Warehouse Supervisor – Food Distribution

Warehouse Supervisor – 2nd Shift

Location: Milwaukee, WI 53223
Work Location: 8501 W Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee, WI – 100% On-Site
Salary: $60,000–$65,000 annually + Annual Bonus Potential
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 5:00 PM–2:00 AM (subject to change based on operational needs)
Hours: Approximately 45 hours per week
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Warehouse Supervisor to lead daily operations in a fast-paced food distribution environment.

This is a player-coach leadership position for someone who thrives in a high-volume warehouse, enjoys developing employees, improving processes, and maintaining operational excellence.

The Warehouse Supervisor is responsible for overseeing warehouse associates, coordinating workflow, maintaining productivity, and ensuring all operations meet company expectations for safety, sanitation, accuracy, and customer service.

The ideal candidate is a strong, results-driven leader who understands warehouse operations from the ground up and is comfortable balancing administrative responsibilities with an active presence on the warehouse floor.

This position is approximately 40% warehouse floor supervision and 60% office-based responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Warehouse Operations & Productivity

• Oversee daily warehouse operations, including receiving, replenishment, order selection, staging, loading, shipping, and inventory control.
• Direct and support warehouse associates and shipping office personnel to ensure efficient daily operations.
• Monitor staffing levels, workflow, labor utilization, and productivity based on operational volume and business demands.
• Establish and maintain productivity benchmarks, performance expectations, and operational standards.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement to reduce mis-picks, product damage, inventory discrepancies, and operational waste.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counts, warehouse management systems (WMS), and proper receiving procedures.
• Ensure material handling equipment (MHE), warehouse organization, and facility operations remain safe and efficient.

Leadership & Employee Development

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and ongoing support to warehouse associates and shipping personnel.
• Train, mentor, and develop employees while promoting a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and high performance.
• Monitor individual and team performance, provide constructive feedback, and administer disciplinary action when necessary.
• Assist with hiring, staffing recommendations, onboarding, and employee development.
• Ensure fair, consistent, and professional treatment of all employees.
• Promote clear communication and effective teamwork across all levels of the organization.
• Provide supervisory coverage during scheduled absences or operational needs.

Safety, Compliance & Quality

• Ensure compliance with company policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and warehouse safety requirements.
• Maintain exceptional warehouse sanitation, cleanliness, and organization.
• Conduct routine operational and safety observations to identify potential hazards and areas for improvement.
• Participate in incident investigations, reporting, and corrective action processes.
• Ensure proper handling, storage, and movement of food products, including adherence to applicable temperature-control requirements.
• Maintain a safe working environment for employees, drivers, and visitors.

Inventory, Shipping & Customer Service

• Oversee shipping and receiving processes to ensure accurate and timely movement of products.
• Address and resolve operational issues involving customers, carriers, drivers, and internal departments.
• Manage Over, Short, and Damaged (OS&D) claims and ensure proper documentation.
• Maintain accurate records of accessorial charges, shipping discrepancies, and operational activities.
• Troubleshoot warehouse management systems, RF inventory systems, and other operational technology.
• Collaborate with Dispatch, Transportation, Safety, and other departments to ensure seamless daily operations.
• Attend required meetings and training sessions, including those scheduled outside regular working hours.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Required Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of warehouse or distribution operations leadership experience preferred.
• Proven ability to supervise, coach, and develop employees in a fast-paced warehouse or distribution environment.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, inventory control, and productivity management.
• Experience with warehouse management systems (WMS) and RF-controlled inventory systems.
• Proficiency in operating forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material handling equipment.
• Basic computer proficiency and strong mathematical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong organizational, decision-making, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to provide clear direction, hold employees accountable, and effectively resolve workplace challenges.
• Comfortable working independently and collaborating with various levels of management.

Preferred Experience

• Food distribution, refrigerated warehouse, or cold-chain operations experience.
• Experience operating Crown stand-up forklifts.
• Background in high-volume distribution or warehouse environments.
• Experience improving warehouse productivity, inventory accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Familiarity with food safety, sanitation requirements, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in refrigerated or cooler warehouse environments.
• Comfortable spending approximately 40% of the workday actively supervising operations on the warehouse floor.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move products weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move throughout the warehouse as operationally required.
• Willingness and ability to operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material handling equipment when needed.
• Flexibility to adjust working hours based on operational demands, including occasional meetings or coverage outside regularly scheduled hours.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual Salary: $60,000–$65,000, based on experience and qualifications.

Additional Compensation:

• Annual performance bonus eligibility
• Extra Day Pay for eligible supervisors

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with 4% company match
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• Company-provided life insurance at no cost
• Company-provided short-term disability insurance at no cost
• Company-provided long-term disability insurance at no cost

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for a supervisor who leads by example, holds their team accountable, and understands that successful warehouse operations require both strong leadership and hands-on involvement.

You should be comfortable managing employees, resolving operational challenges, improving processes, and maintaining high standards for safety, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

If you're a motivated warehouse leader who knows how to develop people, improve performance, and keep a busy distribution operation running efficiently, we encourage you to apply!

Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00–$65,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person – Milwaukee, WI

Pay: $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person