Warehouse Lead - Inbound

Inbound Warehouse Lead 

Department: Warehouse Operations

Location: Carlsbad, CA (on-site)

Reports to: Warehouse Manager

Status: Full-time, non-exempt (hourly)

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00am –3:30pm.

Position Summary

The Inbound Warehouse Lead owns the flow of product from the moment it arrives at our dock to the moment it is accurately binned, counted, and available to sell. This is a hands-on, inbound-focused role: responsibilities include Managing Inventory, Receiving and staging inbound shipments, leading the inbound team and communicating clearly and effectively with key stakeholders such as Purchasing, Accounts Payable, and Warehouse Management. The inbound lead is expected to communicate any safety, personnel, operational concerns and observations with management in a timely manner.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Management 

• Perform stock counts using handheld scanner, research and resolve variances before posting adjustments.
• Prepare new product launches: stage incoming launch inventory, collaborate with Quality Control for QC checks, assign and label bin locations, and confirm system availability ahead of sale date.
• Relocate and reorganize stock to improve pick density,consolidatepartial bins, and free up space for incoming receipts.
• Maintainaccuratebin locations and item data in the WMS; flagdiscrepancies between physical and system counts to the Warehouse Manager.
• Replenish forward pick bins from overstock locations to keep the pick bins stocked ahead of demand.
• UtilizeWMSsystem tomonitormin/max levels and proactively pull replenishment before stockouts affect order fulfillment.
• Stock shelves accurately by SKU, color, and style, with correct labeling and orientation.

Receiving & Staging

• Receive inbound shipments: verify carton counts and contents against packing lists and purchase orders, communicate inbound shipment status and time of delivery to Purchasing.
• Inspect for damage and shortages; document and report discrepancies to Purchasing and the Warehouse Manager.
• Receive inbound product into the system accurately andpromptlyso inventory is available to sell without delay.

• Stage received product for binput away, keeping receiving areas clear and organized.

Order Fulfillment Support 

• When required, pick and pack customer orders during peak volume, staffing gaps, or expedited shipments.

Team Leadership

• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for inbound warehouse activity in the Warehouse Manager's absence.
• Partner with theWarehouse Manager andOutboundLeadto coordinate andoptimizewarehouse operations, ensuring efficiency and productivity.
• Collaborate withlogistics, distribution, and other relevant teams to enhance communication and coordination.
• Train new and existing associates on receiving,putaway, replenishment, and counting procedures.
• Assign and prioritize daily inbound tasks; verify work is completed accurately and on schedule.
• Reinforce safety practices and standard operating procedures on the floor.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Performadditionalwarehouse lead responsibilities as directed by the WarehouseManager

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of warehouse experience, with at least 1 year in receiving, inventory control, or a lead/senior role.
• Demonstrated accuracy with inventory transactions and comfort investigating and resolving count discrepancies.
• Experience with a warehouse management system or ERP; able to work confidently with a handheld scanner.
• Basic math skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing tasks, delegate tasks to Warehouse Associates,and keep inbound flowing without direct supervision.
• Clear written and verbal communication; able to document issues and escalate appropriately.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with NetSuite and RF-SMART (ora comparableERP/WMS pairing).
• Forklift, order picker, or pallet jack certification.
• Experience in consumer products, apparel, beauty, or another high-SKU/variant-heavy environment.
• Experience supporting product launches or seasonal inventory ramps.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Standing, walking, bending, reaching, and climbing ladders for the majority of an 8-hour shift.
• Regularly lift and carry up to 50lbs; occasionally move heavier items withassistanceor equipment.
• Work performed in a warehouse environment with variable temperatures and noise levels.
• Occasional overtime or weekend work during peak periods, physical inventory counts, and product launches.

What Success Looks Like

• Inbound shipments are received into the system and stocked on shelves within 3 days of receipt.
• Cycle count accuracy meets or exceeds 99.99% with variances researched, not just adjusted.
• Pick bins are stocked ahead of demand to support the outbound team speed and efficiency
• Newproduct is bin-located, counted, and sellable before its launch date.

Compensation & Benefits