Director Distribution

Your Role on Our Team

The Director of Inbound Receiving – Distribution is accountable for the strategic leadership, performance, and scalability of high‑volume inbound receiving operations across the distribution network. This role oversees the safe, compliant, and efficient receipt of product from global and domestic supply chains, operating in environments that process 70–100+ containers per day.

Olive Branch, MS

• Provide strategic direction and operational governance for inbound receiving operations processing 70–100+ containers per day across multiple shifts and facilities.
• Establish and maintain standardized inbound playbooks for dock scheduling, container unloading, staging, verification, and system receipt.
• Optimize dock-to-stock cycle time, yard flow, dock utilization, and labor deployment while balancing inbound volume with downstream capacity.
• Ensure inbound execution supports network service levels, inventory health, and outbound commitments.
• Cost and overtime efficiency

• Containers received per day / per shift
• Dock-to-stock cycle time
• Inbound productivity and throughput
• Inventory accuracy at receipt
• Safety incident rate
• Supplier, carrier, and 3PL compliance

• Own safety outcomes for inbound operations, ensuring compliance with OSHA and internal safety standards.
• Identify and mitigate operational, labor, and compliance risks associated with high-volume container activity.
• Ensure safe material handling practices and equipment usage to reduce incidents and product damage.

• Lead inbound process design and continuous improvement initiatives to increase unload rates, reduce dwell time, and improve labor efficiency.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Automation teams to integrate mechanization, robotics, conveyance, and scanning technologies into inbound workflows.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem‑solving methodologies to deliver sustainable results.

• Ensure accurate and timely system receipt through enterprise WMS/ERP platforms (e.g., Oracle, Manhattan, SAP).
• Partner with Inventory Control & Supply Chain to reduce shortages, damages, and aged receipts using root‑cause analysis and corrective action.
• Leverage KPIs, dashboards, and OBEYA‑style visual management to drive performance transparency.

• Lead, develop, and inspire Milwaukee Tool inbound leadership teams (Group Managers, Sr. Managers, Managers, Supervisors).
• Establish clear spans of control, leadership routines, and succession pipelines to support 24/7 operations.
• Reinforce accountability, safety, and continuous improvement through visible leadership and disciplined operating mechanisms.
• Anticipate and mitigate volatility associated with global freight variability, weather events, port disruptions, and supplier non‑compliance.
• Ensure inbound operations remain safe, compliant, and predictable during periods of extreme volume fluctuation.
• Peak, Surge & Volatility Management
• Lead inbound readiness for peak seasons, promotions, launches, and unplanned volume surges.
• Develop scalable surge plans addressing labor flexing, extended operating hours, dock reallocation, and throughput recovery.

• Own inbound execution decisions, including dock strategy, unload sequencing, labor deployment, and receipt prioritization.
• Influence upstream decisions related to routing, delivery cadence, and freight prioritization in partnership with Supply Chain and Transportation.
• Escalate capacity risks, volume mismatches, or service threats with data‑backed recommendations and mitigation plans.
• Establish clear governance and performance expectations for suppliers, carriers, ports, rail providers, and 3PL partners through SLAs and scorecards — without directing day‑to‑day work of third‑party labor.

• Partner closely with Supply Chain Planning, Global Supply Chain, and Transportation teams to align inbound volume forecasts, container flow, and dock capacity.
• Collaborate with…