DIRECTOR OF WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS
Director of Warehouse Operations
Start Date : September 2019
Position Location: Sitka Salmon Shares warehouse in Galesburg, IL
Position Reports to: Member of the executive team
About Our Company: Founded in 2012 by a food systems professor from the Midwest and a fisherman
from Sitka, Sitka Salmon Shares is one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing Community Supported
Fisheries (CSF). Modeled similarly to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), we provide high quality,
traceable seafood with a purpose to thousands of consumers in the Midwest and beyond. Our Company
is built on the values of supporting small-boat, family fishermen in Alaska, and cultivating healthy and
sustainable food systems in the places we live, work, fish, and play.
About The Position: Sitka Salmon Shares is a fast-growing company currently comprised of about 40 full
time employees and 50 seasonal employees located across the Midwest and in Alaska. Our warehouse
in Galesburg, IL is the heart of our midwest operations, handling all seafood that flows from Alaska to
our customers in the Midwest and across the country. We are seeking a Director of Warehouse
Operations to oversee the receiving, quality control, packaging, and distribution of large volumes of
frozen seafood in Galesburg and our last-mile Midwest distribution hubs through a period of exceptional
growth. This leader will provide strategic and technical know-how to ensure warehouse operations are
optimized to fully utilize cold storage space to receive, process, pack, and ship frozen seafood while
maintaining impeccable food safety and quality expectations. The Director of Warehouse Operations will
play a key role in ensuring only the best seafood is our delivered to our members and customers.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Provide effective leadership and oversight for all warehouse activities, including managing a
team of approximately 10 (and rapidly growing) full-time and seasonal employees responsible
for receiving of seafood, grading/quality assurance, management of inventory, fulfillment of CSF
member orders, distribution to farmers markets, and additional customers.
● Work collaboratively with warehouse team management to develop an effective model and
processes for staffing the warehouse, including recruiting, hiring, overseeing, and training of
employees.
● Drive a workforce culture that prioritizes exceptional fish quality and continuous improvement.
● Establish and implement processes and SOPs to maximize material flow, output of cold storage
facilities, and ensure the quality of the product.
● Oversee operations that are optimized for a highly seasonal environment, including running
swing and 3rd shifts during peak periods of production.
● Develop a masterful understanding of seafood quality and the variables involved with producing
a quality product, including holding temperatures and minimizing temperature fluctuation.
● Ensure the proper functioning of all warehouse equipment including freezers, vacuum sealers,
fork lifts, scales, etc.; serve as a liaison with vendors and contractors and put in place proper
backup plans to ensure production is not impeded in the event of breakdown or failure.
● Oversee the ordering of materials and supplies needed for production.
● Achieve financial goals by creating annual budgets, maximizing the use of capital assets,
monitoring variances, and controlling costs.
● Research, recommend, and implement equipment and capital improvements necessary for
efficient and effective performance.
● Develop, implement, and track the performance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
● Ensure warehouse facilities and workforce are compliant with OSHA safety guidelines, HACCP
standards, and all legal and regulatory requirements.
● Lead the implementation of new inventory tracking and warehouse management systems.
● Communicate effectively and continuously with our supply team in Alaska and midwest
operations teams; attend meetings as necessary and travel occasionally when requested within
the midwest and to Alaska.
DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
● 10 or more years warehouse management experience, with at least two years management
experience in the manufacturing and distribution of frozen foods/temperature-controlled
perishables.
● Demonstrated experience in a direct oversight role of teams of 25 or more people.
● Experience with quality control procedures, ideally for food products.
● Bachelor’s degree or comparable work experience.
● Demonstrated ability to analyze and leverage data for problem solving.
● Experience writing SOPs and training warehouse employees.
● Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows/Google Drive environment.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
● Ability to work nights and weekends when required.
● Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work periodically in sub-zero environments.
JOB SCOPE AND COMPENSATION:
● Full-time, salaried position with pay range starting at $80,000 dependent on experience.
● Competitive benefits package including employer subsidized health care, 401(k) + match, paid
vacation, and free fish!
● Yearly reviews will be done to assess position and pay. There is a 3 month probationary period.
TO APPLY:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
To apply, please send a cover letter describing your interest in the position and qualifications as well as a
resume in pdf format to dara@sitkasalmonshares.com. Questions can also be directed to this email.