Director of Distribution

River Valley Holdings is a family-owned distribution company based in Syracuse, NY, serving retail customers across the northeastern United States. The River Valley family of companies: River Valley Foods, Cavallaro Foods and Garden Spot Foods, distributes a wide range of specialty dry and frozen grocery items and consumable products out of warehouses in Syracuse, NY and New Holland, PA.

Position Summary:
The Director of Distribution is a key leadership position responsible for overseeing all aspects of distribution operations across multiple locations, including warehousing, facility maintenance, transportation and inventory control. This role will focus on building and mentoring a strong leadership team of managers, supervisors and leads to ensure operational excellence and continued growth.

Wages:

• $115,000 - $165,000 per year

Key Responsibilities

Warehouse Operations:

• Oversee warehouse operations across all locations, managing staffing levels, productivity, and inventory control
• Guide and empower warehouse leadership in implementing best practices, ensuring that teams operate with efficiency and precision
• Leverage technology and systems, including Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), to enhance process efficiency, quality, and productivity
• Establish and enforce best practices for pick-and-pack operations, ensuring order accuracy and timely fulfillment
• Manage and maintain inventory control processes, including cycle counts and annual physical inventories
• Ensure operations comply with legal, regulatory, and SQF standards while fostering a culture of workplace safety
• Maintain all necessary certifications and training for warehouse equipment and promote continuous staff development
• Manage overall warehouse department expenses and ensure costs are in line with company targets

Transportation Operations:

• Develop and implement strategic plans for optimizing routes, reducing fuel costs, and improving delivery times while maintaining product quality and safety standards
• Maintain compliance with transportation regulations, including DOT, OSHA, and food safety standards, to ensure all shipments meet legal and industry standards
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and performance management for the transportation department, fostering a high-performing and accountable team
• Regularly review key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery rates, cost per stop, and fuel efficiency, identifying opportunities for improvement

Maintenance and Facility Management:

• Oversee and ensure the proper maintenance of warehouse equipment, including forklifts, pallet jacks and sanitation equipment
• Develop and manage a maintenance schedule to minimize equipment downtime and extend the lifespan of assets
• Ensure warehouse facilities are well-maintained, safe, and comply with regulatory requirements, collaborating with facility managers and outside vendors as needed
• Implement preventive maintenance programs to reduce operational interruptions and maintain high safety standards

Team Development and Leadership:

• Build, develop, and manage a strong operations leadership team, ensuring leads, supervisors, and managers are equipped with the skills and tools necessary for success
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop team members at all levels to foster continuous improvement and career progression within the organization
• Set clear expectations for the leadership team, holding them accountable for performance metrics and operational outcomes
• Foster a positive, engaging, and collaborative work environment aligned with River Valley's core values
• Conduct regular performance reviews for operations employees, ensuring professional growth and alignment with company objectives
• Lead by example, creating an environment where team members are motivated, empowered, and equipped to deliver operational excellence

Operational Planning:

• Support the budgeting and forecasting process, driving profitability by developing and tracking key distribution metrics
• Analyze financial performance data and make strategic adjustments to meet or exceed profitability targets
• Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual performance goals for warehouse operations, setting clear objectives to drive continuous improvement
• Develop and manage 3rd Party Storage capabilities and associated costs, billing and forecasting
• Participate in planning and managing food production operations

Analytical & Strategic Thinking:

• Anticipate and address warehouse capacity constraints through careful analysis of sales forecasts and resource planning
• Deploy Risk Management processes to assess, monitor, and manage risks within distribution operations, focusing on preventive measures, compliance, and continuity planning
• Utilize data-driven insights to optimize warehouse space, racking design, and labor productivity
• Analyze labor utilization trends and create staffing models that accommodate seasonal demand fluctuations
• Evaluate and project the impact of routing changes on customer profitability

Skills & Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in a senior operations role, with proven success managing multi-site operations and leading teams
• Strong background in developing and managing leadership teams, including supervisors and managers
• Experience with strategic and tactical execution of warehouse, logistics, and distribution operations, with experience in the Food Industry preferred
• Proficient in key performance indicator (KPI) development and management
• Experience implementing and using WMS and TMS software programs
• Advanced Excel skills, including vlookup, pivot tables, and macros for data analysis and decision-making
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement
• Proven ability to manage equipment and facility maintenance programs to ensure smooth operations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams
• Strong financial acumen with a solid understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with frequent changes
• Highly accountable and results-oriented with strong follow-through on commitments
• Team-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to lead change and drive a culture of operational excellence
• Flexible scheduling availability to meet the needs of a 24/7 operations environment

Benefits:

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Company paid holidays
• Health, prescription, and dental insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Supplemental insurances
• 401 (k) with company match
• Employee assistant program
• Employee purchase program

River Valley Holdings is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)