Director of Warehouse Excellence - The Morning Star Company

The Company
The Morning Star Company and its affiliates operate three tomato processing facilities in Central California, processing over 1/3 of the California processing tomato crop, in addition to tomato transplanting, farming, harvesting and trucking operations.  The company employs approximately 500 year-round and 2,700 seasonal colleagues.
The Morning Star Company is the largest independent producer of bulk tomato ingredient products (tomato paste and diced tomatoes) in the world.  We also produce canned tomatoes, tomato products and specialty sauces in pouches for customers in the retail and food service markets.  The company is known worldwide for its innovation and integrity.
We are organizationally structured through a system we term Mission Focused Self-Management™.  Our company is operated by Colleagues without titles or an appointed hierarchy of authority.  Authority relative to other Colleagues’ activities is lateral, with our Mission as our guiding principle of action, and respect, influence and success built based on each Colleague’s integrity, competency, effort, persistence and straightforward persuasiveness.  Although we have grown significantly, we intend to maintain a culture of individual responsibility and Mission Focused Self-Management™.

This Colleague’s Mission is to drive implementation of a comprehensive warehouse management strategy, in order to optimize warehouse operations and provide world class service to our customers.

Job Summary:
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced professional to drive continuous improvement initiatives across inventory management and warehouse operations. This role is critical to optimizing inventory processes, enhancing warehouse efficiency, reducing waste, and improving overall supply chain performance. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in applying warehouse management and demand planning methodology, Lean principles, and data-driven problem-solving techniques to deliver measurable improvements in cost, time, and quality.

The ideal candidate will be an independently driven, relationship-oriented professional that contributes a positive outlook to our unique, collaborative environment.  They will be able to multitask effectively, adapt to change quickly, work well under pressure, and manage their time appropriately.  The candidate should be a strong oral and written communicator and an efficient organizer

Key Responsibilities:

• Continuous Improvement Leadership:
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams in identifying, developing, and implementing process improvement initiatives across inventory and warehouse operations.
  • Utilize Six Sigma and Lean methodologies (DMAIC, value stream mapping, 5S, etc.) to drive operational excellence, reduce variation, and eliminate waste.
  • Develop and evolve the business unit Mission for a new Warehouse BU.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on warehousing and demand planning for all affiliates within the Enterprise, driving continuous improvement as well as mentoring other colleagues within the warehouse business unit.
• Process Optimization:
  • Analyze current inventory and warehouse management processes, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements to optimize stock levels, reduce holding costs, and enhance order fulfillment.
  • Work closely with operations, logistics, procurement, and other stakeholders to streamline workflows, reduce cycle times, and improve accuracy and service levels.
• Data Analysis & Reporting:
  • Collect and analyze data related to inventory levels, order processing times, stock movement, and warehouse layout efficiency to identify key areas for improvement.
  • Develop and monitor Steppingstones (KPIs) to track progress and quantify the impact of improvement efforts.
  • Prepare regular reports and presentations detailing project outcomes and continuous improvement initiatives (gap analysis).
• Project Management:
  • Lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously, from initial scoping through to execution and post-implementation reviews.
  • Create detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocation strategies to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of improvement initiatives.
  • Engage and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring buy-in and successful adoption of new processes and technologies.
• Principal Leadership Characteristics:
  • Works independently, with broadly defined work objectives- can handle ambiguity.
  • Strong work ethic with a passion to make a difference.
  • While being an independent, confident individual who respects others can be effective in coordinating activities with colleagues, as required to accomplish one’s Mission.
  • Honest, forthright and trustworthy--not political.
  • Results Oriented: Persistent in getting results, but patient.
  • Driven to succeed and get things done – competitive.
  • Has a bias for being decisive and acting when called for, but balances risk and reward rationally.
  • Creative – willing to challenge existing ways of doing business

Qualifications:

• Education:
  • The ideal candidate will likely have meaningful education in Mission-related disciplines, such as: Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
• Experience:
  • 7 years of experience in a warehouse management and demand planning role, with a focus on inventory management, warehouse operations, or supply chain management.
  • Demonstrated success in leading continuous improvement initiatives using Six Sigma and Lean methodologies.
  • Experience in the CPG and/or Food ingredient sector is highly preferred.
• Skills & Competencies:
  • Strong knowledge of inventory control techniques, warehouse layout design, and logistics operations.
  • Exceptional analytical skills with expertise in statistical analysis and root cause analysis.
  • Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Strong leadership and influencing skills, with a proven ability to drive change and foster a continuous improvement culture through leading by example.
  • Proficiency with Warehouse Management Applications, as well as data analysis tools (e.g., Minitab, Excel).

Examples of Steppingstones (KPIs):

• Inventory accuracy rates
• Warehouse picking and shipping efficiency
• Inventory turnover ratio
• Cost savings and process improvement outcomes
• Reduction in order fulfillment times and stockouts

Compensation: Depending upon the level of experience and qualifications, the starting range for this role will be between $135,000 and $160,000. 

Benefits: Morning Star offers a top-tier, comprehensive health plan, including medical, dental, and vision, and we pay the full monthly premiums for the Colleague and all eligible family members. The company also contributes to Colleagues' Health Savings Accounts. Year-round Colleagues are eligible to enroll in our 401K plan, with 4% match. 

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