Job Summary:
The Operations Manager is a key leadership role responsible for executing day-to-day warehouse and distribution operations within a fast-paced third-party logistics (3PL) environment. Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager, this position serves as the second-in-command, ensuring operational stability, performance, and disciplined execution across all shifts, with direct ownership of off-shift operations.
This role is accountable for delivering consistent results across core operational functions including inbound, outbound, inventory control, labor management, and service performance. The Operations Manager leads frontline execution, drives accountability across supervisors, and ensures operational standards are maintained in alignment with customer requirements and company expectations.
Operating in a customer-integrated environment with Steve Madden, this role provides direct support to the Senior Operations Manager in client engagement. While not the primary point of contact, the Operations Manager is expected to maintain full operational and system knowledge, enabling them to effectively interact with the customer as needed and ensure continuity with no disruption to service, communication, or execution from the customer's perspective.
In addition to operational leadership, the role leverages data, reporting, and system insight to identify performance gaps, improve efficiency, and support continuous improvement initiatives within a customer-controlled WMS environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Operational Execution & Shift Leadership
- Lead and manage day-to-day warehouse operations across inbound, outbound, and inventory control functions
- Execute operational plans established by the Senior Operations Manager, ensuring consistent performance against service, productivity, and quality expectations
- Own and lead off-shift operations (tentatively Sunday-Thursday, including Sunday day shift and early morning weekday shifts), ensuring leadership presence during critical operating hours
- Serve as the senior operational leader on shift, responsible for decision-making, issue resolution, and performance management
- Ensure effective shift-to-shift communication, handoffs, and continuity of operations across all functions
- Drive adherence to standard operating procedures and ensure consistency in execution
- Utilize operational data and reporting to proactively identify performance gaps, risks, and inefficiencies during shift execution
- Make real-time, data-informed decisions to adjust priorities, labor allocation, and workflow to meet service targets
- Monitor shift-level performance metrics and drive immediate corrective actions as needed
- Operational Analytics & Reporting
- Generate and analyze operational reports to support daily, weekly, and monthly performance reviews
- Identify trends and provide recommendations to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance service levels
- Partner with leadership to ensure data accuracy and alignment across reporting systems
- Support reporting needs for both internal leadership and customer requirements
- Inbound, Outbound & Inventory Management
- Oversee receiving, putaway, replenishment, picking, packing, and shipping operations to ensure accuracy and throughput targets are achieved
- Manage inventory control processes including cycle counts, audits, reconciliations, and discrepancy resolution
- Ensure inventory accuracy and alignment between physical product and WMS records
- Identify and resolve operational issues impacting flow of goods, order accuracy, or service levels
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely and efficient movement of product
- Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and frontline teams to drive a high-performance culture
- Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards across all shifts
- Ensure consistent leadership presence and support for off-shift teams
- Promote a culture of safety, discipline, and continuous improvement
- Develop team capability to operate effectively in a system-driven, fast-paced environment
- Compliance & Safety
- Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, and customer requirements
- Maintain a safe working environment through consistent enforcement of safety practices and procedures
- Partner with HR and leadership to address safety concerns, incidents, and training needs
- Cost Control & Operational Efficiency
- Support execution of labor and operating budgets through disciplined resource management
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and control costs without impacting service levels
- Align operational execution with financial and productivity goals
- Attendance & Reliability
- Maintain consistent and reliable attendance, including adherence to scheduled shifts, start times, and assigned work hours
- Demonstrate the ability to work a non-traditional schedule, including Sunday operations, early morning shifts, and extended hours as required by business needs
- Provide appropriate notice for absences in accordance with company policy and ensure proper coverage and communication
- Labor Management & Workforce Execution
- Manage labor planning and execution in alignment with volume, service requirements, and productivity targets
- Drive workforce productivity through direct supervision, performance management, and accountability
- Adjust staffing and priorities in real-time to respond to changing operational demands
- Partner with HR and leadership on staffing, training, performance management, and disciplinary actions
- Develop frontline leadership (supervisors/leads) to operate effectively and independently, particularly during off-shift hours
- Analyze labor performance, productivity trends, and utilization to optimize staffing and improve efficiency
- Use historical data and volume trends to support labor planning and scheduling decisions
- Identify and address productivity gaps using performance data and reporting tools
- Customer Support & Operational Alignment (Secondary Interface)
- Support the Senior Operations Manager in maintaining strong customer relationships and service performance
- Serve as a secondary operational point of contact for Steve Madden, stepping in as needed to support communication, issue resolution, and execution
- Maintain full working knowledge of customer requirements, processes, and WMS functionality to ensure no disruption in service or communication when engaging directly with the customer
- Participate in customer discussions, operational reviews, and issue resolution as directed
- Ensure operational execution consistently meets customer SLAs and expectations
- Utilize data and reporting to support customer discussions, issue resolution, and performance reviews
- Provide data-backed explanations for operational performance, challenges, and corrective actions when engaging with the customer
- Ensure alignment between internal reporting and customer-facing metrics within the WMS environment
- WMS Execution & Operational Discipline
- Ensure strict adherence to all customer-controlled WMS processes and transaction requirements
- Monitor system activity to ensure data accuracy, proper transaction flow, and compliance with customer standards
- Troubleshoot operational and system-related issues impacting execution
- Reinforce system discipline across all levels of the operation to maintain inventory integrity and operational accuracy
- Partner with internal and customer stakeholders to address system gaps or inefficiencies
- Monitor WMS data accuracy and transaction integrity, identifying discrepancies and driving resolution
- Analyze system data to uncover root causes of operational issues (mis-picks, shorts, delays, etc.)
- Ensure data accuracy is maintained to support reporting, billing, and customer visibility
- Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor operational KPIs including productivity, accuracy, service levels, and inventory performance
- Identify performance gaps and implement corrective actions to improve results
- Use operational data and reporting tools to support decision-making and drive efficiencies
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, cost control, and operational effectiveness
- Support implementation of process improvements within the constraints of a customer-managed system
- Develop, track, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) across productivity, accuracy, and service levels
- Translate operational data into actionable insights and improvement plans
- Identify trends, recurring issues, and performance patterns to drive root cause analysis
- Support implementation of process improvements using data to validate results and measure impact
- Prepare and review operational reports for leadership, identifying risks and opportunities
- Serve as a reliable leadership presence during assigned shifts, particularly in off-shift operations
- Performance Standards & Accountability
- Consistently meet or exceed defined performance expectations, including operational KPIs, productivity, accuracy, and service levels
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively execute job responsibilities in a fast-paced, customer-driven environment
- Maintain a high level of accountability, responsiveness, and follow-through in all assigned duties
- Perform all essential job functions in a safe, efficient, and compliant manner
- Adapt to changing operational needs while maintaining performance standards
- The duties and responsibilities described above may provide only a partial description of this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all aspects of the job. Other duties and responsibilities not outlined in this document may be added as necessary or desirable, with or without notice.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong working knowledge of warehouse operations including inbound, outbound, inventory control, and order fulfillment processes
- Demonstrated ability to lead operations in a high-volume 3PL environment with customer-specific requirements
- Proficient in interpreting operational metrics and using data to drive performance improvements
- Solid understanding of WMS-driven operations, inventory accuracy controls, and transaction discipline
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational data and translate insights into actionable improvements
- Proficiency in using data to drive decision-making in a warehouse or 3PL environment
- Advanced Excel skills and experience working with operational reports and performance metrics
- Ability to identify trends, root causes, and performance drivers using data
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple operational demands in a fast-paced environment
- Strong leadership and people management skills, including coaching, performance management, and team development
- Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact with frontline staff, leadership, and customer representatives
- Proven problem-solving and decision-making skills under time-sensitive conditions
- Ability to work independently during off-shift hours while maintaining alignment with leadership direction
- High level of accountability, ownership, and operational discipline
- Equipment & Systems Knowledge
- Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), preferably in a customer-controlled or 3PL environment
- Microsoft Office Suite:
- Advanced Excel (pivot tables, data analysis, reporting)
- Word and Outlook
- Labor management and productivity tracking systems (preferred)
- RF scanners, barcode systems, and warehouse automation tools
- Familiarity with ERP systems and system integrations (preferred)
- Exposure to data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) is a plus
- Experience Requirements
- Minimum 5-7 years of experience in warehouse, distribution, or third-party logistics (3PL) operations
- Minimum 3 years of direct leadership experience managing supervisors and frontline teams
- Experience managing operations across multiple shifts or non-traditional schedules strongly preferred
- Proven experience working in customer-driven environments with service level agreements (SLAs)
- Experience with inventory management, cycle counting, and discrepancy resolution
- Demonstrated ability to manage labor planning, productivity, and operational execution
- Education Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field preferred
- Equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience will be considered
- Certifications (Preferred)
- Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement certifications
- OSHA safety training or certifications (preferred but not required)