GENERAL MANAGER

NEW COLD-STORAGE FACILITY  |  SOUTHEAST LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA

Full-Time  •  Planned Opening: Spring 2027  •  Compensation: $160,000 ++ DOE, plus bonus opportunity

The Opportunity | Build It. Lead It. Make It Yours.

Marlie Park Group is conducting a confidential search for a hands-on General Manager to help launch and lead a new, high-density cold-storage facility in the Southeast Los Angeles area of California. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a startup operation, not simply inherit an established warehouse. The selected leader will help shape the facility’s culture, build and develop their own management and operations team, establish operating standards, and guide the transition from startup readiness to sustained performance. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, floor-focused operations leader who thrives on building teams, solving problems, and creating the processes and accountability needed for a successful opening.

The Operation

The planned facility will provide frozen and refrigerated storage, blast freezing, tempering, import/export support, and case picking. Its Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) configuration will use rail-guided turret trucks for pallet putaway and retrieval. Success will require strong cold-chain discipline, high-density inventory control, specialized equipment oversight, and data-driven labor planning.

Key Responsibilities

·        Own startup readiness and launch execution, including operational planning, staffing, training, workflows, and the transition to daily operations.

·        Build, select, coach, and develop a strong team of managers, supervisors, and warehouse employees; establish a performance-driven, safety-first culture.

·        Create and implement standard operating procedures, operating rhythms, training expectations, and accountability measures from the ground up.

·        Lead receiving, putaway, storage, picking, retrieval, and shipping while maintaining product integrity and cold-chain requirements.

·        Oversee safe and productive VNA operations, including rail-guided turret trucks, high-density racking, and equipment reliability.

·        Drive measurable results in safety, inventory accuracy, throughput, labor productivity, equipment utilization, and customer service.

·        Partner with maintenance, HR, transportation, and regional leadership to resolve startup and operational challenges and improve performance.

·        Coordinate warehouse activities supporting import/export shipments and customer-specific cold-storage requirements.

Required Qualifications

·        7–10+ years of progressive warehouse, distribution, logistics, or cold-storage operations experience, including leadership of managers and hourly teams.

·        Strong experience in refrigerated or frozen warehouse operations, inventory control, safety, and labor/KPI management.

·        Working knowledge of warehouse management systems (WMS), material-handling equipment, and operational performance reporting.

·        Visible, hands-on leadership style with the ability to build teams, establish processes, and create accountability in a fast-moving environment. 

Preferred Qualifications

·        Experience opening, launching, or scaling a warehouse or distribution facility.

·        Experience with VNA/high-density warehousing, rail-guided turret trucks, or comparable specialized equipment.

·        Familiarity with import/export operations, blast freezing or tempering, and Southern California logistics.

·        Bilingual English/Spanish.

Why This Role Stands Out

·        Startup ownership: Influence how the operation runs from day one rather than stepping into a fully established structure.

·        Team-building opportunity: Help recruit, develop, and lead the team that will define the facility’s success.

·        Long-term impact: Establish the systems, standards, and culture that support performance as the operation grows.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Marlie Park Group is recruiting on behalf of an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available in accordance with applicable law.