Warehouse Lead

About Ship Essential

Ship Essential is a leading 3PL specializing in e-commerce and retail fulfillment for high-growth brands. Our fast-paced warehouse operations ensure orders are shipped accurately and on time while maintaining the highest standards of efficiency, accuracy, and service.

We are looking for a high-caliber Warehouse Lead to drive excellence within our Outbound operation. This is a hands‑on leadership role requiring strong problem‑solving skills, operational knowledge, and the ability to lead a team through daily challenges to achieve ambitious throughput goals.

The Warehouse Lead will report directly to the Warehouse Manager and play a pivotal role in ensuring that Ship Essential maintains best‑in‑class fulfillment performance while upholding our Principles for Operating a Ship Essential Warehouse.

This role follows a Monday through Friday schedule. You will open and close the building and fully lead the team daily, ensuring smooth execution and accountability across the team.

$21 - $26 / hr based on experience

• Drive a high‑performance culture by holding associates accountable for productivity, accuracy, and adherence to fulfillment standards.
• Ensure associates are always working efficiently and making the best use of their time. Identify and address inefficiencies in real time.
• Own the outbound workflow. Manage the team’s performance and adjust assignments dynamically based on order volume, fulfillment priorities, and SLA deadlines.
• Lead by example by stepping in to pick, pack, and sort packages when needed. This is a hands‑on leadership role, not a desk job.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and disciplined work environment where associates understand expectations and are motivated to meet them.

• Own outbound SLA performance. Ensure orders are processed and shipped within SLA deadlines.
• Monitor and actively manage the order queue in the WMS. Prioritize aging orders, expedite high‑priority shipments, and ensure smooth throughput across all packing stations.
• Proactively address bottlenecks. Adjust labor assignments to prevent slowdowns in picking, packing, or carrier sorting.
• Work closely with the Outbound Manager to ensure daily and weekly labor plans align with order volume.

• Resolve picking and packing issues immediately, whether it is a missing SKU, a packing compliance requirement, or a damaged product.
• Enforce SOP adherence. Ensure that associates follow proper packing guidelines, use the correct packaging materials, and meet all brand‑specific requirements.
• Oversee bulk shipping operations. Ensure that large orders are picked, packed, and labeled correctly with no errors.
• Use the SIB and MIB tools strategically to maximize efficiency and prevent inventory issues related to bulk shipments.

• Ensure that packaging materials are always stocked and that associates have access to the materials they need to maintain throughput.
• Monitor and oversee the Spider role. Ensure that packages are sorted efficiently by carrier and that outbound shipments are staged correctly for pickup.
• Communicate packaging needs to the Outbound Manager and ensure custom packaging is handled correctly.

• Train associates on outbound SOPs, fulfillment best practices, and brand‑specific requirements.
• Identify top performers and potential future leaders. Mentor them and help them develop their skills.
• Provide real‑time feedback to associates to correct errors and improve efficiency.
• Escalate recurring performance issues to the Outbound Manager and provide documentation as needed.

Help implement process improvements to enhance speed, accuracy, and efficiency.