Warehouse Operations Manager

Position Description and Purpose: 

Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Roskam Foods is a leading contract manufacturer that partners with world-renowned food brands, retailers, and food service providers to produce a myriad of frozen, refrigerated and shelf-stable products. We’re a scaled, diversified operation with over 2 million square feet of manufacturing and 50 production lines across 8 facilities in the U.S. and Canada. We believe in the power of purpose-driven leadership to generate value for all. And we’re on a mission to optimize the potential of our people and brands. We are passionate about multiplying possibilities for our employees and our partners. 

Roskam Foods produces and packages food products with the goal of consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations for quality, safety, and wholesomeness.

Key Essential Functions/Duties:

Operations Leadership

• Manage daily warehouse operations across shipping, receiving, staging, inventory control, storage, production support, and material flow.

• Lead a 24/5 to 24/7 operation while balancing customer service, production needs, labor coverage, space utilization, and operational priorities.

• Ensure materials, packaging, ingredients, and finished goods are moved, stored, scanned, and documented accurately and on time.

• Partner with Production, Planning, Quality, Maintenance, Customer Service, Transportation, and Plant Leadership to remove constraints and improve workflow.

Budget, KPI, and Financial Accountability

• Maintain warehouse operating expenses at or below approved budget while protecting safety, quality, customer service, and compliance requirements.

• Own budgets for labor, equipment rental and lease, material handling equipment repair, and other assigned warehouse operating expenses.

• Monitor and manage key performance indicators including cost per pound sold, cost per pallet moved, safety RIIR, pallets per hour, housekeeping, inventory accuracy, utilization, and labor productivity.

• Prepare and communicate performance updates, action plans, root cause analysis, and corrective actions when performance is off target.

Food Safety, Employee Safety, and Compliance

• Promote a proactive safety culture that protects employees, contractors, visitors, products, and company assets.

• Ensure warehouse practices comply with food safety, sanitation, allergen control, GMP, quality, security, regulatory, and company requirements.

• Maintain high standards for housekeeping, dock safety, trailer safety, pedestrian and forklift traffic, rack integrity, and equipment condition.

• Ensure timely reporting and follow-up of incidents, near misses, hazards, audits, corrective actions, and employee safety concerns.

Systems, Process Discipline, and Continuous Improvement

• Provide leadership and subject matter expertise for warehouse management systems, yard management systems, and ERP processes, including Microsoft Dynamics.

• Ensure warehouse transactions are completed accurately and timely in WMS, YMS, ERP, scanning, and reporting tools.

• Use data, KPI trends, employee input, and root cause problem-solving to improve productivity, accuracy, service, safety, space utilization, and cost performance.

• Standardize warehouse processes, expectations, training, audits, and escalation routines to improve operational consistency.

People Leadership and Core Values

• Hire, onboard, train, coach, schedule, develop, and hold accountable warehouse supervisors, material handlers, coordinators, and other assigned employees.

• Build a culture aligned with Roskam Foods core values, with emphasis on accountability, teamwork, respect, integrity, customer focus, and continuous improvement.

• Conduct performance discussions, address attendance or conduct issues, support employee recognition, and develop bench strength for future leadership needs.

• Communicate clearly across shifts to ensure priorities, expectations, issues, and follow-up actions are understood and completed.

Material Handling Equipment and Facility Support

• Manage material handling equipment utilization, rental and lease planning, preventive maintenance coordination, repair spending, safe operating practices, and replacement recommendations.

• Partner with equipment vendors to reduce downtime, improve reliability, and maintain safe equipment condition.

• Support warehouse layout, dock flow, racking projects, trailer movement, yard organization, and expansion projects.

Other Duties

• Perform additional responsibilities and special projects assigned by management.

Education/Experience/Skills/Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Logistics, Operations Management, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• 5+ years of progressive warehouse, logistics, distribution, or manufacturing operations leadership experience preferred.

• Experience managing supervisors, coordinators, and hourly warehouse teams in a multi-shift operation.

• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, labor plans, equipment costs, operational KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Working knowledge of food manufacturing, food safety, GMPs, sanitation, allergen control, warehouse safety, and regulatory requirements preferred.

• Experience with WMS, YMS, ERP, RF scanning, and warehouse reporting tools required; Microsoft Dynamics ERP experience preferred.

• Strong analytical, communication, planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Outlook, Teams, and operational reporting tools.

• Ability to lead through changing priorities, off-shift operations, and time-sensitive business needs.

• Forklift or powered industrial truck knowledge preferred; ability to ensure operators are trained, certified, and compliant with company requirements.

• Must be able to read, write, and communicate in English.

Preferred Attributes:

• Visible floor leadership style with strong follow-through and accountability.

• Data-driven mindset with the ability to translate KPI performance into practical action plans.

• Strong sense of ownership for safety, food safety, cost control, service, and employee engagement.

• Ability to build strong cross-functional partnerships while maintaining clear operational standards.

Roskam Foods offers a competitive compensation package that includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, tuition reimbursement, life and disability insurance, and a 401 (k) plan with company match.

AAP/EEO Statement: Roskam Foods is a recognized veteran-friendly and equal opportunity employer.

We are excited to introduce you to all that Roskam has to offer—from the many valuable benefits to programs that support your lifestyle needs and opportunities for professional development. Roskam is an equal opportunity employer.