Job Overview
Warehouse Manager
Please read this full post carefully before considering application for a job at Christmas Light Decorators.
Christmas Light Decorators (CLD) is one of the leading providers of holiday decorating services in the United States. Our team designs, builds, and installs commercial-grade decorations and lights for over 300 clients in several states.
Those who thrive in our organization share a set of core values critical to our company’s culture and success. These values are:
· Resilient Work Ethic
o Tenacious and willing to go the extra mile
o Compete as a team player
o Reliable endurance
· Take Ownership
o Give a damn
o Pay meticulous attention to detail and won’t cut corners
o Do it right and do the right thing (even when no one is watching)
o Proactively communicate every step of the way and keep everyone in the loop
· Proactive Problem Solver
o Look at challenges from multiple angles
o Adaptable
o Figure it out and finish strong
We are passionate about creating WOW experiences for our clients by providing seasonal décor and lighting installations.
About this Position
The Warehouse Manager plays a key role in fulfilling CLD’s core focus of delivering WOW experiences to our clients by overseeing and actively participating in daily warehouse operations. This role is responsible for ensuring the warehouse runs safely, efficiently, and accurately, while supporting Field Operations in their installations, removals, and seasonal workflows. It facilitates operational efficiency and client satisfaction by making sure crews are prepared with the necessary product for their projects, minimizing disruption in the field.
The Warehouse Manager also manages a team of warehouse associates, delegates assignments to the team, works alongside them, and ensures that necessary work is appropriately completed. This position works closely with the following departments: Field Operations, Scheduling, and Production. They report directly to the Director of Operations. The Warehouse Manager ensures proper execution of warehouse responsibilities, including managing and maintaining inventory, staging and loading products for Field Ops, assisting in maintenance of the fleet and company facilities, and finding ways to support the Field Operations. This is a hands-on position.
Key Responsibilities & Expectations
· Oversee daily warehouse operations, organization and cleanliness, safety standards, and product flow, while ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and safety
· Manage product inventory, lead product repairs and refurbishment projects, and minimize product damage by ensuring careful and proper transportation and storage conditions
· Coordinate with Field Operations, Production, and Scheduling regarding upcoming projects, needed materials, and timelines for product readiness
· Ensure products are prepared, staged, and loaded for field crews and that trucks are fueled, offloaded, restocked, and clean; contribute to Field Ops efficiency by minimizing disruption due to missing product and equipment
· Monitor stock levels of facility supplies and reorder as necessary
· Oversee building, equipment (ie forklifts), and facility upkeep, including improvements, repairs, cleanliness, and general maintenance
· Support fleet operations and maintenance
· Oversee and prepare incoming and outgoing shipments, direct/manage incoming product, and ensure inspection and accuracy of orders and documentation; work with carriers and suppliers as directed to maintain inventory and arrange shipments
· Assist with various company projects, such as Showroom buildouts
· Participate in regular, purposeful L10 and operational planning meetings
· Develop and improve warehouse processes to support peak-season demands with accuracy and efficiency
· Provide hands-on leadership to a team of managed associates, working alongside them and providing supervision, direction, and support
· Hire and train warehouse associates, monitor performance, and provide feedback and coaching
· Participate in and/or assist with safety and/or OSHA trainings
· Uphold and enforce safety procedures and company policies
· Implement warehouse management systems as needed and collect/report performance metrics to improve internal logistics
Workload Balance & Expectations
Your work throughout the year will generally follow the cadence outlined below. Because the Warehouse’s primary purpose is to support field installations by managing inventory and equipment, the heaviness of your workload largely correlates with CLD’s seasonal installation projects.
Since this is a salary position, overtime hours are not paid. CLD emphasizes a year-round work-life balance, offering shorter weeks and lighter workloads during the Prep Phase to offset the demands of the more strenuous Install and Removal Phases.
This section outlines your typical schedule, performance expectations, and time requirements. This is an average overview. Workload and schedule fluctuations may occur due to operation needs and project schedules.
April – July
Preparation Phase
· Your schedule is most flexible during this phase, with part-time workweek hours required, and PTO use is generally available and encouraged.
· This time is dedicated to internal operations. Your work will mostly consist of maintenance and off-season preparation projects, including organizing and cleaning the warehouse; inspecting, assembling, and refurbishing product; receiving seasonal shipments; contributing to leadership goals and improving processes; performing facility improvements; and providing support to Field Ops and other departments to prepare for peak-season operations.
· In preparation for peak-season holiday installations, you will attend project/operation planning meetings with other departments to review approved projects and outline the necessary preparation and execution duties for these projects.
· Off-season installations occur intermittently, and the warehouse will prepare the products for these projects, load and unload trucks, and provide logistical support to Field Ops for the execution of these projects.
· Seasonal lighting installations and other seasonal work usually begin in late July or early August. Additionally, international order shipments start arriving in July. Your workload and expected hours will begin to increase in mid to late July accordingly.
August – October
Lighting Installation Phase
- August marks the official start of holiday lighting installations. By September, installations are in full swing. October is especially busy, as CLD pushes to complete all lighting installations by November 1st. Additionally, a few early decor installations may occur in October.
- Overtime is possible in August and September, and a guarantee in October. PTO use during August and September may be limited but is not necessarily restricted. PTO may be limited or restricted in October.
- The warehouse’s primary focus will shift to readying product for weekly installation jobs, ensuring correct quantities and materials are staged and loaded. This will include staging project-specific inventory and daily loading, unloading, restocking, and refueling of trucks and other fleet equipment for field crews.
- Most international orders will arrive during this period. You will be heavily involved in preparing the warehouse for, receiving, and managing the incoming inventory. Outgoing shipments will increase in October, which you will also assist in expediting.
- During this time, you will also support the hiring and onboarding of seasonal Warehouse Associates. You will collaborate with the other Ops managers and participate in safety and equipment training for new hires across Ops departments.
- On rare occasions, members of your team may support Field Ops during high demand periods or special circumstances.
November – December
Peak Installation Phase (and Maintenance)
- October through January will be your busiest months at CLD, with November being the most demanding. November is the month almost all holiday decor is installed. Most installations will be completed by Thanksgiving, with late installs possibly scheduled into early December, depending on scheduling needs, as well as client timing and volume. Since the date for Thanksgiving changes every year, some years will hae a shorter and heavier push prior to Thanksgiving, compared to years where Thanksgiving lands later in the month.
- You will be required to work the necessary hours to meet project timelines and operational demands, including extended days, weekends, and possible holidays (i.e. Thanksgiving). You may be required to work some nights or be on call/available for questions if urgent needs arise.
- Overtime hours will be required in November.
- PTO is restricted during this period; time off is reserved exclusively for emergencies and requires approval.
- Your workload in December will lighten in intensity compared to November, once installation projects are complete. Overtime is minimal in December. Late December marks the start of project removals, beginning with decor.
- Your team will continue to ready the trucks and stage product for installations. Since decor often involves large, heavy props and greenery, there is a higher physical and strategic demand to prepare decor projects, as compared to staging and stocking for lighting-only projects.
- In addition to our own fleet, the Scheduling Manager will lease supplemental box trucks, lifts, and equipment, which you will utilize and assist in managing. There is a high volume of projects and trucks to turn around in November.
- Safety continues to be an essential priority, as this high-pressure, fast-moving period of October through January encompasses the highest volume of seasonal staff, equipment use, and overall labor at CLD.
- During the lighter December month and while the warehouse is largely empty, you will reorganize and prepare the warehouse for returning inventory.
November – December
Peak Install and Maintenance Phase
Tasks during this time include:
- Lead development and execution of takedown plans, ensuring workflows, inventory, and projects are organized.
- Supervise takedown preparation, including ordering supplies and assigning warehouse locations for returning materials.
- Direct warehouse reorganization of remaining products and spaces.
- Manage lighting inventory processes, ensuring accurate stock levels and readiness for installation.
- Ensure accurate labeling, staging, and readiness of all décor items and supplies, providing guidance to staff.
- Provide occasional, as needed support to field operations during high demand periods or special circumstances (infrequent).
January – March
Removal Phase
· The first 2-3 weeks of January will be heavy, as crews push to remove all holiday decor as soon as possible. (Banners and pole decor are considered decor, as they are visible holiday props. Seasonal lighting can be unplugged and removed at a more measured pace.) From a space standpoint, the warehouse receives the vast majority of its returning inventory across this narrow margin of time.
· During decor removal, you will be required to work the necessary hours to meet project timelines and operational demands, including extended days and weekends. Overtime will be required during this segment of the first few weeks of January. PTO is reserved exclusively for emergencies and requires approval.
· Once decor removals are complete around mid to late January, the remaining Removal Phase focuses on lighting removals. Your workload lightens in intensity compared to the decor removal. While you will still manage returning inventory and vehicles for the field crews, the volume of product, crews, and trucks becomes significantly smaller.
· During removal, you will oversee all the returning inventory, ensuring it is inspected for condition, catalogued and labeled, and properly stored. You will continue to unload and restock trucks for crews.
· Typically, all lighting removals are completed by March or April, depending on project volume.
- You will begin to engage with prep-season projects, such as Showroom readiness for clients and setting annual goals.
Position Priorities, Metrics, and Compensation
Priorities for this position
· LMA (leadership + management = accountability)
· Warehouse & facilities management
· Logistics fulfilment (shipping and receiving)
· Inventory control
· Safety practices and attention to detail
How success is measured
· Maintaining a clean, orderly warehouse, office, and yard year-round
· Accuracy of product staging for outgoing jobs
· Accuracy of loading projects during installation and removal
· Arrival of product to jobsites without transportation-related damage
· Ability to manage and delegate to a team of warehouse associates
· Maintaining an accurate inventory and ensuring product readiness for projects
· Development and implementation of core processes for all warehouse positions
· Reduce overtime expenditures by improving operational and labor efficiencies
Qualifications needed
· Strong working knowledge of MS Office applications, with a focus on Excel, Word, Teams, and Outlook for daily reporting, communication, and coordination
· Experience using inventory management software to track, organize, and maintain accurate stock levels
· Proven ability to lead and manage a team of 8–10 warehouse employees, including task delegation, coaching, and accountability
· Demonstrated experience handling high-pressure and fast-paced situations while maintaining safety, accuracy, and productivity
· Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to listen, problem-solve, and work cross-functionally
· Minimum of 3 years of experience managing 20,000+ sq ft of warehouse space, including layout, workflow optimization, and inventory control
o Experience with service-based business preferred
· Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field preferred, but equivalent hands-on warehouse leadership experience will be considered
· Bilingual in Spanish a plus, but not required
Compensation plan and benefits
· This is a salary position
o $65,000 - $80,000 salary per year, DOE
· 120 hours of PTO available after the first 90 days
· Medical benefits available
· Eligible to participate in 401(k) with company match after 90 days
Application Instructions
Please submit a resume, along with a cover sheet answering the following questions, to the contact information listed below:
Briefly describe a warehouse or operations project you led or supported (inventory, staging, shipping/receiving, or seasonal prep).
Share an example of how you communicated with other departments, such as operations, production, scheduling, or field teams, to support a busy period or project.
Which of CLD's Core Values resonates most with you and why?
Company Website: www.christmaslightdecorators.com
Company Point of Contact: Selina Thiry
Pay: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
