Warehouse & Distribution Manager

Blue Ocean Mariculture is seeking a Warehouse & Distribution Manager in Kailua-Kona, HI. The role involves leading the Warehouse & Distribution team, managing inventory, coordinating product distribution, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. Responsibilities include forecasting, sourcing materials, managing vendor contracts, and analyzing production data. The position requires collaboration with various departments to meet operational goals and maintain efficiency in processing operations.
About Us

Blue Ocean Mariculture is the leader in sustainable open-ocean aquaculture in the USA. We are the exclusive producer of Hawaiian Kanpachi, a premium sashimi-grade fish coveted by chefs at top sushi and fine dining restaurants everywhere. Hawaiian Kanpachi are raised in the clear, clean waters off Kona, Hawaii using the most environmentally sustainable farming methods.

About the Role

The Warehouse & Distribution Manager (W&DM) leads the Warehouse & Distribution team and coordinates the movement of large-scale inputs and outputs through Blue Ocean's processing operations, including harvested fish, purchased seafood, packaging material, and other supplies. This role will forecast, source, purchase and manage materials and products for the Processing department, manage vendor contracts, and guide cost savings and efficiency initiatives. The W&DM is also responsible for collecting, analyzing, and sharing key management information about inventories and production outputs. The W&DM reports to the Director of Processing and works closely with members of the processing department as well as sales, accounting, and offshore teams.

Duties, Responsibilities, & Requisites

Production & Projects
• Manage the coordination and distribution of product to HRI customers.
• Schedule and track HRI & local delivery distribution and oversee walk-in retail sales.
• Work with the sales and processing teams to meet customer needs and support department projects.
• Oversee the tracking, receiving, and purchasing of the processing department's perishable and non-perishable inventory items, including packaging materials, live seafood receiving, fresh and frozen finished product inventory. Ensure appropriate FIFO and coordinate inventory adjustments.
• Process purchase orders, invoices and payment approvals for all product orders, ensuring accuracy within the accounting system.
• Obtain vendor bids, evaluate prices, lead times and delivery terms to optimize spending, ensure quality and provide uninterrupted supply of goods and services to the processing department.
• Utilize materials usage and sales data to determine ideal lead times, order quantities and cost efficiency with vendors.
• Track delivery on all orders and expedite as required, enter data and reconcile all receiving of goods, and work closely with accounting to ensure that invoices are received & payment milestones met.
• Ensure adherence to all corporate purchasing policies and procedures such as requisition processes, inventory controls and organization within the designated storage areas.
• Record, track and manage packaging and seafood inventory to facilitate cost analysis and manage inventory levels to minimize loss.
• Collaborate with other managers to meet production goals, ensure safe practices, and meet project objectives.
• Assist with budgets and performance reports for processing operations, including production output reports, cost analyses, etc.
• Other duties, as assigned to ensure the safe, efficient, flexible operations of the department.

Compliance
• Maintain the highest level of food safety, ensuring compliance to all local, regional, national and international regulations.
• Support implementation and maintenance of industry certifications, including ASC and BAP.
• Manage company compliance with permit and regulatory requirements related to live seafood.

Team
• Manage a team of 4+ people, including front-of-house retail, drivers and packers, ensuring flexibility in skills and efficiency to meet customer and business needs.
• Provide successful leadership and positive team member relations through effective planning, communication, coaching, training, and development.
• Ensure the team meets production & delivery performance objectives through planning, training, scheduling, and task assignments.
• Ensure SOPs are developed, maintained, and utilized.
• Develop and maintain a high performing team through hiring, training, conflict resolution, and other team member relations activities.
• Consistently comply with and enforce Company policies and procedures, including safety and biosecurity protocols.
• Promote a culture of safety, integrity, and excellence.

What You'll Bring
• Experience managing a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Attentive to detail and accuracy.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office. Strong Excel skills.
• Knowledge of HAACP & ability to obtain HAACP certification.
• Self-starter with strong time management, organization, and prioritization skills.
• Must be flexible and comfortable working in a dynamic environment.
• Must be able to successfully obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• Must have legal right to work in the United States.
• Ability to sit and work on a computer for most of the workday.
• Ability to lift and carrying up to 40 pounds frequently.

We are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

About our Company Offerings:

Our company offers an amazing opportunity to work with a team of passionate individuals who care deeply about aquaculture, the sustainability of our oceans, and responsible fish farming. We are on a mission to promote ethical production of fish, and we're looking for people who share our values. In addition to being part of a great cause, we provide our employees with medical, dental, and vision benefits, a competitive salary, 401k opportunities with a 4% company match, PTO, and even community service opportunities. Join us and make a positive impact on the world!

We embrace diversity and equal opportunity. Blue Ocean is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.