Receiving Manager

The Receiving Manager is responsible for overseeing day-to-day distribution center operations for a book publishing organization. This role ensures the efficient, accurate, and cost-effective receipt, storage, picking, packing, and shipment of finished books and related products. The Receiving Manager leads frontline supervisors and staff, drives continuous improvement, and ensures service level commitments to customers, retailers, and internal stakeholders are met—especially during peak publishing seasons.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Manage daily warehouse and fulfillment operations, including inbound receiving, put-away, inventory control, order fulfillment, shipping, and returns processing

Ensure operational readiness to support new title releases, seasonal surges, and promotional campaigns

Monitor productivity, throughput, and accuracy to meet service level agreements (SLAs)

People Management

Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and hourly staff in a fast-paced distribution environment

Oversee staffing plans, scheduling, training, and performance management

Promote a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement

Process & Continuous Improvement

Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and control costs

Leverage Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies where applicable

Partner with IT and Supply Chain teams to optimize warehouse management systems (WMS) and reporting tools

Inventory & Quality Control

Ensure accurate inventory management, cycle counts, and reconciliation

Minimize shrink, damages, and mis-shipments

Maintain high standards for order accuracy and product quality

Safety & Compliance

Ensure compliance with all safety regulations, company policies, and labor standards

Lead safety initiatives and training to maintain a safe working environment

Support audits and ensure adherence to internal controls

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate with Publishing Operations, Sales, Customer Service, and Transportation teams to resolve issues and improve service

Communicate operational performance, risks, and improvement plans to leadership

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related field, or equivalent experience

5+ years of experience in distribution center or warehouse operations, with at least 2 years in a management role

Experience managing high-volume fulfillment operations, preferably in publishing, media, or consumer products

Strong people leadership and team-building skills

Proficiency with warehouse management systems (WMS) and operational reporting

Ability to work flexible hours, including peak seasons, evenings, or weekends as needed

Preferred

Experience in book publishing or returns-heavy distribution environments

Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement frameworks

Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into action

Key Competencies

Operational excellence and execution focus

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Problem-solving and decision-making

Change management and adaptability

Results-driven mindset with attention to de

Work Schedule - 1st shift: 7:30 – 4:00 PM