Process Optimization Manager Jobs in Kelso, WA (NOW HIRING)

Operations Manager, Warehouse & Logistics

Jewett Cameron Company | North Plains, Oregon | Full-Time

About Us

Jewett Cameron is dedicated to enriching outdoor spaces through innovative product development. Our success is built on our core values:Innovate, Collaborate, and Deliver.We foster an environment where motivated professionals can grow while making meaningful contributions to our company, partnerships, environment, and local communities.

We're seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead our warehouse operations, customer service, and logistics functions. This role is responsible for developing and executing operational strategies that support company growth, enhance customer experience, and drive operational excellence across distribution and fulfillment operations.

The Operations Manager will provide leadership across warehousing, inventory control, transportation, and customer service, ensuring operational capabilities effectively support business objectives and evolving customer needs. Working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional partners, this individual will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen service levels, optimize costs, and build scalable operational processes that support long-term growth.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic and hands-on leader who excels at balancing daily operational execution with long-term planning. The successful candidate will lead high-performing teams, drive continuous improvement initiatives, leverage operational data to inform decision-making, and help shape the future of the company's distribution network, including evaluating and supporting potential expansion opportunities as business needs evolve.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Operations & Distribution Network Leadership

• Serve as the company's operational leader for warehouse and logistics strategy, ensuring distribution capabilities support business growth, customer expectations, and organizational objectives.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term operational strategies focused on network optimization, scalability, capacity planning, and cost efficiency.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives with Purchasing, Sales, Customer Service, Finance, and executive leadership to improve supply chain performance and operational effectiveness.
• Provide data-driven recommendations regarding facility utilization, labor models, inventory positioning, transportation strategy, and capital investments.
• Establish performance metrics and reporting frameworks that enable visibility into operational health, service performance, costs, and productivity trends.
• Identify risks and opportunities across the distribution network and implement mitigation and contingency plans to ensure business continuity.
• Participate in annual planning, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic growth initiatives impacting warehousing and logistics operations.

Distribution Network & Warehouse Operations Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight of all distribution operations, ensuring current warehouse capabilities and future distribution network expansion align with organizational objectives and growth strategies
• Develop and implement network strategies that optimize throughput, inventory placement, labor utilization, storage capacity, and facility performance across multiple locations.
• Lead operational planning efforts that support business growth, seasonal demand fluctuations, facility expansion, and evolving customer requirements.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that improve warehouse productivity, operational discipline, workplace safety, and process consistency across the distribution network.
• Ensure operational excellence through standardized systems, controls, reporting, and accountability measures.

Inventory Management & Operational Performance

• Provide strategic leadership for inventory management practices that ensure high levels of inventory accuracy, product availability, and operational efficiency across warehouse and distribution operations.
• Partner with Purchasing and Finance to improve inventory visibility, inventory controls, cycle counting programs, inventory valuation accuracy, and operational reporting.
• Establish processes, performance metrics, and accountability measures that strengthen inventory integrity and support accurate order fulfillment.
• Leverage operational data and analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities related to inventory accuracy, warehouse productivity, and fulfillment performance.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action initiatives related to inventory discrepancies, shipping errors, operational inefficiencies, and customer-impacting fulfillment issues.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators that provide visibility into inventory accuracy, order quality, warehouse productivity, and service level performance.
• Ensure consistent inventory management processes and controls that support operational excellence and scalable business growth.

Logistics & Transportation Strategy

• Develop and execute transportation strategies that balance customer service expectations, freight expense, network efficiency, and business growth objectives.
• Lead strategic carrier partnerships and contract negotiations across parcel, LTL, FTL, and import transportation providers.
• Evaluate transportation performance, market trends, and distribution opportunities to improve service reliability and reduce total logistics costs.
• Oversee inbound logistics and international freight activities to ensure continuity of supply and operational efficiency.
• Develop contingency and risk-mitigation plans that strengthen supply chain resilience and business continuity.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on matters related to operational performance, distribution capacity, business risk, customer experience, and growth initiatives.
• Collaborate with Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, Finance, and other business leaders to ensure operational capabilities align with strategic priorities and business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve operational efficiency, service levels, order fulfillment performance, and overall customer satisfaction.
• Provide data-driven insights, performance analysis, and recommendations that support executive decision-making and organizational planning.
• Monitor business trends, operational metrics, and emerging risks, proactively developing solutions that support sustainable growth and operational excellence.
• Partner with leadership teams to identify opportunities for process improvement, service enhancements, and scalable operational practices.
• Drive alignment across departments to ensure consistent execution of company goals, customer commitments, and operational priorities.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and lead a high-performing operations leadership team focused on accountability, continuous improvement, customer service, and operational excellence.
• Develop organizational capability through succession planning, leadership development, workforce planning, and talent management strategies.
• Lead change management initiatives that support operational transformation, systems improvements, and business growth.
• Foster a culture of safety, innovation, collaboration, and performance throughout the organization.

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in warehouse, distribution, logistics, or operations management roles, including responsibility for organizational performance and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated success leading high-volume distribution and warehouse operations while delivering measurable improvements in productivity, service levels, inventory accuracy, and profitability.
• Experience developing operational strategies and translating business objectives into scalable warehouse, distribution, and logistics solutions.
• Proven ability to partner cross-functionally with Finance, Purchasing, Sales, Customer Service, and executive leadership to improve operational effectiveness.
• Strong experience with inventory management, labor planning, operational reporting, and performance management.
• Working knowledge of transportation operations, including small parcel, LTL, FTL, and inbound freight management.
• Experience managing and optimizing Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), ERP platforms, and operational reporting tools.
• Demonstrated success leading continuous improvement initiatives, process redesign, and operational transformation efforts.
• Strong analytical, financial, and business acumen, with the ability to leverage operational data to drive strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
• Experience developing KPIs, performance dashboards, and executive-level reporting to monitor operational and supply chain performance.
• Strong knowledge of warehouse safety programs, OSHA compliance requirements, and operational best practices.
• Proven experience hiring, developing, coaching, and leading high-performing operational teams through growth and change.
• Advanced Excel, reporting, and data analysis skills.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience managing imported products and oversized or bulky inventory.
• Experience supporting rapid business growth, facility expansion, or distribution network optimization initiatives.
• Experience evaluating, planning, or launching additional warehouse or distribution facilities.
• Experience managing operations within a multi-site distribution network.
• Lean warehousing, Lean Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodology experience.
• APICS, CLTD, CPL, Six Sigma, or related supply chain and operations certifications.
• Experience leading ERP, WMS, automation, or warehouse technology implementation projects.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills, including the ability to effectively coach, develop, and communicate with frontline and leadership team members.

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.