Utility Operations Manager Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Workwear Outfitters has a strong legacy of building innovative and authentic market-right products and is a leading supplier of work apparel and footwear for diverse occupations in industries such as automotive, manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, government, food services, telecommunications, hospitality, and many more. Workwear Outfitters is based in Nashville, Tennessee with over $800 million in sales and we employ more than 5,800 people in facilities spanning the globe.

Brands under the Workwear Outfitters umbrella include Red Kap, Bulwark, Image Authority, Kodiak, Terra, Liberty , Work Authority, Workrite Fire Service, Chef Designs, and Horace Small. Workwear Outfitters is also the exclusive licensee for Dickies apparel in the B2B channel.

Our Purpose: "We champion and empower workers who make our world work better"

Major benefits include medical, vision and dental, Life and Disability coverage.

Other benefits included: 401K, Tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, and many others.

What You Will Do as a Senior Operations Manager:

The Senior Operations Manager is responsible for leading all day-to-day operations within a high-volume multi-channel apparel distribution center, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective fulfillment of customer orders. This role oversees inbound receiving, warehousing, inventory control, picking, packing, shipping, and labor management while driving continuous improvement across people, processes, and systems.

The position partners closely with Supply Chain, Transportation, Engineering, Planning, Customer Service, Finance, Sales, IT, and HR to achieve operational excellence, service level targets, and financial objectives.

How You Will Make a Difference:

Operational Leadership

• Lead daily distribution center operations including receiving, put-away, replenishment, order fulfillment, packing, shipping, returns, and inventory control.
• Ensure operational performance meets or exceeds service, productivity, quality, and cost objectives.
• Balances competing service requirements across multiple order profiles, customer types, and fulfillment methods.
• Manage workflow planning and labor allocation to support fluctuating order volumes and seasonal demand.
• Monitor and improve KPIs including:
  • Order accuracy
  • On-time shipping
  • Units per labor hour
  • Dock-to-stock time
  • Inventory accuracy
  • Fill rate
  • Returns processing time
• Develop and execute strategies to improve throughput, capacity utilization, and operational efficiency.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop operations supervisors and frontline teams in a fast-paced distribution environment.
• Build a culture focused on accountability, safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, training, and succession planning.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and development.

Inventory & Systems Management

• Ensure inventory integrity through cycle counts, audits, and process controls.
• Partner with Inventory Control and Finance teams to minimize shrink and resolve discrepancies.
• Utilize Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and reporting tools to monitor operational performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support implementation and optimization of automation, RF technology, and process enhancements.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.
• Identify root causes of operational issues and implement corrective actions.
• Standardize best practices and improve operational processes across departments.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain compliance with OSHA regulations and company safety standards.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to all policies and procedures.
• Lead incident investigations and corrective action planning.
• Ensure compliance with company quality standards and audit requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Transportation, Planning, Sales, Customer Service, and IT teams to ensure seamless execution across the supply chain.
• Support peak season planning and execution for retail, wholesale, and e-commerce operations.
• Participate in budget development and expense management initiatives. Provide quarterly financial forecasts and conduct analysis to partner with financial staff on budget variances.

Skills for Success:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or related field preferred.
• 7-10+ years of distribution center or warehouse operations experience, preferably within apparel, retail, footwear, or consumer goods industries.
• 3-5+ years of leadership experience managing supervisors and large hourly teams.
• Experience in high-volume omni-channel, retail, wholesale, or e-commerce fulfillment operations.
• Strong knowledge of warehouse operations, inventory management, and labor planning.
• Experience with WMS platforms, RF systems, and operational reporting tools.
• Proven success leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong Financial knowledge including detailed budget management experience
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership capabilities.

Key Competencies

• Operational Excellence
• Leadership & Team Development
• Strategic Thinking
• Process Improvement
• Inventory Management
• Labor Planning
• Data Analysis & KPI Management
• Change Management
• Customer Focus
• Collaboration & Communication