Operations Manager – 3PL Warehousing

Cephas Consultancy Services Private Limited

United States, Indiana, Greenfield

On-site · Full-time

Operations Manager – 3PL Warehousing

Location: Greenfield, Indiana, USA (east side of the Indianapolis area)
Employment type: Full-time
Experience: 5+ years
Compensation: Bonus eligible

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead operations across four food-grade, third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse facilities on the east side of Indianapolis. This role is responsible for safety, food-grade compliance, customer service, labor productivity, inventory accuracy, cost control, and consistent execution across all locations.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, data-driven leader with experience managing multiple warehouse operations in a 3PL, food-grade, distribution, or manufacturing environment. This position requires the ability to develop site leaders, standardize processes, manage changing customer demands, and maintain audit-ready facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Multi-Site Operations Leadership

  • Direct daily operations across four warehouse locations, including receiving, put-away, storage, inventory control, order fulfillment, shipping, and value-added services.
  • Establish consistent operating procedures, performance expectations, and accountability across all sites.
  • Conduct regular site visits, operational reviews, safety observations, and leadership meetings.
  • Balance labor, equipment, space, and workload across facilities to meet customer requirements.
  • Develop site managers, supervisors, and team leads through coaching, training, and performance management.
  • Support new customer implementations, operational transitions, and business growth.

Food Safety, Quality, and Compliance

  • Maintain clean, safe, secure, and audit-ready food-grade facilities.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, OSHA, FSMA, GMP, sanitation, pest-control, allergen-management, and customer-specific requirements.
  • Partner with quality and safety personnel to maintain required records, corrective-action plans, training, and inspection readiness.
  • Lead or support customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
  • Investigate safety, quality, inventory, and service incidents and ensure corrective actions are completed.
  • Promote a strong culture of food safety, employee safety, and continuous improvement.

Customer Service and 3PL Performance

  • Serve as a senior operational contact for assigned customers and address service issues promptly.
  • Ensure operations meet customer SLAs, contractual requirements, shipping schedules, and inventory standards.
  • Lead customer business reviews and communicate performance, risks, and corrective actions.
  • Coordinate with transportation providers, customer teams, vendors, and internal departments.
  • Support pricing, labor modeling, capacity planning, and scope reviews for new or changing customer programs.

Financial and Performance Management

  • Manage site operating budgets, labor costs, overtime, supplies, equipment, and facility-related expenses.
  • Monitor and improve key performance indicators, including:
    • Safety performance
    • Order and shipment accuracy
    • Inventory accuracy
    • On-time shipping
    • Labor productivity
    • Overtime and cost per unit
    • Space utilization
    • Damage and claims
    • Customer service levels
    • Audit findings and corrective-action closure
  • Analyze operational data to identify trends, constraints, and improvement opportunities.
  • Implement lean practices, process improvements, and cost-saving initiatives without compromising safety, quality, or customer service.
  • Provide accurate operational forecasts, reports, and performance updates to senior leadership.

People Leadership

  • Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, and customer focus.
  • Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, onboarding, retention, attendance, employee relations, and workforce planning.
  • Ensure all employees receive appropriate safety, food-handling, equipment, and job-specific training.
  • Establish succession plans and develop a strong leadership bench across all four locations.
  • Manage performance issues consistently and in accordance with company policies.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, operations management, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
  • At least five years of progressive warehouse, distribution, or logistics operations experience.
  • At least three years of management experience with responsibility for supervisors and hourly warehouse employees.
  • Experience managing multiple facilities, large operations, or several customer accounts.
  • Experience in a 3PL, food-grade, food and beverage, consumer products, or regulated warehousing environment.
  • Working knowledge of food-grade warehousing standards, GMPs, sanitation programs, and audit requirements.
  • Strong understanding of warehouse management systems, inventory control, labor planning, and operational KPIs.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, improve productivity, and lead continuous-improvement initiatives.
  • Strong communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and customer-management skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, reporting tools, and warehouse management technology.
  • Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly among four east-side Indianapolis facilities.