Director of Warehouse Operations

Position: Director of Warehouse Operations

Department: Warehouse Operations

Reports to: VP of Ops

Date: March 2026

About the Company:

Water Lilies Food, LLC is a private equity-backed manufacturer and distributor of premium Asian inspired food. Founded for over 30 years, the Company is in a high-growth phase, supported by a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bay Shore, NY (Suffolk County Long Island), with a second facility scheduled to come online in Q2 2026.

Water Lilies’ growth strategy is centered on private label partnerships with national and regional retailers, complemented by proprietary control brand offerings where private label programs are not feasible. The category remains underdeveloped, creating meaningful runway for growth through disciplined commercialization, category-led selling, and operationally sound go-to-market execution.

Water Lilies’ vision is to be the preferred supplying partner of premium Asian-inspired food, achieved through delivering our products and services with attention to detail, a continuous improvement mindset, agility, and authenticity. Our culture emphasizes collaboration, respect, and accountability.

Employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact, take ownership of their work, and grow alongside the business. The company is backed by Blue Point Capital Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm with a strong history of scaling founder-led and growth-oriented manufacturing businesses.

Job Summary:

The Director of Warehouse provides strategic leadership for multi-site warehouse operations within our food manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across inventory management and receiving while ensuring compliance with food safety, regulatory, and workplace safety standards.

The Director will lead high-performing teams, optimize warehouse processes, and implement data-driven strategies that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and overall performance. This role plays a critical part in aligning warehouse operations with production, customer demand, and organizational growth objectives.

Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Optimization

• Direct and oversee all warehouse operations across multiple facilities, including receiving, inventory control and order fulfillment.

• Develop and implement strategies to optimize warehouse layout, workflows, space utilization, and labor efficiency.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of goods to support production and customer fulfillment requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and streamline operations.

Safety, Compliance & Quality

• Establish, enforce, and continuously improve safety programs to maintain a safe working environment.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, including OSHA, FDA, and food safety standards (GMPs, HACCP).
• Partner with FSQA to ensure timely product release while maintaining quality and compliance standards.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop warehouse leadership and staff across multiple sites.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
• Support employee engagement, retention, and career development initiatives.

Performance Management & Financial Oversight

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational performance, including accuracy, productivity, service levels, and cost efficiency.
• Manage departmental budgets, analyze financial performance, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Utilize data and reporting tools to drive informed decision-making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Operations, Production, Procurement, Transportation, and Customer Service teams to ensure seamless end-to-end execution.
• Lead and participate in weekly planning meetings related to scheduling, materials, and capacity.
• Collaborate with manufacturing partners to balance cost efficiency with demand responsiveness.
• Align warehouse strategies with broader operational and organizational goals.

Continuous Improvement & Systems Optimization

• Evaluate and enhance inventory management processes, implementing best practices and new planning methodologies.
• Lead ERP system optimization efforts, improving data accuracy, reporting capabilities, and operational visibility.
• Support innovation and automation initiatives within warehouse operations.
• Analyze inventory levels, including days on hand, and develop stocking strategies aligned with production and demand planning.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in warehouse or distribution operations, preferably within food manufacturing or CPG.
• Multi-site management experience is strongly preferred.

Preferred Skills & Competencies:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis.
• Experience with ERP systems, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), and Business Intelligence (BI) tools.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Proven ability to lead continuous improvement and operational transformation initiatives.
• Experience with warehouse automation and technology implementation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in a warehouse and manufacturing environment, including exposure to varying temperatures.
• Occasional travel between sites may be required.

The employee will occasionally move within the office to access office machinery, file cabinets, and collaborate with colleagues. Consistent use of office equipment, such equipment may include but not limited to computers, phones, printers, and copiers. The employee will be required to frequently communicate with both internal staff members as well as external parties or customers and must be able to convey accurate information. This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change based on company needs as expressed by management.