Distribution Manager

Build a Smarter, More Efficient, and Scalable Distribution Operation

Are you a logistics leader who sees beyond today's deliveries and knows how to turn operational data into business growth?

Lyon Bakery is seeking a results-driven, analytical, and forward-thinking Distribution & Logistics Operations Manager to transform and lead our distribution operation. We are looking for a leader who understands that distribution is more than moving products from point A to point B—it is a critical business function that directly impacts profitability, customer satisfaction, productivity, and the company's ability to grow.

This is an opportunity for an ambitious logistics professional who brings the operational discipline, analytical capabilities, and continuous-improvement mindset found in high-performing distribution networks such as UPS, Amazon, FedEx, and other complex logistics organizations.

The successful candidate will take ownership of distribution performance, identify opportunities to reduce costs, optimize routes and fleet utilization, improve workforce productivity, and establish consistent operational standards. Beyond managing daily execution, this individual will evaluate how the department operates today, challenge inefficient practices, and develop innovative solutions that support Lyon Bakery's long-term growth.

We are looking for a business-minded operator who can lead people, understand the numbers, solve complex problems, and deliver measurable results.

The Opportunity

You will lead Lyon Bakery's distribution and fleet operations while partnering with Production, Quality Assurance, Finance, and Operations leadership to build a more efficient, accountable, and scalable distribution model.

Your mandate will be to:

- Reduce operating costs without compromising delivery reliability, food safety, or customer service.

- Improve route efficiency and delivery density by evaluating delivery patterns, stop sequencing, mileage, capacity, and scheduling.

- Make decisions using data , not assumptions, by establishing meaningful KPIs, analyzing trends, and translating findings into action.

- Increase workforce productivity through better labor planning, driver utilization, scheduling, accountability, and performance standards.

- Build a high-performing department with clear expectations, standardized procedures, and a culture of continuous improvement.

- Prepare distribution for growth by developing systems, processes, and operating models that can support increased sales and delivery volume.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Distribution Leadership & Business Growth

- Lead and develop the Distribution Department, including the Junior Supervisor, dispatchers, and drivers.

- Establish a strategic vision for distribution that aligns with Lyon Bakery's business objectives, customer commitments, production capacity, and growth plans.

- Evaluate current distribution practices and identify opportunities to improve service, productivity, scalability, and profitability.

- Develop and implement standardized operating procedures, clear performance expectations, and accountability measures across the department.

- Build distribution plans that support changes in customer demand, delivery volume, geographic coverage, and business expansion.

- Collaborate with senior leadership to recommend operational investments, process changes, and cost-saving initiatives supported by data.

- Introduce practical, innovative solutions that improve the department's overall performance rather than simply maintaining existing processes.

2. Cost Analysis, Financial Performance & Profitability

A critical responsibility of this position is to understand the financial performance of distribution and identify opportunities to improve the company's bottom line.

- Analyze distribution operating expenses, including labor, overtime, fuel, vehicle maintenance, repairs, insurance, third-party services, and other operating costs.

- Develop and monitor a distribution budget, evaluate spending against budget, and explain significant variances.

- Establish and track cost-performance metrics such as:

Cost per delivery and per stop

- Cost per mile and per route

- Labor cost per delivery

- Overtime as a percentage of total labor costs

- Fuel consumption and fleet operating cost

- Revenue or delivery volume relative to distribution cost, where applicable

- Identify underutilized vehicles, inefficient routes, excessive overtime, unnecessary mileage, avoidable maintenance expenses, and other sources of waste.

- Develop cost-benefit analyses and business cases for operational improvements, equipment purchases, technology investments, and changes to distribution practices.

- Recommend solutions that generate sustainable savings while protecting service quality, employee safety, and customer relationships.

- Partner with Finance and Operations to validate savings, track results, and ensure cost-reduction initiatives produce measurable business value.

The expectation is not simply to report expenses, but to understand what drives them, determine what can be improved, and take action.

3. Route Optimization, Capacity Planning & Delivery Performance

- Evaluate existing routes, customer delivery windows, delivery frequency, stop density, mileage, vehicle capacity, and driver schedules.

- Identify opportunities to consolidate routes, reduce unnecessary trips, balance workloads, and improve deliveries per route.

- Use delivery data, mapping tools, telematics, and other available technology to improve route planning and dispatch decisions.

- Establish performance standards for on-time delivery, delivery accuracy, route completion, driver productivity, and customer service.

- Develop contingency plans for vehicle breakdowns, staffing shortages, unexpected demand, traffic disruptions, and urgent customer requirements.

- Evaluate delivery capacity against current and projected business demand to ensure resources are deployed efficiently.

- Review recurring service failures and implement corrective actions that address root causes rather than symptoms.

4. Data Analytics, Technology & Continuous Improvement

- Use data to identify trends, uncover operational inefficiencies, and recommend practical solutions.

- Develop and maintain dashboards, management reports, and KPI scorecards that provide visibility into distribution performance.

- Utilize Geotab and applicable Enterprise and Penske platforms to monitor fleet performance, vehicle utilization, driver activity, and operating trends.

- Evaluate available logistics technologies, automation opportunities, and AI-enabled tools that may improve forecasting, scheduling, route planning, reporting, and decision-making.

- Establish a regular performance-review process to evaluate results, assign action items, and measure improvement.

- Lead root-cause analyses for recurring operational issues and implement corrective and preventive measures.

- Benchmark applicable operating practices against high-performing logistics and distribution organizations.

- Continuously challenge the status quo by asking: What can we do better, faster, safer, and at a lower cost?

5. Fleet Management, Safety & Asset Utilization

- Oversee the company's van and box-truck fleet, ensuring vehicles are safe, reliable, clean, and appropriately utilized.

- Implement preventive maintenance programs covering inspections, oil changes, tires, repairs, and other required service intervals.

- Establish procedures for daily vehicle inspections, fuel monitoring, cleanliness, equipment accountability, and reporting vehicle damage.

- Coordinate maintenance, repairs, and service schedules with external vendors and service providers.

- Analyze vehicle downtime, maintenance costs, replacement needs, and utilization to support informed fleet-management decisions.

- Ensure appropriate vehicle assignments and fleet capacity planning based on delivery requirements.

- Maintain required vehicle documentation and applicable transportation, driver, and safety compliance.

6. Team Leadership, Accountability & Performance Standards

- Recruit, train, coach, and develop a capable distribution team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

- Establish individual and departmental performance goals aligned with service, productivity, safety, and cost objectives.

- Monitor staffing levels, attendance, scheduling, overtime, productivity, and overall workforce effectiveness.

- Develop consistent procedures for performance reviews, employee coaching, corrective action, and professional development.

- Empower supervisors and dispatchers to solve problems, make sound decisions, and take ownership of their responsibilities.

- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous learning, and operational excellence.

- Identify skill gaps and implement training that strengthens the department's capabilities and readiness for future growth.

7. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Food Safety Compliance

- Work closely with Production to align production schedules, order readiness, delivery capacity, and dispatch priorities.

- Coordinate with Quality Assurance and Sanitation to maintain appropriate product handling, cleanliness, temperature-control practices where applicable, and food safety requirements.

- Partner with Finance and Operations to improve cost visibility, planning, resource allocation, and performance reporting.

- Maintain compliance with applicable FDA FSMA requirements, company food safety programs, and relevant GMP, HACCP, and SQF requirements.

- Ensure required training, inspections, records, and documentation are completed and maintained.

- Support internal and external audits and implement corrective actions when necessary.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

Required

- 5+ years of experience in distribution, logistics, transportation, supply chain, or related operations.

- 3+ years of experience leading teams, supervisors, or complex operational functions.

- Demonstrated ability to analyze operating costs, evaluate performance metrics, and implement measurable improvements.

- Strong understanding of route efficiency, workforce productivity, capacity planning, fleet utilization, and operational cost control.

- Experience developing or monitoring KPIs, budgets, performance reports, or operational dashboards.

- Proven ability to identify inefficiencies, solve problems, and lead process-improvement initiatives.

- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and operational reporting tools; experience with fleet-management, logistics, ERP, or transportation-management systems is highly desirable.

- Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Background

We welcome candidates with experience in high-volume, performance-driven distribution networks, including:

- UPS, FedEx, Amazon Logistics, or similar parcel and last-mile delivery operations.

- Retail distribution, wholesale distribution, food distribution, or manufacturing logistics.

- Transportation and fleet operations involving multiple vehicles, drivers, routes, and delivery requirements.

- Environments where cost per stop, route productivity, labor efficiency, service levels, and continuous improvement are central to success.

Experience in food manufacturing is a plus, but it is not a prerequisite for a strong logistics leader. Training can be provided on Lyon Bakery's food safety programs and applicable industry-specific requirements.

Education

- High school diploma or GED required.

- Associate or bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.

- Equivalent relevant experience and a demonstrated record of operational achievement will be considered.

How Success Will Be Measured

The successful candidate will be expected to establish a baseline, develop an improvement plan, and demonstrate measurable progress in areas such as:

- Reduction in distribution cost per delivery, stop, mile, or other relevant unit.

- Improved on-time delivery and delivery accuracy.

- Increased route productivity and vehicle utilization.

- Reduction in avoidable overtime, excess mileage, vehicle downtime, and unnecessary operating expenses.

- Improved budget management and accuracy of operational reporting.

- Consistent execution of standard operating procedures, safety requirements, and food safety programs.

- Stronger employee performance, supervisory accountability, and team development.

- Increased capacity to support business growth without proportionate increases in distribution costs.

Specific targets will be established after the initial assessment of current operations, available data, and business requirements.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

At Lyon Bakery, we are looking for someone who wants to do more than manage a department. We want a leader who can influence how the business operates and help build a stronger foundation for growth.

This position offers the opportunity to:

- Take ownership of a critical business function and its operating performance.

- Work directly with leadership on cost optimization, operational improvements, and growth initiatives.

- Introduce proven distribution practices from leading logistics organizations.

- Make recommendations, implement improvements, and see the results of your work.

- Build a more structured, technology-enabled, and performance-driven department.

- Expand your leadership impact through cross-functional collaboration and broader operational responsibilities.

Join Lyon Bakery

If you are an analytical, commercially minded logistics professional who enjoys solving complex problems, finding opportunities others overlook, and turning operational challenges into measurable results, we want to hear from you.

Bring us your ideas, your analytical mindset, and your ability to make distribution work smarter. Help us build an operation that is more efficient today and ready for the growth of tomorrow.