Job Summary
The Supervisor, Distribution Center leads third-shift operations, including receiving, picking, packing, cycle counting, shipping, and related warehouse activities. The role converts departmental priorities into daily work plans, assigns labor and resources, monitors safety, quality, productivity, and service, and resolves issues to support accurate, timely order fulfillment. This position leads team leaders and Distribution Center employees by setting expectations, coaching performance, planning staffing, managing performance, and developing employee capabilities. The Supervisor also supports warehouse management systems, automated storage and retrieval systems, and related processes, coordinating escalations with internal partners and external providers as needed. Success is measured by safe, compliant operations; achievement of shift objectives; accurate and timely product flow; effective employee development; strong cross-shift coordination; and continuous improvement.
This role has formal people-management responsibility, including direct supervision, performance management, talent development, workforce scheduling, resource allocation, employee engagement, and team results. The role leads one operational team or shift, makes day-to-day decisions within established policies and delegated authority, allocates resources to meet operating needs, and delivers results through the performance and development of others.
Responsibilities
- Leads third-shift Distribution Center operations and ensures receiving, picking, packing, cycle counting, shipping, and related activities are completed safely, accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with established process specifications.
- Provides direct supervision, direction, coaching, and performance feedback to assigned team leaders and Distribution Center employees.
- Establishes daily priorities, assigns work, balances labor, and adjusts workflow and resources to meet customer service, productivity, quality, and delivery requirements.
- Communicates performance expectations and ensures employees understand job responsibilities, standard work, safety requirements, and operating procedures.
- Monitors shift performance using established metrics and operating reports; identifies gaps, determines appropriate corrective actions, and escalates significant risks or barriers.
- Conducts performance reviews, supports goal setting, addresses performance concerns, recognizes employee contributions, and creates meaningful development opportunities.
- Supports staffing decisions, onboarding, training, cross-training, succession planning, attendance management, and workforce coverage for regular operations, absences, overtime, and changing business needs.
- Builds an inclusive, respectful, accountable, and customer-focused team culture while modeling company values and leadership principles.
- Ensures Distribution Center activities comply with company policies, safety requirements, quality standards, inventory-control procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Investigates operational errors, inventory discrepancies, process failures, and service issues; determines root causes and implements or recommends corrective and preventive actions.
- Coordinates workflow and operational handoffs with other shifts, logistics functions, maintenance, Information Technology, Customer Service, and other internal stakeholders.
- Serves as a Warehouse Management System key user by supporting proper system utilization, assisting users, troubleshooting operational issues, and coordinating issue escalation when necessary.
- Investigates and corrects routine operational issues within the Warehouse Management System and related business systems.
- Contacts the appropriate Warehouse Management System support provider when issues cannot be resolved internally.
- Coordinates response to minor automated storage and retrieval system hardware or controls issues and engages internal facilities, maintenance, technical resources, or vendors for mechanical or advanced technical concerns.
- Reviews work quality, reinforces standard procedures, and provides additional instruction, coaching, or training when errors or performance gaps are identified.
- Participates in Distribution Center, Warehouse Management System, automation, productivity, and continuous-improvement
- Identifies opportunities to improve safety, quality, inventory accuracy, labor utilization, process efficiency, system performance, and customer service.
- Maintains timely and accurate shift documentation, attendance records, performance information, incident reports, training records, and other required operational records.
- Makes day-to-day decisions within delegated authority regarding work assignments, priorities, staffing adjustments, issue resolution, and operational execution.
- Communicates significant safety, quality, personnel, system, or operational risks to the Distribution Center Manager and appropriate stakeholders.
- Serves as a visible leadership presence on the Distribution Center floor and models professional, ethical, safe, and customer-focused behavior.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the manager.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or G.E.D. required.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
- Three or more years of progressive experience in distribution, warehouse, logistics, inventory, fulfillment, or related operations.
- Prior formal supervisory or people-management experience required; experience supervising employees in a multi-shift distribution or warehouse environment preferred.
- Working knowledge of receiving, picking, packing, cycle counting, shipping, inventory control, and general Distribution Center processes.
- Experience using warehouse management systems and related enterprise or business systems.
- Familiarity with automated storage and retrieval systems, material-handling equipment, controls systems, or automated Distribution Center technologies preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to plan work, establish priorities, allocate resources, and achieve operational requirements in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to coach employees, provide performance feedback, address performance concerns, and support employee development.
- Strong decision-making, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to interpret and apply operating procedures, safety requirements, quality standards, and company policies.
- Ability to analyze operational information, identify performance gaps, and implement practical corrective actions.
- Proficiency with personal computers, Microsoft Office applications, reporting tools, and related business software.
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to collaborate across shifts and functions and communicate effectively with employees, leaders, internal customers, technical partners, and vendors.
- Demonstrates a willingness to collaborate with others, build relationships, and involve others in decision-making.
- Demonstrates the ability to deliver results by solving or supporting others in solving problems, prioritizing tasks and resources, and maintaining focus on outcomes.
- Demonstrates the ability to develop and adapt strategies, communicate direction convincingly, and regularly monitor progress toward defined objectives.
- Demonstrates the ability to develop people and teams by providing appropriate development opportunities, delegating work, coaching performance, and building effective teams.
- Demonstrates self-awareness and a willingness to learn, grow, accept change, and adapt to changing work demands.
- Demonstrates the ability to drive customer value by understanding business needs, identifying customer requirements, and delivering work that maximizes customer value.
- Demonstrates a willingness to promote improvement and innovation by identifying ideas and opportunities and increasing the speed and effectiveness of execution.
- Demonstrates a willingness to initiate and support change, provide direction during uncertainty, and understand and address employee concerns.
- Demonstrates a willingness to take ownership by making decisions, accepting responsibility, and driving work forward.
Supporting Qualifications
- Professional certification in supply chain, logistics, warehouse operations, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or a related discipline preferred.
- Experience with Warehouse Management Systems, enterprise resource planning systems, automated storage and retrieval systems, and warehouse controls technologies preferred.
- Forklift powered industrial truck, or other material-handling equipment training or certification preferred.
- Experience supporting continuous-improvement, productivity, quality, safety, or labor-planning initiatives.
- Experience using operational metrics and key performance indicators related to safety, quality, inventory accuracy, productivity, delivery, attendance, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
- Familiarity with lean methodologies, root-cause analysis, standard work, and corrective-action practices.
Essential Job Functions
- Must be able to lift up to 70 pounds.
- Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Must be able to work at a computer terminal or screen for extended periods when necessary.
- Must be able to work in an active Distribution Center environment around material-handling equipment, automation, and varying noise levels.
- Must be able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic systems.
- Must be professional, ethical, safety-conscious, and customer-focused.
- Must be able to work 3rd shift hours
- Must be able to work flexible hours when necessary, including weekends and holidays.
Perks & Benefits
Phoenix Contact offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k matching, and a generous time off package. There are also a wide variety of additional benefits available including 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave & 10 weeks fully paid paternity leave, life insurance, short & long-term disability, assistance, and more!
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Phoenix Contact is committed to the diversity of our employees. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.
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