Distribution Operations Manager - Howard City

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) is a global footwear and apparel company driven by a vision to Make. Every Day. Better. Founded in 1883, the Company builds and grows iconic brands including Merrell®, Saucony®, Wolverine®, Sweaty Betty®, Chaco®, Hush Puppies®, Stride Rite®, HYTEST®, and Bates®, along with footwear licenses for Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Headquartered in Rockford, Michigan, the Company’s products are sold in approximately 170 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.wolverineworldwide.com.

In 2025, the Company was recognized by Footwear News as Company of the Year, by Forbes as one of America’s Dream Employers, America’s Best Employers for Women, and America’s Best Employers for Company Culture, and by Inspiring Workplaces as one of the Most Inspiring Workplaces Globally.

Wolverine Worldwide is a Certified™ Great Place To Work®.

The Distribution Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of operations within a distribution facility, including managing employees, subordinate supervisors, and coordinating across functional areas (both internal and external). This role requires deep operational expertise, strategic thinking, and strong leadership capabilities. The manager ensures the tactical execution of daily tasks, contributes to strategic planning, drives continuous improvement, and fosters a high-performing and inclusive team culture. The role is critical to achieving service excellence, operational efficiency, and compliance with company and regulatory standards.

• •Direct and oversee end‑to‑end distribution operations—including receiving, storage, order fulfillment, returns, and shipping—by implementing and continuously improving standard operating procedures to ensure consistency, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• •Develop and execute tactical operating plans to achieve service level agreements (SLAs), productivity targets, and customer expectations, using KPI analysis and cross‑functional coordination with transportation, inventory, and customer service teams to drive performance and seamless logistics execution.

• •Partners with senior distribution center leadership to align operational objectives with enterprise strategy by developing systems, tools, and performance dashboards; leading strategic planning and reporting; and supporting long‑range initiatives, including capacity planning, technology adoption, and business continuity and risk mitigation.

• •Leads cross‑functional continuous improvement and operational innovation initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce waste, and improve service levels by applying data‑driven analysis and collaborative problem‑solving, while driving efficiency and cost‑reduction opportunities and researching, piloting, and implementing new technologies, automation, and digital solutions to modernize distribution operations.

• •Lead, mentor, and develop supervisors, leads, and associates by providing clear direction, performance feedback, coaching, and development opportunities, while fostering an inclusive, safety‑focused, and high‑engagement culture that promotes accountability and continuous learning.
• •Drive workforce planning and talent strategy by aligning staffing levels and labor plans with business needs, partnering with HR on recruiting and hiring, and supporting retention, succession planning, and career development programs to build a sustainable, high‑performing organization.

• •Develop and manage the operating budget by monitoring labor, equipment, operational expenses, and capital investments to ensure fiscal discipline, cost control, and alignment with business objectives and financial targets.
• •Lead safety and compliance programs by ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory

• •Oversee inventory accuracy and quality by managing counts and audits, addressing discrepancies and damages, and supporting continuous improvement efforts to maintain accurate inventory and efficient product flow.

• •Exercise independent, high‑level decision‑making to resolve complex operational issues, manage critical situations, and drive results, while facilitating cross‑departmental collaboration to ensure alignment and effective execution of shared objectives.
• •Communicate with clarity and influence across all organizational levels and external stakeholders, building strong relationships and representing the distribution center in leadership forums, project teams, and external engagements to support operational success and continuous improvement.