Warehouse Excellence Manager
We have some busy days ahead!
As we build out our retail business, we'll be asking more and more of our plants and of
our warehouses. For this role, we’re looking for a candidate eager to help us build
sustainable, efficient, and continually improving processes to help manage our
constantly growing and changing inventory flowing through the plants.
Candidates should be independent go-getters who are just as comfortable managing
teams and creating processes as they are spending hours in freezers and on shipping
docks, getting their hands dirty and really understanding what's happening on the
ground.
The position is part of the Operations team. Candidates with in-plant experience are
strongly encouraged to apply. This role will be based in Chicago, IL with some travel.
Responsibilities
- Work with leadership and local warehouse managers to identify problems and inefficiencies in plants
- Prioritize projects across and among plants to create a six-month road-map for warehouse improvements including technology, process improvements, etc.
- Work with analyst(s) and local teams to create, plan, test, implement, and continuously improve processes; include perspectives from production, quality teams, plant leadership and other stakeholders to get buy-in and ensure project success
- Implement 5S programs throughout warehouses; Develop program for maintaining organization
- Work with internal tech teams and 3 rd parties as needed to design and roll-out an integrated inventory management system to track product as it flows into and out of the warehouse
- Work with local teams to clarify roles and responsibilities across warehouse associates;
- Help create culture of ownership and accountability
- Develop and implement network-wide policies, procedures and documentation to drive standardization across all plants to include cycle count frequency, standardized forms for daily, weekly, monthly, and year-end inventory counts, and established reporting requirements
- Establish an inventory auditing program and appropriate frequency to ensure adherence to policies and procedures as well as inventory accuracy
- Support local teams in modernizing and modifying racking systems to make the most efficient use of space as we grow
- Engage cross-functional partners including Operations, Supply Chain, Accounting, Tech and Production to provide warehouse-related support where needed and ensure warehouse team is prepared for any changes in new products, new tools, etc.
- Become an expert on the operations, tools, and product flow throughout the plant to ensure realistic and sustainable
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree. An advanced degree is a plus
- 3-4 years of experience in operations, plants, or warehouses. Experience in a startup or with food/CPG is a plus
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to prioritize work streams based on value creation and alignment with the Home Chef strategy
- Independent self-starter inclined towards finding solutions without significant oversight
- Intellectually curious, with a strong interest in modernizing and scaling our operations to help us achieve our growth goals
- Results driven active problem solver with a natural desire to get things done
- Must have a sense of urgency and the ability to deal with ambiguity
- Strong communicator and relationship builder