Distribution Manager

Sazerac Company Overview

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka. 

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

Job Description/Responsibilities

The Distribution Center Manager oversees all distribution operations in accomplishing production needs within safety, quality, budgetary and regulatory guidelines. Evaluates efficiency and cost; plans, organizes, directs improvements and corrective action plans. Establishes best methods, standard operating procedures, and priorities to meet established productivity and quality goals. Meets and exceeds customer expectations to deliver product on time and in full within budget.

• Lead department efforts to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs to lowest levels possible without compromising service. Leads department in controlling targeted inventory, cost per case, inventory loss annually and reducing daily product losses.
• Manage adherence to applicable quality, safety, distribution and logistics standards, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), with a consistent focus on excellent customer service, and budgetary and regulatory guidelines. Develop distribution center employees, plan and implement shipping improvements. Evaluate efficiency and cost; plan, organize and direct improvements and corrective action plans. Establish work schedules, best methods, standard operating procedures and priorities to meet established productivity and quality goals in all aspects of distribution.
• Establish documentation and implementation of best practices SOPs. Develop, implement and enforce SOP’s and other initiatives including but not limited to WMS process, customer service, housekeeping, cycle counting, and breakage. Drive continuous improvement culture within the department. Lead, develop, execute and review best practices, processes and procedures to improve the distribution center operation on all shifts including movement of product, receiving, staging, loading and inventory management.
• Monitors and enforces all OSHA and Company safety regulations and policies. Leads the safety programs for the department through development and execution of safe practices and operating procedures to minimize the occurrence and severity of workplace accidents. Oversee, reduce, and manage the number of injuries and report all safety occurrences in a timely manner.
• Establish and follow development plan to achieve career development and/or advancement. Responsible for developing department team and works with all managers across the site to develop skills and results around continuous improvement. Facilitate and lead performance discussions with direct reports and support with creating development plans.
• Lead the Distribution Center in a manner consistent with the culture values of the company and ensure that the department staff act in a manner consistent with these values. Actively participate in efforts and lead departmental best place to work action plans to make the Company a Best Place to Work.
• Ensure adherence to personal safety, food safety, quality and environmental policies and practices. Analyzes and resolves problems relating to distribution operation quality and efficiency. Develop concepts for department with implementation timelines that are in line with the continuous improvement efforts of the department. Develop metrics to track and drive departmental performance improvement.
• Lead, oversee and provide support to sales to ensure products are shipped correctly and on time to meet customer expectations including launch of new products and new distribution. Meet and improve the metric on- time shipment goals as well as order fulfillment goals.

Qualifications/Requirements

MUST

• Excellent listening, presentation, and communication skills
• Strong computer skills and high comfort using technology and systems
• Bachelor's Degree
• Strong analytical and technical skill
• Working knowledge of MS Office Products (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• 5+ years experience in manufacturing, distribution, or warehouse environment
• 2+ years experience in manufacturing software (ERP, MRP, MPS, WMS)
• 2+ years managerial experience
• Ability and willingness to work non-traditional hours as needed (nights/weekends)
• Requires Experience driving change in an organization

PREFERRED

• APICS Certification or Six Sigma Certification
• Experience with System 21 ERP software
• Experience in Alcohol Beverage Industry or CPG overall
• 10+ year’s experience in manufacturing, distribution, or warehouse environment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to pick up and/or move objects up to 10 pounds without assistance

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