Lennox (NYSE: LII) Driven by 130 years of legacy, HVAC and refrigeration success, Lennox provides our residential and commercial customers with industry-leading climate-control solutions. At Lennox, we win as a team, aiming for excellence and delivering innovative, sustainable products and services. Our culture guides us and creates a workplace where all employees feel heard and welcomed. Lennox is a global community that values each team member’s contributions and offers a supportive environment for career development. Come, stay, and grow with us.

The Principal Distribution Operations Manager serves as a strategic liaison and operational partner to the Director of Distribution, supporting regional distribution managers and facility leaders across the network. This role is responsible for managing cross-functional projects, driving operational consistency, supporting performance improvement initiatives, and strengthening communication between corporate stakeholders and field operations.

This is a developmental leadership role designed for an experienced distribution professional seeking broader enterprise exposure and readiness for future senior operations leadership. The role requires strong operational knowledge, project management capability, and the ability to influence without direct authority in a fast-paced distribution environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic & Operational Support

• Act as a primary liaison between the Director of Distribution, regional distribution managers, facility leadership, and corporate partners (HR, Finance, Safety, Engineering, IT, etc.).
• Support execution of distribution strategy across regions and facilities by translating corporate objectives into actionable operational initiatives.
• Provide analytical and operational support to leadership decisions related to capacity, labor planning, service levels, safety, and cost efficiency.

Project & Initiative Management

• Lead and manage cross-functional distribution projects, including operational improvements, standardization initiatives, system implementations, and process optimization efforts.
• Develop project plans, timelines, metrics, and communication strategies; track progress and mitigate risks.
• Ensure alignment and consistency of execution across multiple sites and regions.

Field & Regional Manager Support

• Serve as a resource and thought partner to regional distribution managers and facility leaders.
• Assist with issue resolution, escalations, and deployment of best practices across the distribution network.
• Support onboarding, training, and continuous development initiatives for distribution leadership teams.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze operational metrics and trends to identify risks, opportunities, and improvement areas.
• Partner with field leadership to improve key performance indicators related to safety, productivity, quality, service, and cost.
• Support continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc.) as applicable.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepare executive-level presentations, reports, and business updates for senior leadership.
• Communicate effectively with both corporate stakeholders and hourly/field employees, adapting messaging as appropriate.
• Promote transparency, collaboration, and alignment across the distribution organization.

Core Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to influence without direct authority
• Strategic thinking paired with hands-on operational execution
• Analytical problem-solving and decision-making
• Project management and organizational skills
• Adaptability and comfort operating in ambiguous or evolving environments
• Executive presence with credibility at both corporate and field levels

Travel

• Occasional travel to distribution centers and regional offices as needed (estimated 20–30%).

Career Path / Development

This role is designed as a feeder position for future senior distribution or operations leadership roles, providing exposure to enterprise strategy, executive decision-making, and multi-site operational leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, Industrial Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of progressive experience in distribution, warehousing, or logistics operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex operational projects across multiple locations.
• Strong understanding of distribution center operations, labor models, safety, and performance management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (MBA or similar).
• Experience supporting multi-site or regional distribution networks.
• Exposure to enterprise-scale operations, automation, WMS implementations, or network optimization.

Compensation: This is a salaried exempt role. The starting salary range for this role and market is between $107,200-$140,700 annually. Factors that may affect starting salary include geography/market and the skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate. Employees in this role are also eligible for an annual bonus in accordance with the terms of the Company’s applicable plan. Employees in this role are not eligible for overtime.

Benefits: Subject to applicable eligibility requirements, the following benefits are offered for this role: tuition reimbursement; medical, dental, and vision insurance; prescription drug coverage; 401(k) retirement plan; short-term disability insurance; 8 weeks paid birthing leave; 2 weeks paid bonding leave; life and long-term disability insurance.

Depending on date of hire, and subject to applicable eligibility requirements, new employees in this role also receive up to: 12 days paid time off, 2 paid well-being days, 1 paid volunteer day, 12 paid holidays, and 3 floating holidays per year.

Our Culture: At Lennox, our Core Values of Integrity, Respect & Excellence are ingrained in the fabric of the organization. They define our culture – which is about how we do business and how we treat others. Lennox is not just a workplace; we are a global community that values each team member’s contributions. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to recruit, develop, and retain talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and contribute to our continued growth and success. At Lennox, you’ll take pride in our brands, knowing you are part of something special. Come, stay, and grow with us! 

Disclaimers: The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Lennox reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.