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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Cargo Warehouse Manager

💰 $ - $

LogisticsWarehouse ManagementSupply Chain

🎯 Role Definition

The Cargo Warehouse Manager is responsible for end-to-end warehouse operations for cargo handling, including receiving, storage, inventory accuracy, order fulfillment, packing, loading, and outbound distribution. This role leads on-site teams, enforces safety and regulatory compliance (customs, IATA, IMO, DOT), manages warehouse management systems (WMS/ERP), optimizes labor and equipment utilization, maintains KPI and cost targets, and partners with carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers and internal stakeholders to ensure timely, secure and accurate movement of freight.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Supervisor (Cargo / General Freight)
  • Logistics Coordinator or Shipping & Receiving Lead
  • Inventory Control Specialist or Freight Handler

Advancement To:

  • Warehouse Operations Manager / Terminal Manager
  • Logistics Manager or Distribution Center Manager
  • Director of Supply Chain / Head of Logistics

Lateral Moves:

  • Transportation Manager (Fleet & Carrier Management)
  • 3PL Account Manager / Freight Forwarding Operations Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead, coach and develop a high-performing warehouse team (supervisors, forklift operators, cargo handlers, clerks) to execute safe, efficient and compliant cargo operations across inbound, storage and outbound processes while maintaining employee engagement and low turnover.
  • Oversee daily receiving and inspection of air, ocean and ground freights, verifying Bill of Lading, manifests and customs paperwork, preventing mis-declarations and ensuring proper acceptance, staging and storage of cargo.
  • Manage outbound operations including order picking, consolidation, container stuffing, palletizing and load planning to maximize trailer/container utilization and meet carrier cut-off times while minimizing damage and rework.
  • Maintain and continuously improve inventory accuracy by implementing cycle counting, reconciliation processes, root-cause analysis of discrepancies and corrective actions to drive inventory accuracy targets (e.g., 99%+).
  • Administer and configure the Warehouse Management System (WMS/EWM/Manhattan/Blue Yonder) and ERP interfaces to ensure accurate transactions, real-time inventory visibility, ASN processing and integration with carrier manifesting systems.
  • Implement and enforce regulatory, security and safety compliance programs (OSHA, DOT, IATA/ICAO, IMO, ISPS, customs brokerage requirements), including training, PPE enforcement, incident reporting and remediation.
  • Develop, monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) — such as throughput, dock-to-stock time, order fill rate, on-time shipment, damage rate, labor productivity and cost-per-order — and lead performance improvement initiatives.
  • Plan and manage labor forecasting, shift scheduling, overtime controls and temporary staffing to match inbound/outbound volumes and seasonal spikes while controlling labor costs and meeting service level agreements (SLAs).
  • Coordinate with carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers and 3PL partners to schedule pick-ups/returns, manage ETAs, expedite critical shipments and resolve exceptions or claims efficiently.
  • Manage cargo security, loss prevention and chain-of-custody practices including surveillance, access control, seal integrity, tamper-evidence procedures and reconciliation for high-value or sensitive shipments.
  • Lead continuous improvement and Lean projects (Kaizen, 5S, Six Sigma) to reduce waste, accelerate throughput, lower operating costs and improve safety and quality across the warehouse.
  • Oversee equipment and facility maintenance programs (forklifts, conveyors, dock levelers, pallet racking, refrigeration units) and coordinate preventive maintenance with vendors to ensure uptime and safety.
  • Control operating budgets, capex requests and vendor contracts for services like pallet exchange, drayage, container stripping, and freight handling equipment; track P&L impacts of operational changes.
  • Manage hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and temperature-controlled (cold chain) cargo handling with proper segregation, documentation, training and monitoring to maintain compliance and product integrity.
  • Execute inbound/outbound audit preparation and support external audits (customs, security, quality management) by maintaining records, SOPs and training logs.
  • Own claims management process for cargo damage or loss: investigate incidents, compile evidence, coordinate carrier or insurer communications and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
  • Optimize facility layout, slotting and staging strategies to reduce travel time, speed putaway/picking and increase density while balancing access for container and pallet loads.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with procurement, sales, customer service and operations planning to align warehouse capacity and priorities with business demand, product launches and promotions.
  • Implement and maintain SOPs, training curricula and competency matrices for all warehouse roles and review them regularly to reflect regulatory updates, equipment changes and continuous improvement outcomes.
  • Ensure accurate documentation and compliance for import/export shipments including HS codes, commercial invoices, packing lists, customs declarations and quarantine requirements to avoid fines and shipment delays.
  • Drive technology adoption (RF scanners, barcode labeling, voice picking, automation interfaces, AS/RS, WCS) to improve accuracy and throughput and evaluate ROI for automation projects.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Prepare weekly and monthly leadership reports summarizing KPI trends, capacity forecasts, exception logs and project status for senior management and customers.
  • Provide training and mentoring on best practices for warehouse safety, cargo handling and WMS transaction flows to build bench strength and succession planning.
  • Assist sales and customer service with operational feasibility checks for special cargo requests, rush orders and contract terms related to storage and handling.
  • Participate in vendor selection and performance reviews for third-party logistics providers, customs brokers and equipment maintenance partners.
  • Lead root-cause investigations for recurring process failures and present corrective action plans to stakeholders with timelines and measurable outcomes.
  • Coordinate emergency response planning and business continuity protocols for facility incidents, labor disruptions and supply chain interruptions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) proficiency — experience with SAP EWM, Manhattan, Blue Yonder/JDA or equivalent, including WMS configuration and transaction troubleshooting.
  • Strong inventory control and cycle count methodologies with demonstrated ability to achieve and sustain high inventory accuracy.
  • Knowledge of import/export documentation and customs compliance (HS codes, bills of lading, commercial invoices, ISF filings).
  • Experience with carrier coordination, shipping manifesting, freight consolidation, cross-docking and load optimization tools.
  • Familiarity with regulatory and safety standards: OSHA, DOT, IATA/ICAO and IMO regulations; HAZMAT handling and cold chain management practices.
  • Skilled in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data analysis) and experience with ERP reporting; comfortable with BI tools (Power BI/Tableau) is a plus.
  • Operational budgeting, labor planning and KPI development/monitoring to control costs and meet SLA commitments.
  • Equipment operations knowledge: forklift certification standards, pallet racking systems, conveyors and dock operations; experience managing maintenance programs.
  • Experience implementing Lean, Kaizen or Six Sigma projects to drive measurable process improvements.
  • Ability to manage claims and insurance processes, prepare supporting documentation and negotiate settlements with carriers.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management skills with experience coaching frontline supervisors and maintaining high team morale.
  • Excellent communication — written and verbal — to coordinate with internal stakeholders, external partners and customers.
  • Analytical problem-solving, able to synthesize operational data into actionable plans and corrective actions.
  • Customer-focused mindset with the ability to manage expectations and resolve service escalations.
  • Time management and prioritization skills, capable of making rapid decisions in high-volume, time-sensitive environments.
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for working with carriers, vendors and unionized labor (if applicable).
  • Adaptability and resilience to manage seasonality, volume surges and changing regulatory requirements.
  • Detail orientation to ensure compliance with documentation, security procedures and inventory controls.
  • Project management skills to lead process change, automation roll-outs and facility reconfigurations.
  • Coaching and training aptitude to develop team capabilities and ensure compliance with SOPs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED with relevant warehouse/logistics certifications (e.g., forklift operator, OSHA safety training).

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management or related field.
  • Additional certifications preferred: APICS/CPIM, CSCMP, Six Sigma/Lean, IATA cargo certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management
  • Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5–10 years of progressive warehouse experience with at least 2–4 years in a supervisory or management role overseeing cargo or freight operations.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years managing cargo or distribution center operations, including experience with WMS, customs processes, carrier management, and leading continuous improvement projects.
  • Experience in air/ocean freight environments, port or intermodal terminals, or 3PL-managed facilities is strongly desirable.
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