Senior Operations Manager – Distribution & Light Manufacturing in Southaven, Mississippi at WAI GLOBAL

The Senior Operations Manager, Distribution + Light Manufacturing will lead a high-volume distribution center responsible for receiving, inventory management, kitting, repackaging, light assembly, packaging, and outbound fulfillment.

This role is accountable for driving consistent execution across all areas of the operation, with a strong focus on service, throughput, quality, and productivity. The environment includes a mix of fulfillment and production-style workflows, requiring a leader who can bring structure, discipline, and clarity to how work gets done.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, floor-focused leader who understands how to run high-volume operations, improve labor performance, and build a culture of accountability and execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Scope

• Lead a multi-shift operation (3 shifts) with 200+ employees across hourly staff and frontline leadership
• Oversee end-to-end execution across inbound, inventory, kitting, repackaging, light assembly, packaging, outbound fulfillment, and returns
• Drive performance in a high-volume environment with strong service, quality, and productivity expectations

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead all day-to-day operations across inbound, inventory, kitting, repackaging, light assembly, packaging, outbound fulfillment, and returns
• Drive consistent execution across all workflows with clear expectations for performance, quality, and productivity
• Balance service levels, throughput, labor efficiency, and inventory accuracy
• Ensure workflows are organized and executed to support efficient, scalable operations

Process & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain clear, repeatable processes across all areas of the operation
• Implement standard work and reinforce consistent execution across teams
• Identify and eliminate inefficiencies to improve flow, reduce waste, and increase throughput
• Partner on layout, workflow, and material movement improvements to support operational performance

Labor Planning & Team Leadership

• Develop labor plans, staffing models, and productivity targets based on volume and workflow
• Lead and develop supervisors and team leads, setting clear expectations and holding teams accountable
• Build a disciplined, high-performance culture focused on execution and results
• Adjust labor allocation as needed to meet changing operational demands

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Lead safety efforts across the operation and ensure compliance with OSHA and company standards
• Maintain high levels of quality and order accuracy
• Drive structured problem-solving and root cause resolution

Performance Management

• Own performance across key metrics, including:
  • Throughput and service levels
  • Labor productivity
  • Order accuracy and quality
  • Safety performance
• Introduce and track process-focused metrics such as cycle time and workflow efficiency where needed
• Run daily performance reviews and ensure clear accountability at all levels of the operation

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Work closely with planning, procurement, customer service, transportation, IT/WMS, and engineering teams
• Support new business onboarding and operational readiness
• Contribute to process improvements, system enhancements, and operational initiatives

Qualifications (Education, Experience, & Skills Required)

Education & Experience

• 7–10+ years of operations leadership experience in distribution, manufacturing, or high-volume environments
• Strong background in warehouse operations, including kitting, assembly, packaging, or similar workflows
• Experience with labor planning, productivity management, and performance metrics
• Working knowledge of Lean principles and continuous improvement
• Hands-on, floor-oriented leadership style
• Proven ability to lead teams, drive accountability, and deliver consistent results

Core Competencies & Leadership Attributes

• Strong operational leadership with the ability to drive execution across multiple workflows
• Ability to establish structure, standardize processes, and reinforce consistent ways of working
• Data-driven decision-making with a focus on performance, productivity, and accountability
• Proven ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment
• Effective problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and corrective action
• High sense of ownership with a bias for action and results

Skills

• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead teams, set expectations, and drive alignment across functions
• Strong organizational and planning skills to manage competing priorities in a high-volume environment
• Experience with labor planning, staffing models, and productivity management
• Proficiency in warehouse management systems (WMS) and operational reporting tools
• Working knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean principles, standard work)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), with the ability to analyze and interpret operational data