbound freight, pallet exchange, and special carrier charges—coordinate billing disputes and reconciliations.
Support capital project execution for facility upgrades, racking systems, automation deployments, and safety improvements—manage vendors, timelines, and cross-functional impacts.
Drive adoption of performance dashboards and real-time operational visibility tools for supervisors and floor managers to timely address bottlenecks and exceptions.

Secondary Functions

Lead cross-functional projects such as new product rollouts, new facility startups, or transition-to-3PL initiatives including SOP creation and training plans.
Participate in supply chain network strategy discussions and provide input related to warehouse capacity, throughput constraints, and fulfillment economics.
Support IT and data teams on WMS enhancements, test scripts, UAT, and go-live activities for system upgrades or ERP integrations.
Conduct supplier and carrier audits and support vendor onboarding with packing, labeling, and ASN requirements.
Represent the warehouse in customer escalations and onsite client reviews, providing operational data and corrective action plans.
Support sustainability initiatives such as packaging reduction, recycling programs, and energy-saving facility changes.
Create and deliver training materials for continuous learning—safety, equipment operation, WMS, and quality standards.
Assist in disaster recovery and business continuity planning for the distribution center (fire, flood, power outage, pandemic response).
Serve as the point of contact for external auditors and regulatory inspections, ensuring documentation and corrective actions are in place.
Coordinate with HR for recruitment, disciplinary actions, and employee relations matters specific to the warehouse workforce.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) expertise — implementation, optimization, and daily operations (examples: Manhattan, HighJump, JDA/Blue Yonder, Körber, Infor).
ERP integration knowledge (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and experience coordinating WMS-ERP data flows, order management, and ASN processing.
Strong data analysis and reporting skills — ability to build and interpret operational dashboards (Power BI, Tableau, Excel pivot tables, SQL basics).
Inventory control best practices — cycle counting, ABC analysis, slotting optimization, and shrink reduction strategies.
Transportation and carrier management — freight negotiation, LTL/FTL strategies, dimensional weight optimization, and freight auditing.
Process improvement methodologies — Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S with demonstrated implementation experience.
Knowledge of shipping/packaging standards and compliance (IAATA, hazmat handling, pallet configurations, export documentation).
Labor planning and scheduling tools — workforce management, demand forecasting, and productivity modeling.
Material handling equipment competency — conveyors, sortation systems, RF/barcode scanning, pick-by-voice/pick-to-light technologies.
Safety and regulatory compliance — OSHA regulations, DOT requirements, and workplace safety program design and enforcement.
Microsoft Excel advanced skills — VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, macros, pivot tables, and scenario modeling.
Experience with 3PL management and outsourcing models including contract management and SLA performance oversight.
Familiarity with reverse logistics platforms and RMA workflows for returns disposition and resale/refurbish processes.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people development skills with a proven track record of building and retaining high-performing teams.
Excellent communication skills—ability to present operational performance and action plans to senior leadership and cross-functional partners.
Analytical problem-solver—comfortable using metrics to diagnose issues, prioritize actions, and measure results.
Customer-focused mindset—balancing internal constraints with external service level expectations.
Time management and prioritization—managing competing deadlines in a dynamic fulfillment environment.
Adaptability and resilience—able to lead through peak seasons, system changes, and unexpected disruptions.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for workforce, vendor, and carrier interactions.
Detail-oriented with a strong commitment to accuracy and quality control.
Coaching and mentoring orientation—developing talent and succession planning.
Strategic thinker able to align warehouse initiatives with broader supply chain and business goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management, or related field OR equivalent combination of education and progressive warehouse management experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or Business plus certifications such as APICS (CPIM/CSCP), Lean Six Sigma, or relevant logistics certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Logistics & Transportation
Operations Management
Industrial Engineering
Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years in warehouse operations with at least 2–4 years in a supervisory or management role for distribution center or multi-site operations.

Preferred:

Demonstrated experience managing medium-to-large distribution centers (multi-million SKU lines or high-order volumes).
Prior experience with WMS implementations and ERP integrations.
Experience negotiating carrier contracts and managing third-party logistics providers.
History of delivering cost savings, productivity improvements, and inventory accuracy gains through process redesign and technology adoption.
Certifications preferred: OSHA 10/30, Lean Six Sigma (Yellow/Green Belt), APICS CPIM/CSCP, or equivalent.