Warehouse & Logistics Manager

Warehouse & Logistics Manager Position Overview: The Warehouse & Logistics Manager is a hands‑on operational leader responsible for overseeing all shipping, receiving, inventory, and warehouse activities supporting a print, lettershop, and large format production teams. This role requires daily, on‑the‑floor involvement to ensure finished goods, raw materials, packaging supplies, and client‑provided materials are handled accurately, safely, and efficiently. This position actively participates in warehouse operations while managing the team, including a supervisor and warehouse associates. The Manager works closely with Production, Scheduling, Quality Assurance, Procurement, and Customer Service to ensure smooth workflow, on‑time deliveries, and consistent service quality. Key Responsibilities: Team Management and Development - Provide hands‑on leadership for the Warehouse & Logistics team, including direct management of a Warehouse / Shipping & Receiving Supervisor and active daily involvement with warehouse associates. - Work side‑by‑side with the Supervisor and team to oversee receiving, inventory movement, picking, packing, and shipping activities. - Clearly define priorities and expectations for the Supervisor while remaining actively engaged in execution and issue resolution. - Step into operational tasks as needed, especially during peak periods, staffing shortages, tight deadlines, or complex shipments. - Lead hiring, onboarding, training, and cross‑training using hands‑on coaching and real‑time feedback. - Conduct performance reviews, coaching discussions, and corrective actions to drive accountability and continuous improvement. - Model and strictly enforce safety protocols specific to a printing and production environment, including handling of inks, chemicals, heavy materials, and equipment. - Warehouse, Shipping & Receiving Operations: - Actively manage and participate in daily warehouse operations, including receiving, put‑away, picking, packing, staging, and shipping of finished printed materials, direct mail, transactional print, lettershop work, and large format projects. - Oversee and personally support the intake, storage, and movement of raw materials (paper, inks), packaging supplies, consumables, and client‑supplied items to meet production schedules. - Work directly on the floor with the team to prioritize outbound shipments based on client deadlines, service levels, and quality standards. - Ensure seamless coordination between Production and Shipping through hands‑on oversight and real‑time problem-solving. - Maintain an organized, safe, and efficient warehouse environment that supports production flow and operational demands. Inventory Control: - Be directly involved in inventory handling and accuracy, ensuring materials are properly stored, labeled, and accessible. - Partner closely with Procurement and Production Planning to manage inventory levels hands-on, balancing availability with space and cost constraints. - Conduct and actively participate in cycle counts, audits, and reconciliations, investigating and resolving discrepancies. - Design, adjust, and maintain warehouse layouts to improve picking speed, material flow, and seasonal storage requirements. - Oversee the return of unused materials from production back into inventory, ensuring accuracy and traceability. Quality Control: - Collaborate with quality assurance to check the condition of incoming materials and finished goods, ensuring adherence to customer specifications and industry standards. - Monitor packaging and labeling accuracy to maintain consistency with client branding and product specifications. - Coordinate with the production team to address and resolve any quality issues before shipping. Logistics & Carrier Coordination: - Actively manage and coordinate shipments with carriers, courier services, and freight providers, including scheduling pickups and tracking deliveries. - Work hands‑on to resolve shipping delays, damaged goods, missed deliveries, or client escalations. - Optimize freight costs through practical, real‑time shipment planning and carrier selection. - Ensure adequate packaging supplies are on hand to protect products during transit. Skills: - Forklift‑certified and experienced, including counterbalance, reach truck, walkie rider, and order picker equipment. - Proficiency in inventory management and ERP systems, ideally within the printing industry - Strong organizational and time management skills - Keen attention to detail, particularly for quality control and compliance - Excellent communication and team management abilities - Ability to troubleshoot, solve problems, and make decisions under tight deadlines Expression of Interest: Barbara Lockhart | 416-258-5557 | barbara@smarthire.solutions