Shipping Manager

The Shipping 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 Shipping  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 detail