Shipping Manager
Shipping Manager
The Shipping Manager provides strategic, operational, and people leadership for the Shipping Department. This role ensures that all shipping, distribution, storage, and packaging activities align with plant-wide goals for safety, quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Serving as the department's senior leader, the Shipping Manager sets expectations, establishes performance standards, and oversees all shipping personnel through the Shipping Supervisor(s). The role is responsible for flawless execution of shipping and packing operations across all transportation modes. Additionally, the Shipping Manager owns departmental strategy, budgeting, staffing, compliance, and continuous improvement, and plays a key role on the plant's leadership team.
Essential Functions
Department Leadership & Workforce Management
- Leads the Shipping Department, directly managing the Shipping Superintendent and indirectly overseeing all shipping employees.
- Defines departmental objectives aligned with overall plant strategy and tracks progress toward both short- and long-term goals.
- Manages the performance review process, including daily, monthly, and annual evaluations; coaching; corrective actions; and employee development.
- Approves staffing levels, shift schedules, and timecard submissions; ensures proper coverage for all shipping and packaging operations.
- Oversees delivery and documentation of training for all department roles.
Shipping, Distribution & Quality Assurance
- Provides oversight and final approval for all outbound shipments across rail, hopper truck, van, and other transportation modes.
- Ensures packaging standards, shipping procedures, and order specifications are consistently adhered to.
- Leads the development and execution of accurate loading plans to eliminate timing and packaging errors.
- Monitors and drives performance to achieve daily, weekly, and monthly shipping and packaging targets.
Inventory Management & Reporting
- Manages the plant's carbon black inventory system and ensures accuracy by grade, packaging type, and quantity.
- Oversees monthly, annual, and ad hoc inventory counts for packaging materials, oil tanks, bulk tanks, warehouses, hopper cars, hopper trucks, and outside storage areas.
- Reviews and approves all reports related to staffing, overtime, inventory levels, and departmental KPIs.
- Tracks and improves shipping performance indicators such as asset utilization, schedule adherence, and loading efficiency.
Safety Leadership & Compliance
- Actively promotes a safety-first culture within the Shipping Department.
- Ensures compliance with all plant safety protocols, ISO standards, and environmental regulations.
- Oversees safety training, proper use of PPE, and maintenance of all relevant operational, training, and safety manuals.
- Drives continuous improvement projects related to logistics, packaging, and shipping processes.
Equipment, Maintenance & Asset Oversight
- Ensures all shipping equipment, vehicles, and facilities are properly maintained and safeguarded.
- Approves departmental purchasing and implements cost controls for supplies and equipment.
- Coordinates maintenance activities with the Maintenance Superintendent to minimize downtime.
- Enforces housekeeping and organizational practices such as 5S and Lean principles.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Planning
- Collaborates closely with Logistics, Production, and Maintenance to ensure smooth coordination across the supply chain.
- Partners with plant leadership to develop and execute strategies that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality.
- Identifies operational risks and bottlenecks; leads corrective actions and long-term improvement initiatives.
- Provides strategic guidance for shipping, warehousing, and inventory management functions.
Other Responsibilities
- Completes additional tasks as assigned by the Plant Manager.
- Adjusts priorities and responsibilities as plant needs evolve.
FAQs
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