Position Summary
The Director of Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of Driscoll Foods’ distribution center operations. This role has end-to-end ownership of Inbound Operations, Outbound Operations, Transportation, and Inventory Control, and is accountable for safety, service, cost, and quality across each function. The Director of Operations builds and leads a team of managers and supervisors, partners closely with Sales, Purchasing, Customer Service, and Finance, and ensures the distribution center operates in full compliance with OSHA, DOT, FDA, and USDA requirements,
Key Responsibilities
Inbound Operations
- Oversee all receiving operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and safe unloading, inspection, and put-away of inbound freight from vendors and cross-dock partners.
- Partner with Purchasing to align receiving schedules and dock scheduling with vendor delivery windows and warehouse capacity, minimizing detention and dwell time.
- Implement quality control checkpoints at receipt to verify product condition, temperature compliance across dry, cooler, and freezer categories, count accuracy, and code dating.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce receiving damage, shrink, and labor cost per case received.
- Ensure receiving documentation, advance ship notices, and Warehouse Management System (WMS) data entry are accurate and timely to support downstream inventory accuracy.
Outbound Operations
- Direct order selection, staging, loading, and dispatch functions to ensure on-time, complete, and accurate deliveries to customers.
- Establish and monitor productivity standards, labor planning, and shift scheduling across outbound warehouse teams to meet daily volume and service-level commitments.
- Partner with Transportation and Customer Service to resolve order accuracy issues, short or damaged shipments, and delivery escalations.
- Champion cold-chain integrity and FIFO/FEFO product rotation standards throughout the outbound process to protect food safety and product quality.
- Monitor key performance indicators – order fill rate, on-time delivery, cases picked per hour, mis-pick rate – and lead root-cause corrective action.
Transportation
- Oversee the private delivery fleet, including route planning, driver scheduling, fleet utilization, and any third-party carrier relationships.
- Ensure full compliance with DOT and FMCSA regulations, hours-of-service rules, driver qualification files, and vehicle maintenance schedules; partner with Safety on incident review.
- Optimize delivery routes and load planning using routing/TMS tools to control cost per case delivered and improve on-time, in-full performance.
- Manage relationships with fleet maintenance vendors and support capital planning for tractors, trailers, and refrigerated equipment.
- Build a strong safety culture among drivers and warehouse personnel through training, coaching, and recognition programs.
Inventory Control
- Own inventory accuracy across dry, cooler, and freezer categories through cycle-counting programs, physical inventories, and shrink root-cause analysis.
- Establish and enforce inventory control policies, including slotting strategy, lot and code-date management, FIFO/FEFO adherence, and product traceability/recall readiness.
- Partner with Purchasing, Category Management, and Finance to manage inventory levels, minimize obsolescence and write-offs, and support working-capital targets.
- Maintain and continuously improve WMS data integrity, reporting, and system-driven inventory controls.
- Lead investigations into inventory discrepancies and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Operations/Warehouse Managers, Supervisors, and hourly associates across multiple shifts.
- Build and manage departmental budgets for inbound, outbound, transportation, and inventory control; identify and execute cost-reduction opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, USDA, and other applicable regulatory requirements; maintain a strong safety culture and drive down incident rates.
- Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, and Finance to align operations with customer commitments and company goals.
- Represent Operations in company leadership meetings and contribute to broader strategic and capacity planning.
- Serve as an escalation point for significant customer, vendor, or operational issues, including after-hours or on-call support as needed.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Experience
- 8+ years of progressive operations/logistics management experience within foodservice distribution, grocery, or a related supply chain environment.
- 5+ years in a multi-functional leadership role overseeing warehouse, transportation, and/or inventory control.
- Experience in a multi-temperature (dry/cooler/freezer) distribution center strongly preferred.
- Direct experience with WMS and TMS platforms and familiarity with routing/dispatch software.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing hourly warehouse and driver workforces.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong working knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations, OSHA safety standards, and food safety requirements (FDA, USDA, HACCP principles).
- Proven ability to lead through data – KPI development, budget management, and root-cause problem solving.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
- Strong project management and change-management capabilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Excel and ERP/WMS reporting tools.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and on-call coverage as operational needs require.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
- Primarily based in a distribution center/warehouse environment with exposure to varying temperatures, including refrigerated (35–40°F) and frozen (-10°F or below) areas.
- Ability to walk and stand for extended periods and to regularly navigate the warehouse floor, including loading docks and cold storage areas.
- Occasional travel to other Driscoll Foods facilities, customer sites, or industry events.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Driscoll Foods is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
Pay: From $135,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
