The Warehouse Manager is responsible for the overall leadership and management of warehouse operations, ensuring accurate stock control, efficient receiving and dispatch, safe storage of equipment and consumables, and effective team performance.
The role focuses on operational planning, organisation, service excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement to support business growth and deliver exceptional customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
1. Warehouse Operations & Distribution Management
- Oversee daily warehouse operations including receiving, storage, picking, packing, dispatch and returns.
- Ensure all customer orders are dispatched accurately, on time and in full (OTIF).
- Manage container offloading, stock verification and distribution to branches.
- Optimise warehouse layout and space utilisation to improve storage efficiency and workflow.
- Enforce stock rotation principles (FIFO) and proper zoning of products.
- Oversee delivery planning, route efficiency and vehicle maintenance.
- Implement, maintain and continuously improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Coordinate closely with Branch Management, Sales, Procurement and Logistics teams.
2. Stock Control & Inventory Management
- Conduct weekly cycle counts, quarterly stock takes and annual audits.
- Maintain stock accuracy within acceptable variance levels (target: 0.2% at quarterly counts).
- Investigate and resolve stock discrepancies, damages and write-offs.
- Ensure correct labelling, product codes and serial number accuracy.
- Monitor stock levels and collaborate on reorder planning.
- Maintain accurate ERP/system data integrity at all times
3. Manufacturing & Assembly Oversight
- Oversee planned maintenance of machinery and equipment.
- Ensure assembly and manufacturing targets are achieved.
- Maintain minimum stock levels of assembled finished goods (target: two-week holding).
- Prevent stock-outs on components and finished goods.
- Ensure assembly records align with physical stock and system entries.
4. Receiving & Distribution Performance
- Supervise affloading and receiving of stock, ensuring quality and quantity verification.
- Ensure receipting accuracy within the stock system once approved.
- Monitor inter-branch distribution accuracy (target: 98%).
- Ensure loading and offloading times meet operational standards:
- 20ft container: 3 hours
- 40ft container: 4 hours
- 6m partial link: 2 hours
- 18m full link: 4 hours
5. Quality Control
- Conduct quality inspections on a minimum of 5% of each batch received.
- Maintain an up-to-date quality control register.
- Escalate quality issues to relevant stakeholders immediately.
- Ensure products are clean, correctly packaged and professionally presented.
- Maintain a clean, organised and inspection-ready warehouse environment.
6. People Management & Leadership
- Lead, motivate and manage warehouse supervisors, pickers, packers and drivers.
- Allocate daily tasks and monitor productivity against targets.
- Conduct performance management, discipline and quarterly staff reviews.
- Manage staff attendance, leave and shift schedules.
- Provide structured training (minimum two hours per week product training).
- Maintain updated organisational charts and communication boards.
- Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, teamwork and service excellence.
- Drive employee engagement through recognition initiatives and team-building activities.
7. Health, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) regulations.
- Conduct regular safety inspections and toolbox talks.
- Maintain incident reporting and record-keeping systems.
- Ensure forklifts, vehicles, machinery and storage areas are properly maintained.
- Maintain a clean, hazard-free and secure warehouse.
- Conduct monthly safety committee meetings and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
Key Performance Areas (KPAs)
- Stock accuracy and inventory control
- Order accuracy and turnaround time
- Warehouse productivity and efficiency
- Manufacturing output and stock availability
- Health & Safety compliance
- Staff performance, training and attendance
- Quality control adherence
- Distribution accuracy and loading/offloading efficiency