Freight Forwarding Operations Manager Jobs in Reston, VA

The Operations Manager - Sterling, VA Branch is the operational backbone of the Sterling Distribution Center. Every fill rate, every on-time delivery, every accurate order that leaves this facility traces back to how well this operation runs - and how well this leader leads it.

This is not a floor supervision role with a bigger title. This is the role responsible for building a distribution operation - 30-40 people across inbound, fulfillment, outbound, inventory, and fleet - that holds up when volume spikes, staffing is tight, and the margin for error is zero. You set the standard, develop the team, and own the outcomes, not just on the days it is easy, but on the days it is not.

This role is not a caretaker position. It is a culture-building one. If you have led large distribution teams, know the difference between a well-run operation and a dependent one, and have the drive to build something better than what you inherited, this role was written for you.

How This Role Connects to Our Compass

We Keep Our Promises

You own shift outcomes across 30-40 people and five functional areas. If something is off - inventory discrepancy, late shipment, unsafe condition - you address it before it becomes someone else's problem. Your team's reliability is your reputation.

We Stay Hungry

You bring energy to this floor every day - not just effort. You are always asking what could be faster, more accurate, or better organized. You surface patterns, not just incidents, and you push for root cause over quick fixes.

We Grow Together

Your success is measured by the leaders you develop, not just the operation you run. You build bench depth, so the Distribution Center does not depend on heroics. Cross-functional coordination - with branches, purchasing, and sales - is part of how you show up.

We Own It

You hold yourself accountable first. No excuses, no blame. When a process fails, you redesign it. When a person is struggling, you engage - you do not wait for HR to prompt you. Ownership at your level means the whole team knows what the standard is.

We Go Above & Beyond

You anticipate before the ask. Sales knows your fulfillment is trustworthy. Drivers leave on time. Customers never wonder if the Distribution Center came through. You see the gap before it becomes a complaint, and you close it.

Organized by what matters, not just what you do.

Warehouse Operations & Daily Execution

• Own daily operations across inbound, pick and pack, outbound, inventory control, wire room, night shift and fleet coordination - present on the floor, not behind a desk
• Maintain operational flow across all functions so work keeps moving without stalls, rework, or dropped handoffs
• Set and enforce accuracy and pace standards for the team each shift
• Coordinate with branches, dispatch, counter sales, and purchasing when time-sensitive exceptions arise

Team Leadership & Development

• Select, onboard, and develop warehouse supervisors and leads so the team executes without depending on heroics
• Recruit to the Compass - when hiring, evaluate candidates against Shepherd's values, not just operational skills; cultural fit is a non-negotiable, not a tiebreaker
• Coach and hold team members accountable through direct, consistent feedback - not just documentation
• Build bench depth: your job is to develop leaders who can carry this operation forward without you in the room
• Delegate clearly, follow up on completion, and build a crew that holds itself to a standard
• Escalate performance or conduct concerns to the VP Warehouse Operations promptly and without delay

Inventory Integrity

• Own inventory accuracy - cycle counts, physical inventory, bin location maintenance, and discrepancy resolution
• Treat inventory discrepancies as signals requiring root cause investigation, not isolated incidents to close out
• Ensure all inbound freight is received accurately, exceptions are documented, and overages, shortages, or damages are resolved before entering inventory
• Flag recurring discrepancy patterns to the VP Warehouse Operations for systemic review

Outbound Fulfillment & Shipping

• Ensure outbound orders leave clean - right product, right quantity, complete and accurate documentation
• Prioritize time-critical and priority-flagged orders with urgency and direct communication to affected teams

Fleet & Delivery Coordination

• Oversee fleet scheduling and driver coordination to ensure on-time, accurate outbound delivery
• Maintain familiarity with Laurel-area delivery routes and ensure routing functions smoothly
• Partner with dispatch and branch operations to resolve delivery exceptions in real time

Equipment, Facility & Safety

• Maintain safe, organized operations - aisles clear, equipment functional, hazards addressed before they become incidents
• Oversee pre-shift equipment inspections and ensure maintenance needs are reported and resolved proactively
• Serve as the primary accountability layer for safety compliance - model it, enforce it, never treat it as a formality

Process Improvement & Cross-Branch Consistency

• Surface inefficiencies, recurring errors, and workflow friction - and act on them, not just report them
• Recommend and test process changes that improve accuracy, speed, or team capacity
• Contribute to cross-branch consistency by sharing what works and adopting improvements from other locations
• Support branch expansion readiness - your operational systems should hold up when we open the next location

Review and Use KPI's and Error Tracking reporting (UET) to improve warehouse operations

• Review KPI's regularly to look for areas of improvement amongst the operations teams, individual departments, and individual employees.
• Review error tracking dashboard (UET) regularly to address issues within Operations.
• Use the error tracking dashboard (UET) to report issues.
• Use KPI's and UET's as a tool for continuous improvement and coaching.

After 90 days, you and your supervisor should both be able to point to these markers:

• Inbound freight is received accurately; exceptions are documented and resolved before end of day
• Inventory is organized, bin locations are current, and discrepancies are investigated - not ignored
• Outbound orders leave clean - right product, right quantity, right documentation
• Fleet runs on time and delivery exceptions are resolved in real time, not after the fact
• The team knows what is expected and executes without being managed by the hour
• Equipment is inspected, certified, and operated safely every shift
• The VP Warehouse Operations trusts that the Distribution Center runs correctly when they are not watching
• At least one meaningful process improvement has been identified, tested, and implemented in your first 90 days
• Your supervisors and leads are developing and taking on more ownership over time

This role is a strong fit if:

• You own outcomes, not just activities - you do not manage from a distance, and you do not leave problems for the next shift
• You develop your team by raising their capability, not by covering their gaps
• You communicate directly - with your crew, with sales, with other departments, and with branch leadership
• You stay organized and accurate under pressure, especially when volume spikes or staffing is short
• You hold people accountable without making it adversarial - you set the standard and enforce it fairly
• You treat inventory discrepancies as signals, equipment failures as preventable, and safety shortcuts as non-negotiable
• You want to build something that works without you in the room
• You bring perspective from outside and use it to make Shepherd better - not to prove you know more
• You bring high energy to the floor - your presence raises the pace, and the team feels it
• You are not here to maintain what exists - you are here to build something better, and you have the credibility and urgency to bring people with you

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in operations, supply chain, or related field preferred
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing large teams (30+) in distribution, warehouse, or fulfillment environments
• Demonstrated track record of developing people - your former team members have grown
• Track record of hiring and evaluating talent against values, not just skills - you build teams that hold a standard, not just teams that execute tasks
• Experience owning full-cycle Distribution Center operations across inbound, fulfillment, outbound, inventory, wire room, nightshift and fleet
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Outlook; familiarity with warehouse management systems
• Forklift, pallet jack, and reach truck certification required or ability to obtain through onsite training
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement through data - Lean, continuous improvement, or equivalent experience
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and perform the physical requirements of the role
• Valid driver's license required
• Familiarity with Laurel-area delivery routes preferred
• Electrical product knowledge is a plus
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements

Work Shift and Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, in office

Compensation Details: The expected salaryfor this position is $95,000-$110,000 annually depending on experience.

Why should you join Shepherd Electrical Supply?

Apply now and find out what's next for you.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

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