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.