Director of Distribution

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About The Company: K&N Engineering, Inc. (K&N)

Keep the dirt out, let the air in. At K&N, that's been our mission for over 50 years. We unleash horsepower, keep homes healthy, and help businesses of every kind breathe better. Innovation is our DNA and high-performance is our heritage. Every place there's a need for cleaner air; K&N is there with a sustainable solution. K&N is a privately held designer and manufacturer of performance automotive aftermarket products and industrial filtration with approximately $200 million in annual revenue.

Position Summary

The Director of Distribution is responsible for the strategic, financial, and operational leadership of the company's primary distribution center. This role ensures the efficient movement of goods across the supply chain while delivering exceptional service levels, safety, and cost performance. Leading a team of four direct reports and approximately 100 hourly employees, the Director will develop scalable processes, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate cross-functionally to align distribution operations with broader company goals. This role combines day-to-day execution oversight with strategic planning, capital investment leadership, systems integration, and workforce optimization to support the company's growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Operations Leadership

• Lead all aspects of distribution operations including receiving, inventory control, order fulfillment, packing, shipping, and returns.
• Establish and execute a long-term vision for distribution operations aligned with company growth, customer expectations, and cost efficiency.
• Drive capacity planning and scalability initiatives, including automation, facility layout optimization, and labor strategies.

Team & Organizational Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a leadership team of 4 managers/supervisors, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Oversee workforce planning, labor forecasting, and shift design across hourly teams (~100 employees).
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous learning throughout the facility.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Define and monitor KPIs for productivity, quality, safety, accuracy, and on-time delivery.
• Implement and sustain Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies to reduce waste and improve throughput.
• Lead cost savings initiatives related to labor, transportation, inventory, and warehouse efficiency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Procurement, Customer Service, Sales, IT, and Transportation to align distribution strategy with business needs.
• Participate in S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) to align outbound logistics with customer demand and inventory availability.

Technology & Systems Leadership

• Serve as the distribution lead for WMS/ERP system enhancements or implementations (e.g., SAP, NetSuite, Manhattan).
• Evaluate and deploy automation, RF technology, robotics, or warehouse redesigns to improve throughput and accuracy.

Risk, Compliance & Safety Oversight

• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, DOT, Forklift Safety program and company policies; lead proactive safety culture initiatives.
• Oversee audits, regulatory inspections, and implement corrective actions when needed.
• Maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans for the distribution center.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Logistics, Operations, Engineering, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations.
• Proven experience managing large-scale teams (100+ hourly) and multi-shift operations.
• Strong knowledge of WMS and ERP systems; experience leading tech integrations or upgrades.
• Deep understanding of warehouse labor management, performance metrics, and budget accountability.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement frameworks.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience leading automation or warehouse redesign projects.
• Experience with SQAM - Toyota and other Tier-1 OE customers.
• Union and non-union labor management experience.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Experience supporting e-commerce, retail, or omnichannel fulfillment models.