Freight Operations Manager Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead our warehouse, inventory control, and outbound logistics functions. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has managed high-volume warehouse operations, supervised warehouse teams, and developed disciplined operational processes and controls. The Operations Manager will be accountable for inventory accuracy, warehouse productivity, shipping performance, facility safety, and operational excellence across the distribution operation.

This is an ideal opportunity for an operations leader who enjoys building strong warehouse teams, improving processes, and creating scalable systems that support growth.

Key Responsibilities

Warehouse Operations & Inventory Management

• Lead all day-to-day warehouse operations, including receiving, put-away, replenishment, inventory control, picking, packing, shipping, and returns processing.
• Develop and execute warehouse strategies that improve safety, productivity, inventory accuracy, and order fulfillment performance.
• Manage warehouse supervisors, leads, and associates, including staffing plans, scheduling, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Own inventory accuracy initiatives through cycle counting, physical inventories, root-cause analysis, and corrective action programs.
• Establish and monitor warehouse KPIs including productivity, order accuracy, throughput, inventory integrity, and labor utilization.
• Optimize warehouse layout, bin locations, slotting, and storage utilization for bulky and oversized products.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, waste reduction, workflow optimization, and cost containment.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company safety standards, and equipment maintenance programs.
• Oversee warehouse equipment, facility operations, and vendor relationships related to warehouse services and maintenance.
• Partner with Purchasing and Finance to improve inventory planning, controls, and inventory valuation accuracy.

Outbound Logistics & Transportation

• Own carrier relationships and rate negotiations across small parcel, LTL, and FTL modes.
• Optimize transportation strategies to balance cost, service levels, and delivery performance.
• Manage freight claims, carrier performance reviews, and transportation cost analysis.
• Coordinate inbound container flow and import logistics to support warehouse operations.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through carrier management, routing improvements, and freight consolidation.

Customer Service Support

• Partner with customer service leadership to ensure operational issues affecting customers are resolved quickly.
• Support escalation management related to shipping delays, inventory discrepancies, and fulfillment concerns.
• Monitor operational drivers of customer complaints and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Team Leadership

• Directly manage warehouse supervisors and operational leads.
• Build a culture of accountability, safety, teamwork, and operational excellence.
• Develop team members through training, coaching, succession planning, and performance management.
• Lead change-management efforts that improve warehouse processes and operational discipline.

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of warehouse, distribution, or operations management experience.
• Demonstrated success leading warehouse teams in a high-volume distribution environment.
• Strong experience with inventory control, warehouse productivity management, labor planning, and operational reporting.
• Working knowledge of small parcel, LTL, and FTL transportation operations.
• Experience managing warehouse management systems (WMS) and ERP platforms.
• Strong understanding of warehouse safety programs, OSHA compliance, and operational best practices.
• Proven track record of process improvement and implementing operational controls.
• Experience designing warehouse layouts and improving material flow.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills.
• Experience hiring, developing, and leading warehouse personnel.

Preferred

• Experience managing imported products and oversized/bulky inventory.
• Lean warehousing, 5S, Kaizen, or continuous improvement experience.
• APICS, CPIM, CLTD, CPL, or related supply chain certifications.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills preferred, including the ability to effectively train, coach, and communicate with warehouse personnel in both languages

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, business needs, and job-related factors, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We value diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and believe they strengthen our team and our ability to serve our customers. Qualified applicants of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us so that we can discuss your needs and ensure an accessible hiring experience.