Established in 1929, Heinen’sis a leading, family-owned grocery retailer known for its premium-quality products and outstanding customer service. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, Heinen’s operates 23 locations – 18 in the Cleveland, Ohio area and 5 in the Chicago, Illinois market – supported by two distribution warehouses, a food production facility, and a corporate office located in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Our culture is rooted in an associate-first philosophy, placing a strong emphasis on the well-being, development, and quality of life of every team member. We offer competitive compensation, professional development and leadership training programs, paid time off, and flexible scheduling designed to promote a healthy work-life balance.

The Dairy Lead is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations within the freezer area of the distribution center. This role ensures alignment with Heinen’s operational standards, safety policies, and performance expectations while upholding our Core Values and Distribution Diamond Standards.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate inspirational leadership, strong operational acumen, and a commitment to associate engagement and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership

• Enforce Heinen’s safety protocols and promote a culture of safe work practices.
• Ensure timely completion of all safety-related training.
• Recognize associates who consistently demonstrate safe behaviors.
• Lead thorough investigations of workplace incidents per company policy.

Team Engagement & Development

• Support associate engagement, recognition, and training initiatives.
• Oversee onboarding, cross-training, and retraining efforts, ensuring adherence to safety and sanitation protocols.
• Provide consistent coaching and performance feedback.
• Ensure fair and consistent application of company policies and labor agreements.

Operational Excellence

• Direct and support daily warehouse operations, ensuring timely execution of inbound and outbound processes.
• Monitor and adjust workflows using performance dashboards and key metrics.
• Lead order fulfillment, product receiving, inventory placement, and shipping processes to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
• Analyze workforce needs and manage staffing to meet service and productivity targets.
• Communicate team performance using KPIs and ensure reporting is accurate and timely.

Continuous Improvement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Distribution leadership to implement operational efficiencies.
• Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance quality and reduce costs.
• Coordinate with purchasing, inventory, and retail teams to align distribution activities with business needs.
• Maintain high standards of sanitation, inventory control, and safety.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies (OSHA, FDA, USDA, DOT, etc.).
• Assist with facility and equipment evaluations, repairs, and upgrades as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; combination of education and experience will be considered.
• 1–3 years of leadership experience in warehouse, logistics, or related fields.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Ability to learn and adapt to new systems and technologies.
• Strong analytical, time management, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with labor laws and union environments is preferred.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Physical: Frequent standing, walking, sitting, reaching, climbing; occasional stooping, kneeling, or crouching.
• Environmental: Regular exposure to cold, wet, humid, and hot conditions; proximity to moving mechanical equipment.
• Schedule: Must be available to work nights, weekends, holidays, and occasional travel to corporate offices.
• Other: Moderate noise level; occasional exposure to heights, fumes, and airborne particles.

Heinen’s, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.