Distribution Center Manager

Smithers-Oasis is a diverse global manufacturer and marketer of floral foam and design media, floral accessories, postharvest products, cellular growing media, temperature control packaging, medical impression foam, and custom foams for specialized applications. Our business divisions include OASIS Floral Products, Floralife Postharvest Products, Design Master, OASIS Grower Solutions, Temprecision International, Medical Impression Foam, and Engineered Products.

Our business divisions and operating units all have the same goal - to provide solutions-based products and services - and our network of facilities around the world enables Smithers-Oasis to provide these at the local level, yet with a global perspective. For floral markets, that means products reflect local cultural preferences and traditions. From horticultural and postharvest perspectives, we work with suppliers throughout the global supply chain to maximize crop production and protect products from harvest to the point of sale.

For our specialty foam divisions, we drive innovation, accept accountability, and are positioned to partner with operations worldwide.

At Smithers-Oasis, we are committed to quality and innovation. We are proud to collaborate with our communities to create longstanding, supportive partnerships and customer satisfaction.

We have an immediate opening for a Distribution Center (DC) Manager position at one of Kent, OH locations! We are seeking candidates who reside in the local northeast Ohio area. The DC Manager leads the safe, accurate, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the distribution center. This role is accountable for people leadership, inventory integrity, order fulfillment, inbound and outbound execution, parcel and freight performance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.

The manager establishes clear operating standards, develops frontline leadership, uses data to identify and solve problems, and connects daily execution to customer and business priorities.

Some responsibilities of this position include (but are not limited to):

• Lead, coach, and develop distribution center supervisors, leads, and hourly employees; establish clear accountability, decision rights, backup coverage, and escalation paths.
• Create a safe, respectful, and engaged work environment through visible floor leadership, regular communication, timely feedback, recognition, and consistent application of policies.
• Plan staffing and overtime based on order volume, workload, skill requirements, and service commitments; maintain effective shift handoffs and coverage for critical roles.
• Build and maintain role-based training, cross-training, and skills matrices; ensure employees are qualified before performing assigned work.
• Address performance, attendance, conduct, and employee relations matters promptly in partnership with Human Resources.

• Own daily receiving, put away replenishment, picking, packing, staging, loading, parcel fulfillment, and shipping performance across wholesale, eCommerce, retail, and other customer channels.
• Establish and audit standard work, leader routines, visual controls, and escalation processes to ensure predictable execution across shifts.
• Coordinate with Customer Service, Supply Chain, Sales, Production, Quality, and other partners to prioritize workload, resolve constraints, and meet customer requirements.
• Ensure bills of lading, shipping labels, proofs of pickup, carrier documentation, export documents, and other shipment records are accurate, complete, and retained as required.
• Manage carrier pickup performance, dock scheduling, detention and demurrage exposure, freight claims, chargebacks, and shipping complaints; implement corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
• Support new customers, new products, packaging changes, and special programs by translating requirements into documented warehouse processes, training, capacity plans, and controls.

• Maintain inventory accuracy through disciplined receiving, location control, cycle counting, variance investigation, reconciliation, and root-cause corrective action.
• Monitor warehouse capacity, slotting, storage utilization, pallet and location standards, replenishment logic, product flow, and offsite inventory movement.
• Use ERP, warehouse, scanning, parcel, transportation, and reporting systems effectively; maintain data discipline and documented downtime or contingency procedures.
• Ensure material handling equipment, racking, docks, doors, security systems, and warehouse work areas are maintained in safe and serviceable condition in coordination with Facilities and Maintenance.
• Maintain strong housekeeping, 5S discipline, access control, and an orderly work environment.

• Develop, manage, and explain the annual operating budget and capital needs, including labor, temporary labor, supplies, equipment,…