James Roche
Distribution Operations Manager
Maryhill,ON
Summary
Accomplished senior operations leader with over 20 years of experience driving performance, compliance, and growth in large-scale distribution and production environments. Led teams of 50+ employees, achieving a notable 21.6% improvement in throughput and a significant 19.2% reduction in loss. Proficient in ERP/WMS systems such as SAP and Oracle, lean methodologies, food-grade compliance, and overseeing multi-million-dollar contracts. Known for leading with clarity, accountability, and hands-on engagement to build strong teams and deliver measurable results.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
13
13
Certificates
1
1
Language
Work History
Distribution Operations Manager
Wellington Operations
12.2022 - Current
- Operational Scale-Up & High-Volume Distribution (300K+ sq. ft.)
- Warehouse Management Systems (ERP/WMS - SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)
- Performance Optimization (+21.6% throughput gain, −19.2% loss)
- Multi-Site Leadership (50+ staff, cross-functional teams)
- Vendor & Contract Management (Multi-million-dollar agreements)
- Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement (Waste, flow, KPIs)
- Compliance & Safety Oversight (WSIB, HACCP, C-TPAT, CFIA)
- Capital Project Leadership (Full facility relocations, upgrades)
- Food-Grade Certification Rollouts (3-month company-wide completion)
- Staff Training, Mentorship & Workforce Development
- Strategic Inventory Control (98%+ accuracy rates)
- Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Reduction Strategies
- Oversaw warehousing and distribution for major automotive and consumer goods clients.
Logistics Operations Manager
PDI Logistics
05.2019 - 12.2022
- Streamlined logistics operations by implementing efficient processes and procedures.
- Reduced transportation costs through strategic route planning and carrier negotiations.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations and standards through regular audits and process reviews.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to improve supply chain visibility and communication.
- Managed vendor relationships, ensuring timely deliveries, accurate invoicing, and effective issue resolution.
- Led cross-departmental projects aimed at streamlining logistics processes from end-to-end for maximum efficiency gains.
- Negotiated transportation and logistics contracts to reduce shipping costs.
Logistics Distribution Manager
Vehcom
01.2016 - 05.2019
- Negotiated and managed contracts worth over $10 million and client SLAs.
- Directed 24/7 shift teams, ensuring productivity targets, compliance, and performance reviews.
- Improved outbound logistics scheduling by 19% through route analysis and load optimization.
- Managed the daily operations of a manufacturing plant with over 200 employees.
- Introduced barcode and scanning technology to replace manual tracking, improving audit compliance.
- Maintained inventory rotation and FIFO for perishable product categories.
Warehouse Manager
Sleeman Breweries
06.2001 - 01.2016
- Coordinated with vendors to verify timely delivery of materials and supplies, avoiding delays.
- Kept documentation and records accurate and up-to-date with latest data to prevent errors in processing or delivery.
- Conducted periodic audits of inventory levels to ensure accuracy, identifying discrepancies for swift resolution.
- Improved delivery plans with strong scheduling knowledge, organizational skills, and route development expertise.
- Implemented and trained the entire warehouse on a new bar scanning system that replaced manual data entry.
- Offered expertise in inventory management and current stock levels to internal teams and customers to facilitate accuracy and product availability
Education
Professional Experience-Based Credential - Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Skills
Lean manufacturing execution
Certification
WHMIS 2015
Timeline
Distribution Operations Manager
Wellington Operations
12.2022 - Current
Logistics Operations Manager
PDI Logistics
05.2019 - 12.2022
Logistics Distribution Manager
Vehcom
01.2016 - 05.2019
Warehouse Manager
Sleeman Breweries
06.2001 - 01.2016
Professional Experience-Based Credential - Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
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