Urban Farmer
Intralogistics & Distribution Operations Manager
Urban Farmer, Manteno, Illinois, United States, 60950
Job Description
Job Description
About the Role
Imagine starting your day with a quick safety huddle on the warehouse floor, checking that every forklift driver, inventory specialist, gatekeeper, and shipping & receiving associate has what they need to succeed. You open the ERP, review overnight work orders, scan data, and material movements to production lines, and make fast decisions to keep inventory accurate and product flowing. By midday, you’re aligning with Procurement, Production, and Customer Service on inbound materials and outbound shipments, and by afternoon you are negotiating with carriers to sharpen costs while protecting on-time delivery. Throughout it all, you hold the line on OSHA, GMP, and Food Safety standards and keep our operation audit-ready. What You’ll Lead Warehouse Operations
Direct day-to-day activities for warehouse teams (forklift drivers, inventory specialists, gatekeepers, shipping & receiving). Instill and enforce compliance with OSHA, GMP, Food Safety, and all company policies. Own procedures for handling, storage, safety, sanitation, and shipping to minimize risk and maximize flow. Administer the ERP/WMS for work orders, scanning, and tracking materials to production lines (Business Central preferred). Analyze daily consumption, inventory positions, and production plans to anticipate shortages or excess stock. Logistics & Transportation
Plan and schedule inbound and outbound loads; coordinate routing and carrier/vendor performance. Negotiate with freight partners to reduce cost while safeguarding service and on-time delivery. Track KPIs including on-time delivery, freight cost, transit times, and damage claims; act on trends. Ensure transportation compliance with DOT, FDA, and customer-specific requirements. Align logistics needs across Procurement, Production, and Customer Service to meet order commitments. Inventory & Supply Chain Optimization
Maintain inventory accuracy via cycle counts and audits; investigate and resolve discrepancies proactively. Optimize warehouse layout and storage to enhance throughput and space utilization. Coordinate with Supply Chain to match material availability with production schedules and customer demand. Drive process improvements that lower cost, cut waste, and raise efficiency. Leadership & Continuous Improvement
Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate warehouse and logistics staff with a focus on performance, safety, and compliance. Set departmental goals, monitor KPIs, and present results and insights to leadership. Lead continuous improvement initiatives across logistics and warehousing, including automation and system enhancements. Serve as the primary crisis coordinator for logistics and distribution challenges. What You Bring
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, or related field; or 5+ years of equivalent leadership experience in
logistics/warehouse
management within food manufacturing or a related sector. Deep knowledge of logistics, transportation management, and warehouse operations. Hands-on ERP/WMS experience for inventory and shipping (Business Central preferred). Proven people leadership and team development capabilities. Strong analytical mindset, problem-solving skills, and organizational discipline. Excellent communication and negotiation skills for cross-functional and vendor collaboration. Ability to manage budgets, meet deadlines, and deliver on performance targets. Physical Demands
Work in and out of cold environments. Approximately 75% office/computer-based work; 25% on the
warehouse/production
floor. Use of required PPE at all times. Lift up to 50 lbs and maneuver around equipment safely. Frequent standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Work Environment
Split between office and
manufacturing/warehouse
settings with variable temperatures, loud machinery, equipment alarms, and frequent interaction with carriers and drivers.
Job Description
About the Role
Imagine starting your day with a quick safety huddle on the warehouse floor, checking that every forklift driver, inventory specialist, gatekeeper, and shipping & receiving associate has what they need to succeed. You open the ERP, review overnight work orders, scan data, and material movements to production lines, and make fast decisions to keep inventory accurate and product flowing. By midday, you’re aligning with Procurement, Production, and Customer Service on inbound materials and outbound shipments, and by afternoon you are negotiating with carriers to sharpen costs while protecting on-time delivery. Throughout it all, you hold the line on OSHA, GMP, and Food Safety standards and keep our operation audit-ready. What You’ll Lead Warehouse Operations
Direct day-to-day activities for warehouse teams (forklift drivers, inventory specialists, gatekeepers, shipping & receiving). Instill and enforce compliance with OSHA, GMP, Food Safety, and all company policies. Own procedures for handling, storage, safety, sanitation, and shipping to minimize risk and maximize flow. Administer the ERP/WMS for work orders, scanning, and tracking materials to production lines (Business Central preferred). Analyze daily consumption, inventory positions, and production plans to anticipate shortages or excess stock. Logistics & Transportation
Plan and schedule inbound and outbound loads; coordinate routing and carrier/vendor performance. Negotiate with freight partners to reduce cost while safeguarding service and on-time delivery. Track KPIs including on-time delivery, freight cost, transit times, and damage claims; act on trends. Ensure transportation compliance with DOT, FDA, and customer-specific requirements. Align logistics needs across Procurement, Production, and Customer Service to meet order commitments. Inventory & Supply Chain Optimization
Maintain inventory accuracy via cycle counts and audits; investigate and resolve discrepancies proactively. Optimize warehouse layout and storage to enhance throughput and space utilization. Coordinate with Supply Chain to match material availability with production schedules and customer demand. Drive process improvements that lower cost, cut waste, and raise efficiency. Leadership & Continuous Improvement
Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate warehouse and logistics staff with a focus on performance, safety, and compliance. Set departmental goals, monitor KPIs, and present results and insights to leadership. Lead continuous improvement initiatives across logistics and warehousing, including automation and system enhancements. Serve as the primary crisis coordinator for logistics and distribution challenges. What You Bring
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, or related field; or 5+ years of equivalent leadership experience in
logistics/warehouse
management within food manufacturing or a related sector. Deep knowledge of logistics, transportation management, and warehouse operations. Hands-on ERP/WMS experience for inventory and shipping (Business Central preferred). Proven people leadership and team development capabilities. Strong analytical mindset, problem-solving skills, and organizational discipline. Excellent communication and negotiation skills for cross-functional and vendor collaboration. Ability to manage budgets, meet deadlines, and deliver on performance targets. Physical Demands
Work in and out of cold environments. Approximately 75% office/computer-based work; 25% on the
warehouse/production
floor. Use of required PPE at all times. Lift up to 50 lbs and maneuver around equipment safely. Frequent standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Work Environment
Split between office and
manufacturing/warehouse
settings with variable temperatures, loud machinery, equipment alarms, and frequent interaction with carriers and drivers.