Distribution Manager Details

Distribution Manager

Kimberly-Clark - Neenah, WI

Employment Type : Full-Time

Position Purposes

Provide Logistics team leadership to ensure that business objectives are met or exceeded for safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost. Enable efficient storage, shipping, receiving, and handling of finished goods and materials. Drive supply chain value capture initiatives across finished goods and materials as defined for plant.

Key Customers

Plant Management, Staff Distribution, Plant Distribution Team, Plant Operations Team, Plant Quality Team, Staff Transportation, Customers, and Carriers.

Expectations

• Lead the development of Strategies, Objectives and Execution plans that optimize both the Distribution Center and Material Flow operations, including driving On-Time/In Full, best in class product storage and handling, and delivery of high inventory accuracy and low damage results.

• Drive supply chain value capture activities across all aspects of Logistics to eliminate waste, improve storage density, and yield cost savings.

• Provides input into new (or improving existing) processes, standards, or operational plans in support of mill/Logistics strategies.

• Maintain strong, safe working conditions. Drive a people-based safety and quality culture consistent with plant and staff objectives.

• Lead and develop the talent of the site Logistics team.

• Provide work direction and leadership to logistics personnel ensuring labor resources are utilized effectively.

• Build relationship with on-site third-party operations provider and hold accountable for performance expectations.

• Develop and implement effective cost management practices and cost improvement programs.

• Foster an environment conducive to favorable employee relations.

• Establish/maintain housekeeping standards in conformance to plant and government regulations.

• Properly manage materials handling equipment including but not limited to lift truck fleet, robotic cells, palletizers, and conveyance system.

• Provide oversight to Spotting, Lift Truck Maintenance and Security services to ensure each are delivering on site safety, quality, delivery, and cost standards.

Scope

This position reports directly to the site Plant Manager. The position is responsible to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the logistics department, including where Operations extend to overflow site usage. The incumbent must possess a good level of understanding of the functional areas and provides leadership in a team setting. The position will also lead logistics projects to drive warehouse efficiencies, modifications, or improvements. The person serves as a liaison for and provides oversight to the various third-party operators (Spotting, Lift Truck Maintenance, WH Operations, Site Security).

Qualifications/Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required with a minimum of 10+ years of experience in logistics or operations.

• Experience in a leadership/supervisory position required.

• Applies in-depth advanced Logistics knowledge and skills, integrating theories and principles into the context of the broader KC Supply-Chain.

• Provides Logistics expert advice, coaching and counseling to peers and the broader Logistics organization in general.

• Possesses strong understanding of a Mill Operation and the relationship and integration of Logistics within that Operation.

• Demonstration of capability to facilitate projects/focus groups in a team environment while providing team leadership.

Dimensions

120+ Kimberly-Clark and/or third party direct and indirect employees. Third party personnel accountability resides with third party, but Logistics Manager is accountable for overall third party performance. Direct reports include third party leaders and K-C professionals.

Complexity

400,000+ square feet of warehouse, roughly 700,000 stacks/pallets/rolls handled, multiple robotic cells/palletizers, significant case conveyor system.

Principal Accountabilities

Safety

• Consistently lead first with safety to demonstrate that it is embraced as an immovable value. Develop and maintain safety systems in accordance with K-C standards and lead team to complete safety objectives and ensure a safe and productive work environment. Create and support an environment that removes barriers to success.

• Develop and implement continuous improvement programs that ensure the safe handling of finished product continues to grow and progress.

• Fully comply with corporate loss management policies as well as government safety and health regulations. Support Corporate Drug and Alcohol policy compliance with their team to deal with issues as they arise.

Quality

• Ensure systems, procedures, and accountability is in place to achieve KC Global Quality Policy.

• Contain all Hold product in a consistent and timely manner and maintain full control throughout the duration of the hold (including disposition).

• Maintain housekeeping, handling, and scanning programs to protect the integrity of materials and finished product. This includes following KC-SHARP objectives for finished product.

• Ensure systems are in place to routinely check for health of the Containment, Housekeeping, and Handling processes.

Cost/Asset Management

• Drive supply chain value capture programming within warehouse to yield transformational cost savings.

• Manage distribution and materials handling costs (i.e. operating supplies, maintenance, labor, gap closure savings, etc.).

• Development of team objectives that support Plant and Staff Distribution objectives. Support mill initiatives on Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People.

• Provide for the most cost-effective storage, retrieval and issuing of finished materials in the plant. Support efforts to drive improvements in material flow and storage density.

• Leverage and optimize warehouse management system technology to maximize distribution efficiency.

• Leverage and optimize robotic cell technology to maximize efficiency and case presentation.

• Ensure that appropriate distribution assets and equipment are available and properly maintained.

Human Resources

• Promote a good employee relations climate through the effective and consistent implementation of plant guidelines and procedures that will result in employees considering their plant to be a fair and equitable place of employment.

• Provide leadership to ensure the organization attracts and retains the best people and fosters an environment which motivates a diverse team to fully use its capabilities in achieving desired business results.

• Engage in frank, open and timely dialogue with deputies, to provide them with: criteria-based assessments of their job performance and career growth potential; opportunities for development; and recognition to reinforce growth.

• Ability to lead organizational change, builds relationships, and make good use of available resources. Ability to confront problems and handle conflict.

• Ability to problem solve and set priorities, generating new ideas and improved ways of working while maintaining effective control. Demonstrated capability associated with the One K-C Behaviors.

• Provide expectations and results feedback to 3rd Party Warehouse Operations provider to achieve department objectives and exceed plant, external customer, and corporate requirements.

Internal Controls

• Ensure the effective development and application of internal control systems/procedures, customer service policies and facility standard operating procedures in distribution.

Communication

• Engage with Staff Distribution on performance to objectives, network standards and programs, and collaborative improvement opportunities.

• Communicate fully with supervisors, subordinates and others who have need to know. Be informative without being obtrusive or vexatious. Communicate in a way that is timely, yet prompt; complete, yet concise; candid, yet accurate and clear, yet responsive. Communicate efficiently and effectively with mill leadership.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Corporate policies and procedures

• Safety rules/regulations

• Product/raw material knowledge

• Continuous improvement mindset and focus

• Mill policies/procedures

• Internal control procedures

• Process control systems

• Problem solving

• Tenacity

• Personal sensitivity

• Integrity

• Technical/functional

• Motivation

• Flexibility

• Decisiveness

• Organizing

• Oral Communication

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a high-speed industrial manufacturing, logistics or supply chain environment.

• Experience with LEAN Manufacturing and problem solving.

• Experience engaging with a third-party logistics provider.

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population - trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene, and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No.1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. With more than 140 years of history of innovation, we believe in recruiting the best people and empowering them do their best work. If fresh thinking and a passion to win inspire you, come Unleash Your Power at Kimberly-Clark.

For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world. We actively seek to build a workforce that reflects the experiences of our consumers. When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise. We are a committed equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position.

This position may require a post-offer/pre-hire Physical Abilities Test (PAT) to confirm that individuals are able to perform the essential functions of the job.

K-C requires that an employee have authorization to work in the country in which the role is based. In the event an applicant does not have current work authorization, K-C will determine, in its sole discretion, whether to sponsor an individual for work authorization. However, based on immigration requirements, not all roles are suitable for sponsorship. This position is subject to drug and alcohol testing, including pre-employment testing.