Shipping Lead

The Shipping Lead is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of the Shipping and Distribution area to ensure finished work is accurately packed, labeled, staged, and shipped on time. This position provides hands-on leadership to the shipping team, helps prioritize work based on production and customer deadlines, and serves as a key communication link between Shipping, Production, Planning, and Customer Service.

The ideal candidate is organized, dependable, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment where priorities can change throughout the day.

Essential Responsibilities Coordinate daily shipping activities and ensure orders are processed according to customer requirements and deadlines.

Prioritize and stage shipments based on firm dates, carrier pickup times, customer requirements, and production completion.

Monitor outgoing shipments and communicate delays or issues to management and appropriate departments.

Provide daily direction to Shipping team members and help assign work based on priorities and workload.

Train new employees on shipping procedures, equipment, safety requirements, and company expectations.

Assist management in identifying staffing needs, workflow issues, and opportunities for improvement.

Serve as the first point of contact for questions or problems within the Shipping department.

Monitor the production floor and shipping queues to ensure completed work does not sit unnecessarily.

Communicate potential missed deadlines, incomplete jobs, shortages, or other issues before they impact the customer.

Help coordinate priorities when multiple time-sensitive shipments are competing for resources.

Participate in daily production or operations meetings as needed.

Inspect completed orders for obvious damage, quantity discrepancies, packaging issues, or incorrect labeling before shipment.

Ensure customer-specific packing and shipping requirements are followed.

Investigate shipping errors and help implement corrective actions to prevent repeat issues.

Develop and implement new ways to streamline packaging on distribution jobs.

Qualifications2+ years of experience in shipping, warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, or a similar production environment.

Previous lead or supervisory experience preferred.

Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

Ability to prioritize multiple jobs and changing deadlines.

Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Ability to work independently while also directing and supporting a team.

Basic computer skills and ability to learn shipping and production software.

Experience with Pace, shipping software, ERP/OMS systems, or similar production systems is a plus.

Forklift certification or prior forklift experience preferred.

Ability to regularly lift and move packages and materials as required by the position.