Warehouse Operations & Distribution Centre Manager

Contract Type: Full-time

Reports To: Warehouse Operations Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Warehouse Operations & Distribution Centre Manager to take ownership of warehouse operations, lead the floor team directly, and ensure smooth, efficient, and safe workflow management.

This is a hands-on leadership role – the Manager is directly responsible for supervising daily tasks while also implementing structured processes, ensuring compliance, solving operational challenges, and driving continuous improvement. The role covers end-to-end warehouse flow: receiving, stock management, barcoding, allocations, deliveries, returns, and recycling.

Key Responsibilities

1. Daily Operations & Supply Chain Management

• Lead, supervise, and actively manage the warehouse team on a daily basis.
• Oversee goods-in: delivery scheduling, hand-checking stock, booking-in, and storage according to racking maps.
• Ensure all deliveries are barcoded within 24-48 hours and ready for allocation.
• Manage picking, packing, and loading operations to meet fixed delivery schedules for 16 stores.
• Implement sales-led allocation rules, ensuring stock distribution reflects demand, seasonality, and store-specific needs.
• Monitor warehouse KPIs: barcoding turnaround, picking accuracy, delivery adherence, and returns clearance.

2. Team Leadership & Coordination

• Directly supervise a team of ~10-11 operatives plus drivers.
• Allocate and monitor daily duties (goods-in, barcoding, picking, loading, returns, recycling).
• Plan rotas, seasonal cover, and holiday scheduling to ensure operational continuity.
• Provide training, coaching, and clear direction to staff to ensure compliance with processes and safety standards.
• Enforce discipline, attendance, and performance expectations consistently.

3. Communication & Reporting

• Report directly to senior management on operational performance, challenges, and resource needs.
• Liaise with the Stock Controller on inventory accuracy, cycle counts, and reconciliation.
• Provide daily/weekly updates on productivity, order fulfilment, and warehouse KPIs.
• Maintain and document SOPs, checklists, and warehouse processes so they are visible and consistently followed.

4. Health, Safety & Compliance

• Take full responsibility for warehouse safety standards and compliance.
• Conduct daily safety checks – fire exits, PPE use, waste management, and equipment condition.
• Enforce safe use of forklifts, vehicles, and equipment.
• Escalate and resolve hazards quickly, ensuring a safe working environment at all times.

5. Returns, Recycling & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee the processing of returns, ensuring all items are logged, checked, and reallocated or scrapped within 48 hours.
• Manage recycling and WEEE disposal, maintaining contractor schedules and compliance reporting.
• Identify process bottlenecks (e.g., barcoding delays, ad-hoc allocations) and implement improvements.
• Drive a culture of accountability and discipline on the floor, reducing firefighting and embedding structured operations.

6. Problem Solving & Issue Resolution

• Act as the first point of contact for operational issues on the warehouse floor (e.g., incorrect picks, stock discrepancies, or loading conflicts).
• Quickly adapt workflows and reallocate resources to meet urgent delivery or operational needs.
• Investigate root causes of recurring problems and implement long-term solutions.
• Escalate complex issues to senior management with clear documentation and proposed corrective actions.
• Maintain calm under pressure, ensuring warehouse performance is not compromised by unforeseen challenges.

The Right Person for the Role

We are looking for someone who:

• Has 5-10 years’ experience in warehouse, logistics, or supply chain management, with proven leadership of teams of 10+.
• Is already resident in ROI
• Is confident managing both daily operations and longer-term process improvements.
• Possesses excellent leadership and motivational skills, with the ability to set clear expectations and maintain discipline.
• Is highly organised, detail-oriented, and process-driven, with strong problem-solving ability.
• Communicates clearly across teams, suppliers, and management.
• Remains calm under pressure and can resolve operational challenges quickly.
• Understands warehouse safety and compliance requirements, with a strong track record in health & safety enforcement.
• Holds a forklift license (advantageous but not essential).

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Career progression opportunities within warehouse operations and logistics.
• A supportive, team-focused work environment.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.