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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Systems Supervisor

💰 $ - $

LogisticsOperationsSupply ChainWarehouse Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Systems Supervisor is a hands-on supervisory role that sits at the intersection of operations, technology, and inventory control. This leader manages day-to-day WMS configuration and usage, supervises warehouse teams, enforces safety and compliance, drives process improvements (Lean/Six Sigma principles), and partners with IT/ERP teams to ensure accurate real‑time inventory, efficient order fulfillment, and measurable KPI improvements across a distribution center or multi-site operation. Ideal candidates combine strong warehouse operations experience with technical fluency in Warehouse Management Systems (e.g., Blue Yonder, Manhattan, SAP EWM, Oracle WMS) and a track record of driving continuous improvement in fast-paced logistics environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Lead / Shift Supervisor
  • Inventory Control Analyst / Inventory Specialist
  • Material Handler with WMS experience

Advancement To:

  • Warehouse Operations Manager / Distribution Center Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager / Logistics Manager
  • Director of Warehouse Systems or Distribution Technology

Lateral Moves:

  • Logistics Coordinator / Shipping & Receiving Manager
  • Quality & Compliance Supervisor
  • WMS Analyst / Systems Implementation Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Oversee and supervise daily Warehouse Management System (WMS) operations for the distribution center, including user role administration, transaction troubleshooting, and configuration adjustments to support inbound, putaway, picking, packing and shipping processes.
  • Lead a cross-functional team of warehouse operators, lead hands and WMS analysts to achieve KPIs such as order accuracy, inventory accuracy, on‑time shipping, dock-to-stock time and labor productivity.
  • Manage WMS and ERP integrations (SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, Blue Yonder) and coordinate with IT and external vendors during release cycles, testing (UAT), cutovers and post‑go‑live stabilization.
  • Execute root cause analysis and corrective action plans for recurring inventory discrepancies and system-related transaction failures; develop process updates, SOPs and training to prevent recurrence.
  • Design, implement and maintain RF barcode and mobile device workflows (scanning logic, RF transactions, device provisioning) to optimize scan rates, reduce mis-picks and improve inventory traceability.
  • Supervise cycle count programs, blind counts and physical inventories; investigate and resolve variances, reconcile adjustments in the WMS/ERP and drive continuous improvement to inventory accuracy targets.
  • Define and maintain WMS master data governance (locations, zone/slotting rules, SKU attributes, picking strategies) and partner with inventory planning to ensure proper SKU classification and storage rules (FIFO/LIFO/FEFO).
  • Coach, mentor and develop warehouse supervisors and associates on WMS best practices, safe equipment operation, and standard operating procedures; own performance reviews and development plans.
  • Lead slotting and capacity planning initiatives using WMS reporting and heat maps to improve picking efficiency, reduce travel distance and optimize warehouse layout for seasonal demand.
  • Configure and optimize wave management, batch picking, pick path optimization and voice/put-to-light systems to improve throughput in high-volume fulfillment environments.
  • Drive Lean, 5S and continuous improvement projects targeted at reducing touches, errors and cycle time using data from WMS transaction logs, warehouse KPIs and time-and-motion studies.
  • Develop, maintain and distribute daily/weekly operational reports and dashboards (order fulfillment, exceptions, labor utilization, throughput and SLA adherence) to operations leadership and stakeholders.
  • Manage inbound receiving and cross-dock workflows within the WMS; ensure accurate ASN processing, quality holds, quarantine workflows and timely putaway to storage locations.
  • Administer system security, user access and segregation-of-duties controls within the WMS and related systems to meet internal control and audit requirements.
  • Oversee vendor-managed inventory (VMI) and 3PL/contractor interface configurations in the WMS; coordinate SLAs and exception processing with external partners.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety (OSHA) and customer-specific requirements (labeling, serialization, temperature control) by validating WMS processes and producing required records/audits.
  • Coordinate and lead system change requests (SCRs) and enhancement backlog prioritization; translate business requirements into technical stories and acceptance criteria for implementation teams.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve warehouse system outages or degraded performance; coordinate incident response with IT, vendors and operations to minimize downtime and maintain SLA commitments.
  • Implement RFID, barcode label standards and automated data capture programs to increase inventory visibility and reduce manual reconciliation work.
  • Manage budget and capital requests for warehouse systems improvements, handheld devices, scanners, printers and automation initiatives; justify ROI and lead vendor selection when required.
  • Serve as the primary escalation point for complex operational and system-related exceptions impacting service levels or customer shipments, providing executive updates and remediation plans.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to warehouse throughput, WMS transaction trends, and inventory health for continuous improvement projects and leadership reporting.
  • Contribute to the organization's warehouse systems strategy and roadmap, including cloud migration, automation readiness, and WMS modernization efforts.
  • Collaborate with business units, procurement and IT to translate operational needs into system requirements, acceptance criteria and test plans for WMS or ERP change initiatives.
  • Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups and agile ceremonies when working with internal development teams or external WMS vendors on feature enhancements and bug fixes.
  • Proactively research and recommend new warehouse technology (sortation, AS/RS, conveyors, robotics, voice picking) and integration approaches to increase capacity and reduce cost-per-order.
  • Develop and deliver WMS user training curriculum and materials (train-the-trainer, e-learning, SOPs) to ensure consistent system adoption across shifts and seasonal hires.
  • Support audits — internal, external and customer audits — by providing WMS configuration evidence, inventory reconciliation reports and process compliance documentation.
  • Partner with supply chain planning, procurement and operations to forecast systems and device needs for peak seasons, promotions and product launches.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) such as Blue Yonder (JDA), Manhattan, SAP EWM, Oracle WMS or similar, including configuration, transaction flows and master data management.
  • Hands-on experience with ERP integrations (SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards) and experience supporting real-time inventory synchronization across systems.
  • Proficiency with RF/mobile device configuration, barcode symbology, label printing systems and DCS/PLC interfaces.
  • Strong data literacy: working knowledge of SQL for query writing, Microsoft Excel (advanced: VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, macros), and experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau) for KPI dashboards.
  • Experience with inventory control methodologies (cycle counting, ABC/XYZ, FIFO/FEFO/LIFO) and variance investigation techniques.
  • Familiarity with automation technologies and warehouse controls (AS/RS, conveyors, sortation, voice picking, pick-to-light, robotics) and their WMS integrations.
  • Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to warehousing: OSHA, DG (dangerous goods), serialization and temperature-controlled storage.
  • Strong project management skills: requirement gathering, UAT, release management and vendor coordination.
  • Experience with change management and training design for technical systems and frontline adoption.
  • Analytical skills for KPI tracking, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement frameworks (Lean, Six Sigma).

Soft Skills

  • Proven leadership and people management skills with the ability to develop frontline supervisors and build high-performing teams.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication; able to translate technical system concepts into operational procedures for non-technical staff.
  • Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to act decisively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
  • Customer-focused mindset with strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Attention to detail and high standards for data integrity and process compliance.
  • Coaching and training aptitude, patient and systematic when onboarding new users or rolling out system changes.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, high-volume environments and during system implementations or peak seasons.
  • Time management and organizational skills to balance operational and project responsibilities.
  • Influencing skills to gain buy-in for process changes across operations, IT and supply chain teams.
  • Continuous improvement orientation with a measurable bias for reducing errors and waste.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent required.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Information Systems or related field preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Distribution
  • Industrial or Systems Engineering
  • Information Systems / Computer Science
  • Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years of progressive warehouse operations experience, including at least 2 years supporting or supervising WMS-related activities.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years in a supervisory role in a distribution center or multi-site warehouse environment with demonstrable WMS configuration and project experience; prior experience with ERP integrations, automation projects and managing cross-functional implementation teams is highly preferred.
  • Certifications such as APICS/ASCM (CPIM/CSCP), Lean/Six Sigma (Yellow/Green Belt), or WMS vendor certifications are a plus.
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