Distribution Leader, Inbound Operations

Job Overview

The Distribution Leader, Inbound Operations will oversee inbound activities, facility transfer execution, returns processing, and production operations in Lake Bluff, IL. The role ensures productivity is maintained, execution occurs safely, accurately and within timing goals or schedules, assists with labor planning, and provides guidance and leadership to distribution center employees. The leader reports to the Distribution Operations Leader and must be flexible with overtime as required.

• Inbound operations, including receiving, put‑away, and replenishment.
• Facility transfers, including picking, staging, and shipping.
• Returns processing, including sorting, evaluation and disposition of product.
• Production operations, including promotional builds and work order completion.
• Lead a team of 15–25 people, develop them to deliver strong, consistent performance and ensure inventory is available to service customers at the highest level.
• Maintain safety and high levels of accuracy in daily operations; keep a clean and organized operating environment.
• Drive employee safety and engagement, meet customer requirements, be passionate about inventory accuracy, be proficient with WMS and TMS, set priorities, plan labor, and assign work.
• Hire, train, promote, terminate, and task team members; develop and coach team members who sustain highly repeatable processes, while identifying and escalating opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure order completion in all inbound, replenishment, and production operations.
• Periodically audit product moves and how team members perform standard work.
• Drive floor.
• Inbound operations: receipt and put‑away, accurate and timely receipt, schedule inbound loads, audit product moves, research and resolve discrepancy issues.
• Replenishment: make accurate and timely bin‑to‑bin transfers, maintain reserve and fixed locations, execute proactive and reactive replenishments, create bin openings through bin consolidations, pick fill from reserve picks, audit product moves.
• Other: production – promotional builds, assembly, conversions; execute work orders; build/ship promotional displays; pallet and supplies execution, receive and put‑away; manage pallets and supplies kanban; manage rubbish and pallet accumulation; complete Wrike tasks.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics or equivalent experience.
• 7 years of operations experience in a distribution center with progressive responsibilities.
• 3 years of leadership with the ability to coach and mentor others, enabling personnel development and reliable execution.
• Warehouse equipment experience a plus.
• Systems experience with ERP, Infor M3 a plus, and WMS and TMS required.
• Utilization of standard processes & metrics required.
• Structured problem solving – Lean, Six Sigma/DMAIC, Root Cause Analysis and related countermeasures.

• Transformative Leadership – collaborative, inclusive and engaging while instilling a culture of accountability.
• Process & Metric oriented – develop structure for consistency and optimization through audits of process standards, using metrics to demonstrate effectiveness.
• Utilize metrics to drive performance in safety, quality, service, and cost.
• Demonstrates top‑tier performance and ability to solve and prevent issues through process improvement.
• Lean & Continuous Improvement mindset to enable greater customer service and reduced waste.
• Capacity planning and workflow management.
• Plan and manage labor with demonstrated ability to sustain and improve productivity.
• Plan budgets and manage costs.
• Passion for facility organization/housekeeping to enable a safe and productive work environment.
• Collaborative – work with internal and external individuals, departments, and companies.

• Bilingual – English and Spanish.

The physical demands of this position require the ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift; bend, stoop, kneel, reach and climb stairs or ladders as needed; lift, carry, push and pull up to 20 pounds occasionally and lighter weights frequently; and work in a warehouse environment with varying temperatures, noise levels, and proximity to moving equipment. This role also requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer, use a keyboard, and type as needed, as well as specific vision abilities including close and distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.