Senior Distribution Excellence Manager

Position Summary:

Ensure safe, efficient and cost-effective distribution of Ventura products to our customers by acting as are source to the Senior Director - Distribution, and the various Plant Managers. Mentor and develop the skill sets of plant distribution managers and operating personnel. Manage special projects as assigned.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support plant warehouse locations as an expert resource on warehousing issues (e.g. safety, material handling, labor productivity, facility layout and operations, order management, customer support, and others as required).
• Lead or participate in the development of business process improvement through implementation, enhancement, and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures and software technology, creating or ensuring best practice evolution.
• Lead or participate in special projects (e.g. systems implementations, cross-functional teams) in support of plant operations and departmental projects.
• Maintain documentation relative to distribution policy and essential operating information.
• Participation in career development activities.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent mix of experience and education.  
• Progressive leadership experience in warehouse operations, focused on large-scale food distribution in a high-volume regulated (GMP/FDA) operation.
• Extensive experience developing and implementing continuous improvement programs and tools.
• Extensive experience working in/with 3PL Warehouse providers, ideally in a unit-rate environment.
• Experience implementing Distribution KPIs and managing performance through them.
• Experience working with dynamic volume forecasts and making adjustments to labor and equipment plans.  
• Experience leading and participating in lean distribution programs.
• Experience collaborating with Customer Service, Transportation, Manufacturers, and Sales to improve service and reduce cost.  
• Experience conducting contract reviews and negotiating with current/future outside partners.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Must be able to demonstrate extensive knowledge of warehousing operations and controls.
• Lean, DMAIC, Continuous Improvement mindset.
• Strong training and mentoring skills.
• Ability to quickly identify waste inside a warehouse and in the greater value chain.
• High level analytical abilities - able to compile, analyze, and organize data to create actionable information.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to present to multiple levels of a matrixed organization to drive efficient data-driven decision making.