Distribution Manager Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

YOUR BENEFITS

• Starting at 4 weeks PTO per year
• 401(k) and a company match
• Profit Sharing Medical + Company HSA contribution
• Wellness Program
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Disability
• 6 Weeks Parental Leave
• Long term care insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee Resource Groups
• On-Site Café
• On-Site Gym

Pay: $85-115k + profit sharing

Position Objective: 

Lead the warehouse organization by building trust, enabling team growth, and driving operational success in a safe, accountable, and continuous improvement environment. Provide direction for all warehouse operations—including subassembly and component warehousing, work order fulfillment, inventory control, and inbound/outbound logistics—using lean thinking to improve flow and eliminate waste. Ensure materials are picked, staged, and shipped accurately and on time to meet production schedules and customer requirements, with standardized processes for labeling, palletizing, and shipping configurations. Develop and sustain a cross‑trained, engaged team capable of adapting to changing business needs and delivering consistent results.

Responsibilities: 

• Provide overall leadership and management of warehouse operations, owning end‑to‑end performance beyond daily floor activities. Build a high‑trust environment while setting clear expectations, goals, and accountability.
• Own warehouse layout, space utilization, and process design to ensure efficient material flow to production, minimize pick and wait time, and maximize use of limited warehouse space.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts using lean thinking; establish target conditions and drive cost savings, efficiency improvements, and long‑term operational performance (quarterly and annually).
• Develop, own, and report warehouse KPIs related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, labor utilization, and inventory performance; use data to drive actions and results.
• Manage the warehouse budget, including labor, equipment, and supplies; make capital expenditure recommendations aligned to target conditions and business needs.
• Ensure warehouse requirements, procedures, and standard work are clearly defined, communicated, and followed to support production schedules and customer requirements.
• Lead workforce planning, staffing levels, hiring decisions, onboarding, and development of direct reports; design work plans and ensure cross‑training to support operational flexibility.
• Represent the warehouse function in leadership and cross‑functional meetings; lead audits and coordinate improvement efforts across teams.
• Ensure warehouse equipment meets operational demands; manage maintenance, repair activities, and associated costs.
• Maintain expert‑level knowledge of SAP warehouse processes and ensure accurate execution of transactions and data integrity.
• Ensure full compliance with safety rules and regulations; proactively identify hazards and take prompt corrective action.
• Perform other duties as required to support business objectives and mutually agreed goals.

Relationship to Others: 

Direct management of warehouse personnel.  In-depth communication with various levels of all other Operations’ functions.  Communication with Sales & Marketing, Information Systems, Quality, Engineering and Executive management.  Regular communication with Distribution Manager and Distribution Supervisors.

Dimensions of Position:

• Directly or indirectly supervises the activities of approximately thirty personnel.
• Annual operating budget of the warehouse cost center approximates $3.5 million. 
• Annual inbound freight cost approximates $3.5 million.
• Responsible for meeting daily shipping requirements approximately $350K to Otsego Distributions Center.
• Works with confidential information including company financials, salary data, and company strategic plans. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain, or related field; and 4 years’ experience in warehousing; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience as determined by the hiring manager and Human Resources.

• 3+ years management/supervisory experience 
• Experience with mix of high-volume and low-volume product build, pack, and ship.
• ERP Software – SAP experience
• Experience with lean methodologies, including identifying waste, establishing standard work, using data to drive improvements, and sustaining gains in a warehouse or manufacturing environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Live our Values of: Collaborative, Customer Centric, Entrepreneurial

• Ability to model leadership values – build trust, enable growth, and drive success – through daily actions.
• Coaching and development skills to enable growth, cross-training, and succession readiness.
• Problem-solving and process improvement skills using data and root cause analysis.
• Planning, prioritization, and workload balancing skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding space utilization and inventory techniques; proper methods of storing materials in various sizes. 
• Strong project management skills, including decision-making, problem-solving and strategic planning abilities
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both oral and written, with a full range of functions within the organization and with suppliers.
• Working knowledge of ERP software - SAP
• Ability to work cross-functionally and influence without authority.Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting safety, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Ability to develop and sustain efficient, standardized processes while adapting to changing business demands.
• Ability to lead change and drive operational success through continuous improvement.