Full-time COO, Johnson Brothers

The Regional Operations Director provides strategic and operational leadership across distribution centers in Minnesota, Iowa, Spencer Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Nebraska.

This role leads the Branch Operations and is accountable for warehouse, delivery, office, and facilities. The position carries full financial P&L responsibility, including delivery of the annual operating plan, disciplined cost management, asset stewardship, and execution of productivity and efficiency initiatives that support profitable growth and reliable customer service.

Job Description:

Lead the Branch Directors of Operations across the region, providing clear direction, operating discipline, coaching, and accountability.

Serve as the executive sponsor for safety across the region, ensuring compliance, reducing accidents, improving driver and warehouse safety performance, and promoting a culture of accountability.

Own the branch operating P&L’S and deliver the annual operating plans.

Develop and execute cost-reduction, productivity, route-efficiency, capacity planning-utilization, and process-improvement initiatives while protecting service, safety, and quality.

Develop labor strategies and staffing models to ensure operations are appropriately staffed while maintaining productivity and cost objectives

Partner with corporate Operations team members, along with Sales, Finance, and HR, to optimize service, capacity, cost, and talent

Use data and analytics to identify performance gaps, establish corrective actions, and hold branch leadership accountable for sustained results.

Champion the use of analytics, routing technology, labor management systems, and warehouse management systems to improve operational performance and decision-making.

Monitor performance measures including:

02OTIF

Cases per mile

03Cases per stop

Revenue per mile

04Revenue per stop

Planned versus actual performance

05Cost per case

Preventive maintenance compliance

06Safety scores

Perfect invoice

07Inventory and order accuracy

Mis-picks

08Fill rates

Other key operating measures

Oversee company-owned operating assets, including distribution centers, facility infrastructure, trucks, trailers, warehouse equipment, material-handling equipment, and related capital investments.

Ensure preventive maintenance programs, asset replacement plans, and capital projects support safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations.

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local alcoholic beverage, transportation, workplace safety, and operating requirements.

Build a strong leadership bench through talent assessment, succession planning, coaching, and development of Branch Directors of Operations and their teams.

Lead cross-market standardization, best-practice sharing, network optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Maintain a culture of accountability, employee engagement, operational excellence, and responsible asset ownership.

09Qualifications

15+ years of progressive regional operations leadership experience with direct responsibility for multiple distribution sites for a DSD company.

Demonstrated success leading a geographically dispersed operation through site or branch operations leaders.

Proven full P&L ownership and experience delivering annual operating plans, budgets, cost reductions, productivity gains, and capital priorities.

Experience operating with company-owned assets, including distribution centers, trucks, trailers, warehouse equipment, material-handling equipment, and facility infrastructure.

Deep knowledge of DSD operations, warehousing, inventory control, delivery, transportation, fleet management, routing, and facility operations.

Experience within alcoholic beverage, consumer packaged goods, foodservice, wholesale distribution, or a comparable multi-site distribution environment strongly preferred.

Strong financial and analytical capability, including the ability to translate operating metrics into corrective actions and financial results.

Demonstrated ability to lead change, standardize processes, reduce cost, improve efficiency, and sustain results across multiple markets.

Strong executive communication, cross-functional collaboration, talent development, and accountability skills.

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, Finance, or a related field preferred.

10Leadership Competencies

Enterprise and regional leadership

11Financial ownership and operating-plan execution

Multi-site operational excellence

12Cost reduction and continuous improvement

Asset and capital ownership

13People development and succession planning

Cross-functional collaboration

14Data-driven decision-making

Customer and service focus

15Change leadership and accountability

Travel and Work Requirements

Regional travel of 75% or more is required to maintain an active leadership presence across Minnesota, Iowa, Spencer Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Nebraska.

Ability to regularly work within distribution center, warehouse, delivery, fleet, office, and facility environments.

Ability to respond to operational priorities across a multi-state network as business needs require.

Johnson Brothers is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair treatment and hiring based on qualifications. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or any other protected status under applicable laws.

Worker Sub-Type:

16Regular

• Time Type:
• Full time