Overview

The Director of Operations Transformation is responsible for leading Harbor Foods' strategic operations initiatives that improve the efficiency, productivity, and scalability of our distribution center operations. Reporting within the Information Technology organization, this role serves as the primary business and program leader for large-scale operational transformation initiatives, partnering closely with Distribution Operations and external implementation partners.

Compensation: $190-195K DOE

Benefits Summary: Full line of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; 401k retirement program with company match; vacation and holidays; and more.

This position is responsible for coordinating cross-functional teams, managing complex implementation programs, and ensuring operational initiatives are delivered on time, within budget, and achieve measurable business results. The Director does not have direct responsibility for day-to-day warehouse operations but provides leadership across the organization to successfully execute Harbor's operational transformation roadmap.

Initial priorities include implementing a next-generation Warehouse Management System (WMS), leading the operations workstream of Harbor's Oracle ERP implementation, establishing engineered labor standards and labor management capabilities, improving inbound freight operations, and supporting future warehouse automation initiatives

Responsibilities

Strategic Operations Program Leadership

Lead Harbor's portfolio of strategic operations initiatives from planning through execution.
Develop implementation roadmaps, project plans, budgets, resource requirements, and executive status reporting.
Establish governance processes and project management disciplines for major operational initiatives.
Identify project risks and dependencies and develop mitigation strategies.
Ensure projects deliver measurable operational improvements and business value.

Warehouse Management System (WMS)

Lead the planning, design, implementation, and rollout of Harbor's Warehouse Management System.
Partner with Distribution Operations to optimize warehouse processes including receiving, put-away, replenishment, inventory management, picking, loading, shipping, and cycle counting.
Coordinate internal teams and external implementation partners throughout the project lifecycle.
Ensure successful organizational readiness, testing, training, and operational adoption.

ERP Operations Workstream

Lead the Operations workstream supporting Harbor's Oracle ERP implementation.
Coordinate warehouse and distribution process design, testing, cutover planning, and deployment activities.
Ensure operational processes are standardized and aligned with system capabilities.
Partner with IT and implementation partners to deliver successful operational outcomes.

Labor Management & Productivity

Lead initiatives to implement engineered labor standards and labor management capabilities.
Identify opportunities to improve warehouse productivity through technology and process improvements.
Develop operational performance metrics and productivity reporting.
Support workforce planning and operational capacity analysis.

Inbound Freight & Distribution Operations

Lead initiatives that improve inbound freight visibility, scheduling, dock operations, and warehouse receiving efficiency.
Support technology solutions that improve operational execution and throughput.
Partner with Operations leadership to improve end-to-end warehouse performance.

Operational Excellence

Drive continuous improvement initiatives across warehouse operations.
Standardize operational processes across Harbor's distribution centers.
Establish operational KPIs and performance dashboards.
Identify opportunities to improve productivity, service levels, inventory accuracy, and throughput.

Vendor & Partner Management

Serve as Harbor's primary program leader for strategic implementation partners supporting operational initiatives.
Coordinate software vendors, consultants, and system integrators.
Monitor project deliverables, budgets, schedules, and contractual commitments.
Ensure external partners deliver high-quality solutions aligned with Harbor's operational objectives.

Qualifications

Required:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Information Systems, or a related field.
10+ years of leadership experience managing large-scale operational transformation initiatives.
Demonstrated success leading Warehouse Management System, ERP, or warehouse technology implementations.
Strong understanding of warehouse operations, distribution, inventory management, logistics, and labor management.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs without direct organizational authority.
Excellent communication, organizational, and executive presentation skills.
Strong project and program management capabilities

Preferred:

Experience implementing Oracle ERP, as well as TMS and WMS platforms.
Experience implementing engineered labor standards or labor management systems.
Experience in food distribution and logistics

CORE COMPETENTCIES

Operations Transformation Leadership
Warehouse Operations
Warehouse Management Systems
Operational Excellence
Distribution Center Operations
Labor Management
Executive Communication
Continuous Improvement

SUCCESS MEASURES

Successful implementation of Harbor's Warehouse Management System.
Successful delivery of the Operations workstream supporting Oracle ERP.
On-time and on-budget completion of strategic operational initiatives.
Measurable improvements in warehouse productivity and labor efficiency.
Standardized operational processes across distribution centers.
Improved inventory accuracy and operational performance.
Increased inbound freight efficiency and warehouse throughput.
Strong operational adoption of new systems and processes.
Achievement of expected operational and financial benefits from transformation initiatives.

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