Branch Manager

WHO WE ARE:

Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan since 1955, Lumbermen’s operates in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Minnesota. A leading distributor and manufacturer, we are driven by our mission to enrich lives by intentionally caring for all who experience us. We are employee owned, and relationship powered.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Branch Manager will oversee both the office and warehouse staff and play a critical leadership role, ensuring seamless coordination between the two teams to achieve operational efficiency. This individual is responsible for managing day-to-day operations in Toledo, ensuring the timely processing of orders, and maintaining accurate inventory records while also fostering a positive work environment. In collaboration with the Regional Sales Manager, the Branch Manager provides guidance and support to office staff on administrative tasks, customer service, and sales activities, while also supervising warehouse personnel to ensure safety, productivity, and the proper handling of goods. By balancing strategic planning with hands-on oversight, the Branch Manager ensures that both departments work harmoniously towards the overall goals of the business. The primary responsibilities for this position include:

• Modeling and communicating Lumbermen’s mission, vision, and promise to all employee owners
• Providing operational and functional team leadership and direction in the Toledo division. Done in Collaboration with the Regional Sales Manager.
• Recruiting, hiring, training and developing an exceptional operational and functional team
• Setting operational goals, tracking progress, and making necessary changes to meet those goals
• Managing, providing ongoing feedback to, and facilitating performance check ins for all Operational and Office Toledo division employee owners
• Monitoring key operational performance measures such as: service quality, expense budgets, adherence to labor budgets, and other productivity measures
• Analyzing capital expenditures and preparing expenditure justifications
• Working collaboratively with the Regional Sales Manager in Managing divisional Profit and Loss and working to improve efficiency and increase revenue
• Ensuring compliance with safety/OSHA/DOT regulations
• Overseeing fleet maintenance in conjunction with transportation team
• Drive and model Lumbermen’s Safety Program and initiatives to ensure employee owner safety
• Ensuring compliance with corporate policies and procedures
• Modeling and leading a culture of continuous improvement using lean principles and encouraging the sharing of ideas and suggestions
• Acting as a process improvement champion

At Lumbermen’s, we pride ourselves on treating our customers like family and delivering exceptional service. It’s crucial that the person selected to fill this role is highly organized and detail-oriented, service-minded, a strong and friendly communicator, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. 

Ideal candidates for this role have a combination of demonstrated leadership and business acumen in both finance and operations.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business Management or a related field or commensurate experience
• 8 – 15 years’ management experience
• Distribution or retail experience is strongly desired, building materials experience is beneficial

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES 

• Clear Communication – The Branch Manager must communicate with team members using concise, easy-to-understand language. Team Members must understand why the Branch Manager makes certain decisions and how new processes and procedures will impact on their day-to-day duties and responsibilities. Additionally, the Branch Manager is responsible for maintaining morale and company culture with their guidance.
• Collaboration - Collaboration with the office, warehouse, and leadership team ensures that the best information and ideas move the company forward. The Branch Manager will work with their colleagues to discover new, creative ideas and solutions through collective brainstorming.
• Open-Minded - The Branch Manager should be open to new ideas and methods. It is essential to establish a company culture in which the head of the company shows they care about progress and novel ideas for doing business. Open-minded Branch Manager’s encourage company employees to try new processes and procedures, improving the business overall.
• Approachability - The Branch Manager will be friendly and approachable. Employees should feel comfortable sharing ideas or communicating. The Branch Manager will solicit feedback from employees to make important decisions about company direction and internal structure.
• Transparency – Team members, the office and warehouse as well as customers must trust the Branch Manager. Transparency and authenticity increase trust and thus increase trust in the Branch Manager's decisions and leadership. Team members may dedicate themselves to a project more if they understand why, it is important to the health and goals of the company.
• Growth Mindset - A growth mindset is the deeply held personal belief that setbacks lead to deeper learning and future success. Our Branch Manager will have a growth mindset that welcomes obstacles as learning opportunities. Modeling a growth mindset is also useful to encourage the organization's team members to develop their own growth mindsets.
• Ethics - Ethical leadership is fundamental for our company to maintain its reputation. The Branch Manager will have strong ethics and integrity to help successfully navigate challenges. The Branch Manager will expect their team members to act ethically and establish an honest and open company culture that potential team members want to join, and the public can trust.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Demonstrated leadership capability
• Mindset of and inclination toward continuous improvement
• Positive attitude
• Desire to facilitate successful outcomes through effective problem solving
• Effective communication skills
• Self-motivated
• Comfort with Microsoft Office Suite

WHAT WE OFFER:

Lumbermen’s exists to enrich the lives of people by intentionally caring for all who experience us. You will experience a different kind of work environment and “family” here and help live out the Lumbermen’s promises of committing to those who count on us, doing what’s right, exercising sound business practices, and earning consideration. Other benefits include:

• A collaborative and supportive work environment
• ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) – generous company-funded retirement
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Flexible spending/health savings account
• 401(k)
• The Source
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Training and development
• Advancement opportunities

Lumbermen’s is proud to be a drug and alcohol-free workplace. In addition, Lumbermen’s will not discriminate against any employee or candidate because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. We participate in E-Verify.