Daniel Watts
Knoxville
Summary
Operations and fulfillment leader with proven success in transforming departments into top performers through workflow optimization and strategic labor deployment. Expertise in process improvement initiatives that significantly reduce operating hours while enhancing overall efficiency. Experienced in mentoring high-performing leaders to boost team productivity and achieve operational excellence.
Overview
1
1
Certification
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Manager II
Amazon
Louisville
12.2024 - 12.2025
- Elevated assigned departments to top-performing status across all shifts within two months by aligning labor deployment, clarifying performance expectations, reinforcing standard work, and addressing workflow barriers affecting daily execution.
- Guided the Ship Dock to achieve a #2 Super Region ranking following PRIME Day by assessing end-to-end workflows, identifying process breakdowns, coaching leaders and associates, and reinforcing consistent outbound execution.
- Oversaw full-spectrum fulfillment operations, adjusting staffing and priorities to align with changing volume demands and service commitments while ensuring focus on safety, quality, and productivity.
- Evaluated operational KPIs, labor performance, volume trends, and workflow constraints to identify root causes, rebalance resources, resolve bottlenecks, and improve execution across interconnected fulfillment functions.
- Transitioned across four operational departments to meet changing business needs, quickly learning new systems, workflows, staffing requirements, and performance standards while maintaining continuity during high-volume periods.
- Developed and delivered training for newly promoted leaders on performance management, difficult conversations, associate engagement, and effective team leadership strategies.
- Mentored frontline leaders by setting clear expectations, delivering consistent feedback, and fostering accountability for safety, quality, productivity, and associate experience.
Assistant General Manager | Outbound Group Lead
Red Stag Fulfillment
Knoxville
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Directed outbound operations across two fulfillment facilities, managing over 100 associates and nine frontline leaders.
- Achieved approximately 24% reduction in daily operating hours through strategic process improvements.
- Expanded leadership role to coordinate inventory transportation, labor, and execution across inbound and outbound functions.
- Designed a batching framework adopted as standard across multiple locations, enhancing order flow and reducing bottlenecks.
- Replicated Knoxville batching model at Salt Lake City facility, decreasing excessive labor hours during operational improvement initiative.
- Identified root causes in outbound processes to enhance labor utilization and employee morale through repeatable standards.
- Developed supervisors and team leads to independently manage daily performance using hands-on coaching and accountability practices.
- Built employee trust during corporate restructuring through visible leadership and direct communication.
Global Shipping Manager
Infant Learning Company
Louisville
11.2018 - 01.2020
- Directed domestic and international shipping, inventory control, order fulfillment, and warehouse workflow while coordinating daily priorities against customer and business requirements.
- Managed inventory movement, product preparation, documentation, and outbound execution to maintain order quality and timely delivery across domestic and global shipments.
- Enhanced shipping accuracy and operational consistency through reorganization of warehouse processes, clarification of work sequences, and introduction of repeatable procedures.
- Reduced product kitting cycle time by approximately 80%, from 4 minutes 30 seconds to 55 seconds, by redesigning the process into a standardized assembly-line workflow that increased throughput and reduced labor requirements.
- Validated visual work instructions, enabling employee with no prior process knowledge to assemble complete kits independently in five minutes.
- Created scalable kitting and fulfillment practices to ensure effectiveness without manager dependency, fostering process continuity and workforce adaptability.
Amazon Team Lead
865 Fulfillment (310 Nutrition)
Knoxville
12.2016 - 11.2018
- Established scalable workflows for Amazon FBA and FBM fulfillment processes.
- Reduced errors by 19%, maintaining 100% shipping accuracy on FBM orders for nine months.
- Identified workflow inefficiencies, increasing operational capacity with repeatable fulfillment practices.
- Developed standardized operating procedures, enhancing shipment accuracy and minimizing compliance risk.
- Coordinated inventory management, labeling, packaging, and documentation to ensure compliance with Amazon standards.
Warehouse Operations | Manufacturing Support
Great Lakes Fastening
Knoxville
03.2015 - 05.2016
- Coordinated shipping, receiving, and inventory movement to ensure reliable workflows across warehouse and manufacturing operations.
- Implemented component shelf-life controls that minimized material waste and enhanced product quality.
- Reorganized repair workflow to clarify ownership and reduce handoff delays, improving scheduling accuracy.
- Reduced tool repair turnaround time by approximately 80%, decreasing average completion from five days to 24 hours.
Operations Assistant
Gallagher & Company, PA
Gulf Breeze
05.2009 - 08.2014
- Coordinated logistics and activity planning for family of four, adapting to changing demands.
- Managed four interdependent schedules for appointments, household operations, and extracurricular activities.
- Delivered personalized fitness coaching, promoting accountability and structured routines aligned with development goals.
Director, After School & Summer Camp Programs
The Club Family Sports Complex
Gulf Breeze
05.2003 - 06.2009
- Transformed a struggling youth program into a profitable operation, increasing summer camp enrollment by 275% over five years (40 to 150+ participants) while establishing a waitlist for the after-school program.
- Directed staffing, scheduling, budgeting, program delivery, and daily operations, developing team members into leaders who maintained service quality and program consistency.
- Managed budget planning and resource allocation for various programs.
- Developed strategic initiatives to enhance member engagement and satisfaction.
- Oversaw daily operations of sports complex and facilities management.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration; Hospitality Management & Tourism
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL05-2013
Skills
- Operations management
- Warehouse operations
- Distribution management
- Process optimization
- Continuous improvement
- KPI management
- Inventory control and management
- Safety and compliance
- WMS expertise
- Workforce planning
- Multi-site oversight
- SOP development
- Performance coaching
- Training programs
- Quality assurance practices
- Staff scheduling
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Relationship management
- Problem solving strategies
- Team development
- Servant leadership
- Business development and planning
Certification
Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification
Timeline
Area Manager II
Amazon
12.2024 - 12.2025
Assistant General Manager | Outbound Group Lead
Red Stag Fulfillment
01.2020 - 01.2022
Global Shipping Manager
Infant Learning Company
11.2018 - 01.2020
Amazon Team Lead
865 Fulfillment (310 Nutrition)
12.2016 - 11.2018
Warehouse Operations | Manufacturing Support
Great Lakes Fastening
03.2015 - 05.2016
Operations Assistant
Gallagher & Company, PA
05.2009 - 08.2014
Director, After School & Summer Camp Programs
The Club Family Sports Complex
05.2003 - 06.2009
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration; Hospitality Management & Tourism
Columbia Southern University