Distribution Supervison - Sala - Packaging Manager

Established in 1919 and traded on the NYSE, Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of premium automotive replacement parts utilized in the maintenance, repair, and service of vehicles in the automotive aftermarket. Additionally, SMP provides customized solutions for vehicle control and thermal management products in diversified end markets represented by its Engineered Solutions segment.

Globally, SMP employs over 6,000 employees across nearly 40 manufacturing, distribution, and engineering facilities and offices located in North America, Europe and Asia. SMP sells its products primarily to automotive aftermarket retailers, program distribution groups, warehouse distributors, original equipment manufacturers, and original equipment service part operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico, and other Latin American countries.

The Packaging Manager provides overall leadership and direction for packaging operations within a team-based distribution and manufacturing environment. This position is accountable for safe, efficient, and accurate movement of bulk and raw materials, packaging of product, rebranding activities, and put-away of finished goods to meet internal and external customer requirements. The manager develops the team, manages labor and departmental performance, ensures compliance with safety and quality standards, and leads continuous improvement initiatives that support service, cost, quality, and productivity goals.

Essential Functions

Operations Management

• Plan, direct, and oversee daily packaging operations, including bulk and raw material put-away, order picking for packaging work orders, product packaging, rebranding, and finished-goods put-away.
• Align staffing, equipment, materials, and workflow with the packaging schedule and changing customer priorities.
• Ensure work orders are completed accurately and on time, with proper product identification, labeling, packaging, documentation, and inventory transactions.
• Partner with Inventory Management, Distribution, Product Development, Quality, Maintenance, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and support customer requirements.
• Establish standard work, monitor workflow, remove operational barriers, and drive corrective actions when performance does not meet expectations.

Leadership and Labor Management

• Lead supervisors, team leads, full-time employees, and temporary workforce supporting packaging operations.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular coaching and constructive feedback, and complete performance evaluations in accordance with company practices.
• Develop staffing plans, assign resources, manage attendance and overtime, and adjust labor to meet operational demand.
• Ensure effective onboarding, new-hire training, cross-training, and ongoing training on standard operating procedures, revisions, metrics, equipment, and departmental workflow.
• Promote a professional, respectful, and accountable work environment; address employee concerns and workplace issues promptly and consistently.

Safety, Quality, and Compliance

• Ensure employees are trained and authorized to operate material-handling and production equipment safely and without damage to people, product, structures, or equipment.
• Ensure production equipment, machine guarding, work areas, and safety controls are maintained in proper working condition; escalate maintenance or safety concerns promptly.
• Lead accident, incident, near-miss, damage, and quality investigations; identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Enforce applicable company policies, safety requirements, quality procedures, standard operating procedures, and inventory-control practices.
• Conduct routine operational and safety reviews and ensure identified actions are documented and completed.

Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Develop, monitor, and communicate departmental metrics for safety, quality, service, productivity, labor utilization, inventory accuracy, waste, and cost.
• Analyze performance trends, establish action plans, and hold the team accountable for meeting departmental goals.
• Lead continuous improvement activities using lean principles, standard work, problem solving, and employee involvement.
• Identify equipment, technology, layout, process, and training improvements that increase capacity, reliability, quality, and efficiency.
• Prepare operational updates and recommendations for distribution leadership.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain positive and professional relationships with internal and external customers.
• Support business continuity, inventory activities, audits, special projects, and peak-season requirements.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned by management.

Job Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, operations, engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in packaging, distribution, warehouse, or manufacturing operations, including at least three years in a leadership role.
• Experience managing supervisors, team leads, hourly employees, and temporary labor in a high-volume operational environment.
• Working knowledge of warehouse management systems, packaging work orders, inventory transactions, material-handling equipment, and production workflow.
• Demonstrated ability to manage safety, quality, service, labor, productivity, and cost performance.
• Strong business judgment, analytical thinking, problem-solving, planning, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and related business systems.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement methods, standard work, and performance metrics preferred.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across functions and organizational levels.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Regular standing and walking, with occasional bending and stooping.
• Work may involve exposure to hot and cold conditions.
• Ability to work alternate shifts, evenings, weekends, or extended hours based on seasonal and operational demands.

This job description summarizes the primary duties and requirements of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list, and responsibilities may change based on business needs.