Project Manager - Warehouse Optimization - Supply Chain Transformation

Job Title: Project Manager of Warehouse Optimization

Location: Columbus, OH (Remote Mondays & Fridays; Onsite Tuesdays–Thursdays)

Candidate Location: Columbus-based preferred, but open to candidates who are willing to travel

Rate: Up to $80–$85/hour

Contract Length: 6 months

Extension: Strong possibility of extension

Employment Type: W-2 Only

Work Authorization: U.S. Citizens Only No visa sponsorship available

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and results-oriented Project Manager – Warehouse Optimization to support a large-scale Supply Chain Transformation initiative within a utilities environment. This role will lead projects focused on optimizing warehouse operations, improving inventory and material flow, enhancing storage utilization, and driving operational efficiency across warehouse and distribution functions.

The Project Manager will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing warehouse optimization initiatives such as facility layout redesign, workflow improvement, process standardization, and technology-enabled enhancements. This individual will work closely with supply chain leadership, warehouse operations, field operations, procurement, IT, vendors, and PMO stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with broader transformation goals.

The ideal candidate brings strong project management experience within warehouse, logistics, or supply chain environments and understands how to translate operational needs into practical improvements that enhance safety, service levels, productivity, and cost performance. This role requires someone who can manage cross-functional stakeholders, drive execution, navigate change, and maintain a strong focus on measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Delivery

Lead end-to-end warehouse optimization projects from planning through execution, stabilization, and closeout.

Develop detailed project plans, timelines, milestones, resource plans, and status reporting to support successful delivery.

Manage project scope, schedule, budget, risks, issues, and dependencies across multiple workstreams.

Ensure warehouse optimization projects are aligned with PMO standards, governance requirements, and broader supply chain transformation objectives.

Provide clear and timely updates to project sponsors, PMO leadership, and key business stakeholders.

Warehouse Optimization & Process Improvement

Lead initiatives focused on warehouse layout redesign, space optimization, material flow improvement, and process efficiency.

Identify opportunities to improve warehouse safety, productivity, inventory accuracy, service levels, and cost-effectiveness.

Support redesign of warehouse workflows related to receiving, put-away, storage, picking, staging, cycle counting, replenishment, and shipping.

Drive standardization of warehouse processes and operating practices across impacted locations where applicable.

Partner with operational leaders to evaluate current-state performance and define future-state improvements.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Collaborate with warehouse operations, supply chain, procurement, transportation, inventory management, field operations, finance, IT, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment across project activities.

Coordinate with external vendors, implementation partners, and service providers to support solution delivery and execution readiness.

Facilitate meetings, workshops, and decision-making sessions to resolve blockers and maintain project momentum.

Ensure interdependencies between warehouse initiatives and broader supply chain transformation workstreams are identified and managed effectively.

PMO Integration & Reporting

Integrate project milestones, deliverables, benefits, and risks into centralized PMO tracking and reporting systems.

Prepare project status reports, dashboards, action logs, RAID logs, and executive-ready presentations.

Monitor progress against key milestones and escalate issues or risks that may impact delivery, adoption, or business outcomes.

Support governance reviews, steering committee updates, and other project control processes as required.

Change Management & Implementation Support

Support operational readiness and change adoption activities tied to warehouse transformation initiatives.

Partner with business leaders and change stakeholders to ensure warehouse teams are prepared for process, layout, or technology changes.

Help coordinate training, communications, cutover, and implementation planning where needed.

Track adoption risks and support transition planning to ensure changes are sustainable after go-live.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Meet with warehouse and supply chain stakeholders to review progress, priorities, risks, and upcoming milestones.

Track project plans, deliverables, dependencies, and action items across warehouse optimization initiatives.

Coordinate with vendors, operational teams, and PMO partners to ensure timely execution of project tasks.

Develop status reports, meeting materials, and executive summaries for leadership review.

Facilitate problem-solving discussions to address operational challenges, project risks, and implementation barriers.

Monitor alignment between warehouse transformation work and broader supply chain program objectives.

Support field and business teams through implementation planning and readiness efforts.

Required Qualifications

7+ years of project management experience, with a strong focus on warehouse operations, logistics, supply chain, or distribution environments.

Proven experience leading warehouse optimization, layout redesign, or operational improvement initiatives.

Strong understanding of warehouse operations, including material flow, storage utilization, inventory movement, and process efficiency.

Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional projects involving business stakeholders, operations teams, IT, and third-party vendors.

Experience with project governance, PMO reporting, milestone tracking, risk management, and stakeholder communication.

Strong vendor management and coordination skills.

Excellent communication, facilitation, organizational, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced transformation environment and drive execution across multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting supply chain transformation initiatives in a large or complex organization.

Familiarity with warehouse-related technology implementations such as WMS, inventory systems, barcode/RFID solutions, automation tools, or reporting platforms.

Experience with change management, implementation readiness, and adoption support in operational environments.

Utilities industry experience strongly preferred.

Experience working in matrixed organizations with formal PMO structures is a plus.

PMP or other project management certification preferred.

Core Competencies

Project Management

Warehouse Optimization

Supply Chain Transformation

Process Improvement

Layout Redesign

PMO Governance & Reporting

Vendor Management

Cross-Functional Leadership

Risk & Issue Management

Change Management

Operational Readiness

Stakeholder Engagement

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a practical, organized, and execution-focused project manager who understands warehouse operations and knows how to drive meaningful operational improvements. They are comfortable working across field, operational, and corporate teams, managing vendors, and translating transformation goals into executable warehouse initiatives. This person brings both strong project discipline and a hands-on understanding of how warehouse optimization can improve safety, service, and cost performance in a supply chain organization.