Director of Distribution Center Operations

Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture- Where Innovation Meets Comfort

Who We Are:

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we’re more than a business — we’re a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.

If you’re ready to grow, you’ve come to the right place. With a true “Growth Mindset,” Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.

If you are a current Ashley employee: Please login to your UKG account and apply using the internal job board.

Summary:

The Director of Distribution Center Operations is responsible for leading all aspects of distribution center performance, including safety, service, cost, and team development. This role drives operational excellence across inbound, outbound, inventory control, and last-mile readiness while ensuring alignment with company growth and customer experience goals. The Director will lead large teams, implement process improvements, and optimize network performance through data-driven decision-making and strong leadership presence.

Responsibilities:

• Lead day-to-day distribution center operations, including receiving, warehousing, picking, packing, shipping, and inventory control
• Drive safety-first culture and ensure compliance with all regulatory and company standards
• Own P&L for the facility, including labor, transportation, and operational expenses
• Establish and monitor KPIs (service levels, throughput, cost per unit, inventory accuracy) and drive continuous improvement
• Partner with supply chain, transportation, and retail/fulfillment teams to ensure seamless end-to-end execution
• Implement process improvements, automation, and WMS enhancements to improve efficiency and scalability
• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing leadership team (managers, supervisors, and hourly workforce)
• Oversee workforce planning, labor management, and productivity optimization
• Drive a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement
• Lead peak planning and execution to support seasonal or high-volume demand
• Ensure strong inventory integrity and cycle counting programs
• Collaborate cross-functionally on network strategy, capacity planning, and capital projects

Qualifications required:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or related field required
• Master’s degree (MBA or similar) preferred

Experience

• 8–12+ years of progressive distribution center or logistics leadership experience
• Experience leading large, multi-shift operations
• Proven track record of driving operational improvements and cost reductions
• Experience in high-volume, fast-paced environment (retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, or similar)
• Background managing large teams

Additional Qualifications, preferred:

• Experience in retail distribution, home goods, or furniture industry
• Experience with automation, robotics, or advanced material handling systems
• Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement certification
• Multi-site or regional leadership experience
• Experience supporting omnichannel or last-mile fulfillment operations

Work Environment:

This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.

Benefits We Offer:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values:

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.

• (Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.

• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.

• Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.

• Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.

• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.

• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.

Interested in learning more about Ashley Furniture’s Community Engagement programs, Environmental Stewardship, or our Core Values, click the links below:

Corporate Social Responsibility

View Our Corporate Brochure

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Notice to Search Firms: We are not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms. We will not pay any placement, referral or other fees to any search firms unless we have agreed otherwise in a valid, written agreement for the specific position posted and signed by an authorized representative of Ashley Furniture Industries.

* Please note this position is not eligible for current or future employment sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or at any time in the future.