Position Summary:
The Warehouse Manager at McDowell Valley Winery is responsible for overseeing all aspects of warehouse operations through effective management of the team’s three shift supervisors and relationship management with 3PL warehousing providers. This position owns the facility’s performance metrics, ensuring smooth, productive inbound and outbound logistics, efficient and accurate feeds of dry goods inventory to bottling operations, and aligns warehouse activities with broader supply chain goals. The Warehouse Manager is expected to drive operational excellence through strong collaboration and leadership, enforce best practices in safety and efficiency, and spearhead initiatives that improve throughput and reduce costs. This position will also be required to collaborate closely with the Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits (DFWS) Logistics, Planning and Supply Chain Finance functions on forward inventory plans, freight carrier relationship management, cross-functional improvement initiatives, and budgetary requirements.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
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Safety & Compliance Oversight: Champion a safe working environment across all shifts. Ensure adherence to OSHA regulations and company safety policies at the facility. Lead safety initiatives and instill a culture where safety and housekeeping are top priorities day and night.
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Leadership of Supervisory Team: Manage all warehouse supervisors who cover early-morning, day, and swing shifts. Clearly communicate job expectations, set goals, and conduct regular performance evaluations for these direct reports. Provide coaching, training, and development opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills.
- Performance & KPI Ownership: Define, monitor, and analyze core warehouse Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) – such as pallets moved per man-hour, order pick accuracy, inventory accuracy rate, dock-to-stock cycle time, and on-time shipment rate. Set performance targets for each shift, review daily/weekly KPI reports from supervisors, and lead efforts to improve any underperforming areas through root cause analysis and corrective action plans.
- Operational Planning & Coordination: Oversee labor and resource planning for the warehouse, ensuring appropriate staffing levels and shift structures to meet operational demands (in coordination with HR). Work with supervisors to align inbound receiving schedules with production (bottling) needs and outbound shipping schedules to maximize efficiency and minimize bottlenecks. Ensure smooth handoffs with clear direction between shifts.
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Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Identify and drive warehouse process improvements and cost-saving initiatives. Use a data-driven approach to evaluate potential improvements and lead projects from conception through implementation.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the primary liaison between the warehouse and other departments, including Production (bottling operations), Logistics/Transportation, Procurement, and Supply Planning. Collaborate with the bottling team to ensure timely supply of materials and prompt removal of finished goods, preventing production downtime. Coordinate with the central Logistics Manager and carriers to optimize freight scheduling, address carrier performance issues, and improve on-time delivery rates. Work with the Finance and Planning teams to align inventory levels and capacity with broader business needs.
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Quality, Order Fulfillment & Service Level Assurance: Maintain high standards for order accuracy and fulfillment. Ensure that customer orders and production supply orders are fulfilled correctly and delivered on time.
- External Warehouse & 3PL Relationship Management: Manage relationships with off-site warehouses and third-party logistics providers to ensure that DFGB finished and dry goods are stored, handled, and turned into alignment with company standards and service expectations. Coordinate inbound and outbound activity with external partners, monitor performance, resolve service issues, and maintain clear communication to support inventory availability and smooth supply chain execution beyond the production plant.
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Strategic Initiatives & Reporting: Play a key role in strategic projects or corporate initiatives impacting warehouse operations. Provide regular reports and updates on warehouse performance to higher management (e.g., monthly scorecards, quarterly business reviews) and recommend action plans to achieve or exceed targets for efficiency, service, and quality.
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Budget & Equipment Management: Work alongside senior management to monitor the warehouse operating budget, including labor costs, equipment maintenance, and supplies. Identify opportunities to reduce expenses. Oversee the maintenance of warehouse equipment and facilities – ensure forklifts and material handling equipment are properly maintained.
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Inventory Control & Accuracy: Own the facility’s inventory integrity. Oversee that routine cycle counts and physical inventories are well-organized and accurate. Investigate and resolve any significant variances between system records and physical stock, working with supervisors to identify root causes (such as process gaps or training needs) and implement solutions. Maintain high inventory accuracy rates by ensuring best practices in receiving, put-away, picking, and shipping are followed consistently across shifts.
- Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Logistics or a related field is strongly preferred. Equivalent experience in the field will be considered.
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Work Experience:
- 7+ years of progressive experience in warehouse or distribution center operations, with 3+ years in management or leadership role.
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Prior success in managing front-line managers or supervisors is required, demonstrating the ability to lead through others and improve team performance.
- Experience with food & beverage or production-support warehousing is a plus, especially in environments requiring coordination with manufacturing or bottling.
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Technical Skills:
- Proficient in warehouse management systems (WMS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for inventory management.
- Experience with labor management/timekeeping systems (e.g., Paycom) and ability to generate operational reports and KPI scorecards.
- Ability to analyze data using spreadsheets (Excel) and generate reports.
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Solid understanding of transportation management (scheduling pickups, carrier relations) and how warehouse operations link with broader supply chain flows.
Language Skills
- Bilingual, English/Spanish, preferred.
- Advanced English language skills including ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedures manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence with internal / external customers and vendors. Advanced communication and exceptional customer service skills are a must.
Certification, Licenses, Registrations
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Forklift operator certification and solid understanding of warehouse equipment operation and safety.
- Certification in OSHA safety standards or a safety certification is required
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APICS CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) or CLTD (Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) preferred.
Annual salary range: $110k – $130k. This annual salary range reflects the expected hiring range for this position. Please note that this salary is solely for candidates hired to perform work within California and refers to the amount DFG Beverage is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted salary range based upon the candidate's geographic location, work experience, education, and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. DFG Beverage offers an array of benefits: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan (with generous company matching contributions), generous paid time off, and 10 paid company holidays per year. This position is bonus eligible.
We Value Diversity: At DFG Beverage, we believe that our differences are our strengths. We embrace and celebrate the diversity of our team members, our customers, and our communities. We strive to create a work environment that fosters inclusion, respect, and collaboration. We are constantly learning and growing from our diverse perspectives and experiences. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates as we foster a culture of inclusion that provides fair and equal opportunities for all.
DFG Beverage provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
