ABOUT ALBERT USTER IMPORTS
Albert Uster Imports, Inc. ("AUI") is a privately held gourmet food company headquartered in the Washington, DC area (Gaithersburg, MD) with warehouse locations in Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Gurnee and Gaithersburg. AUI falls under the Vestar Capital Partners portfolio with affiliate organization, Roland Foods, LLC.
Founded in 1968, the company offers over 1,400 products from around the world. We serve leading hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines, airlines, and manufacturers with innovative, high quality products and solutions to their most demanding culinary challenges. We operate a network of distribution centers across the U.S. and serve select international markets as well. AUI has a national direct selling organization of over 60 sales professionals and a staff of culinary experts (chefs and food scientists) adept at custom product solutions.
***Albert Uster Imports Inc. is proud to offer a competitive performance-based bonus structure during employment. The monthly bonuses will be based on the achievement of key performance indicators and the overall performance of the business. ***
ABOUT THE ROLE
Albert Uster Imports is in search of a new Distribution Center Manager in our Kansas City Warehouse. The manager will manage all aspects of the warehouse and facility including Staffing, Shipping, Receiving, Inventory Management, Routine Good Distribution Practices (GDP) Compliance Management, Fleet Management and Facilities Maintenance. They will evaluate and work toward cost reduction through increased efficiency and innovation and meet or exceed established budgets, and metrics for all areas of the warehouse operation. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of the Distribution Center operation, including the Company's Warehouse Management and Shipping Systems and will be responsible for the training and development of all DC Team Members. The Distribution Center Manager will communicate business changes and needs to all personnel and interfaces with other areas of the business as required. This position must support all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the warehouse and serve as the focal point of contact for all problem solving.
Note: This is a working manager role.
RESPONSIBILTIES
Warehouse & Facility Management
- Manage overall warehouse operations to meet company standards, seasonal business demands, and budget targets (labor, freight, supplies), while adhering to the Company's Good Distribution Program (GDP) and always ensuring audit readiness
- Maintain a secure, clean, safe, and hygienic warehouse, docks, and building perimeter. Ensuring compliance with all governmental regulations, food safety requirements, and company policies
- Conduct regular facility inspections, coordinate corrective maintenance, and oversee preventative maintenance programs for HVAC, refrigeration, pest control, fire prevention, and security systems to protect inventory and company assets
Transfer & Receiving Management
- Ensure all inbound and outbound product transfers are accurately processed, staged, scanned, verified, and shipped within 48 hours of receipt, obtaining approval for any required changes
- Oversee timely receiving of all inbound transfers and purchase orders, ensuring products are scanned, put away, and posted within 6–24 business hours, and that all discrepancies (OS&D, PO issues) are reported per established procedures
- Manage customer returns according to company guidelines and ensure proper disposition
Quality & Food Safety Management
- Implement and maintain Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) programs within the Distribution Center, serving as the local subject matter expert on the Company's Food Safety Program
- Partner with the Quality Team and participate in annual audits, inspections, and corrective actions as required
Inventory & Stock Maintenance
- Oversee all inventory activities, including restocking, rotation (FEFO), lot tracking, location accuracy, re-barcoding, cycle counts, and physical inventories to maintain inventory accuracy within established budget guidelines
- Ensure proper storage, protection, and inspection of inventory, identify and report non-conforming, overstocked, or short-stocked products, and coordinate adjustments or disposition (donation or disposal) with Purchasing
- Actively participate in stock level reviews and perform weekly inspections to proactively address inventory issues
Order Fulfillment & Shipping
- Ensure all customer orders received before cutoff are picked, scanned, packed, labeled, and shipped same day, following proper packaging standards and minimizing shipping errors through training and process controls
- Coordinate closely with Customer Service, common carriers (UPS, FedEx), and LTL carriers (dry and refrigerated) to manage routing, claims, OS&D, pickups, late or mid-day sweeps, and overall shipping performance
- Maintain strong working knowledge of FedEx, UPS, international shipping requirements, and freight carrier systems, schedule daily pickups and proactively communicate volume trends to ensure on-time delivery
Supply Ordering
- Ensure timely ordering and availability of all warehouse and packaging supplies, including boxes, tape, pallets, dry ice, ice packs, and other warehouse-related materials
- Identify new packaging solutions to improve efficiency or reduce costs and audit packaging vendors, including annual rate shopping
Fleet Management
- Ensure fleet vehicles are properly inspected, kept clean, safe, and tracked as required for maintenance and repair
- Manage scheduling and daily operations of the local delivery fleet to support on-time deliveries
- Ensure compliance with DOT driver regulations by maintaining required documentation, including medical certifications, driver logs, and related records
People Management & Safety
- Recruit, train, schedule, coach, and develop warehouse personnel, fostering teamwork, accountability, and a positive workplace culture aligned with company values
- Evaluate performance, provide documented feedback, conduct staff meetings, and manage disciplinary or termination actions as required
- Ensure employee safety and emergency preparedness by enforcing safety procedures, responding appropriately to workplace incidents, and coordinating emergency or first-aid support when needed
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
Required
- 8 years of equivalent working experience in warehousing, logistics and/or other related fields
- Knowledge of modern warehousing techniques including logistics, special handling/storage requirements and shipping alternatives
- Ability to lead, motivate and supervise employees; Must have the ability to communicate, both actively, and pro-actively
- Ability to establish priorities, work independently and proceed to objectives without supervision; Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems
- Physical requirements (lifting, etc.): The ability to lift 50 lbs
- Ability to travel domestically as required
- Must be willing to work overtime, holidays and weekends as workload dictates
Preferred
- Bachelor's Degree
- Forklift certification or equivalent experience
SALARY RANGE
Albert Uster Imports hires exceptional people to perform a wide variety of important functions that contribute to the success of the Company. One of the ways AUI does that is through a competitive compensation package. The base salary for this role will be $65,000 - $70,000.
This role will be bonus eligible.
Based on your qualifications, previous experience, and transferrable skills, the Company will determine at its sole discretion, the salary offered.
Founded by immigrants, AUI & Roland Foods knows that diversity is the spice of life. We believe in the power of food to open minds, spark adventure, and bring diverse people together. All are welcome at our table! We know the transformative value of food in individual lives and communities. Because of this, we insist on obtaining the highest-quality ingredients and talent!
AUI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. AUI considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. AUI is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].
Please read Albert Uster Import's California Job Applicant Privacy Policy here.
