Warehouse Operations Manager

SUMMARY:
Leading supplier of kitchen utensils, industrial cookware, commercial kitchens & appliances to the hospitality & food service industries based in Roodepoort is seeking an experienced and results-driven Warehouse Operations Manager.
 
The Warehouse Operations Manager is accountable for the end-to-end performance, efficiency, safety and continuous improvement of the warehouse operation, ensuring that all goods are received, stored, controlled, picked, packed and dispatched accurately, efficiently and within required service levels.
 
This is a hands-on and strategic leadership role. The successful candidate will be highly visible within the operation, understand the detail of the warehouse, actively identify and resolve operational challenges, and lead the team to deliver daily results. At the same time, they will develop and implement longer-term strategies to improve capacity, productivity, systems, technology, cost efficiency and scalability.
 
The role is responsible for creating a high-performance, disciplined and customer-focused warehouse operation, supported by robust processes, accurate data, effective systems and a culture of continuous improvement.
 
The Warehouse Operations Manager will play a key role in planning for future growth, optimising warehouse capacity and resources, and ensuring the operation evolves with the needs of the business

POSITION INFO:
Duties:   Warehouse Operations & Service Delivery:   Take overall accountability for the daily performance and operational effectiveness of the warehouse. Oversee all warehouse activities including receiving, put-away, storage, replenishment, picking, packing, staging and dispatch. Take overall accountability for all distribution activities including own and 3PL functions. Ensure customer orders are processed accurately, efficiently and within agreed service levels. Maintain effective stock flow, warehouse organisation and housekeeping standards. Be highly visible and hands-on within the operation, identifying bottlenecks, resolving issues and driving immediate corrective action. Ensure labour, space, equipment and other resources are effectively planned and utilised. Establish and maintain standard operating procedures and operating standards across all warehouse functions. Ensure the warehouse is structured and prepared to manage changing volumes, seasonal peaks and future business growth. Identify operational risks and implement appropriate contingency plans.   Leadership & People Management:   Lead, motivate and develop the warehouse team, creating a culture of accountability, performance and continuous improvement. Set clear expectations, targets and performance standards across all warehouse functions. Monitor individual and team performance and take appropriate action where standards are not achieved. Develop supervisors and team leaders to ensure strong operational leadership at all levels. Identify training and development requirements and implement appropriate development plans. Ensure effective workforce planning, succession planning and resource allocation. Promote teamwork, discipline, ownership, accountability and a strong work ethic. Build a culture where employees actively identify problems and contribute to solutions.   Inventory & Stock Control:   Maintain high levels of inventory accuracy, stock integrity and system accuracy. Oversee cycle counts, stock takes, stock investigations and stock adjustments. Identify and reduce stock losses, damages, discrepancies and operational wastage. Ensure appropriate controls are in place for high-value, sensitive and fast-moving inventory. Investigate recurring stock discrepancies and implement corrective and preventative actions. Ensure physical stock and system stock remain accurately aligned. Productivity, Performance & Cost Management: Establish, monitor and continuously improve warehouse KPIs covering productivity, accuracy, service levels, stock integrity, labour utilisation and cost. Drive improvements in lines per hour\/day, orders processed, receiving and dispatch turnaround times and overall warehouse productivity. Analyse operational data to identify trends, inefficiencies, bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement. Hold teams and management accountable for agreed performance targets. Develop and implement productivity improvement initiatives. Monitor warehouse operating costs and identify opportunities to reduce cost without compromising service or quality. Prepare and manage the warehouse operating budget in line with business objectives. Benchmark warehouse performance and continuously raise operational standards.   Strategic Planning, Capacity & Continuous Improvement:   Develop and implement the warehouse operations strategy in alignment with overall business objectives. Develop short-, medium- and long-term capacity plans based on current and anticipated business requirements. Optimise warehouse space, racking, layouts, workflows, material flow and storage strategies. Identify opportunities to improve processes, productivity, capacity, technology and automation. Lead continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives across the warehouse. Evaluate and implement warehouse best practices, methodologies and technologies. Identify opportunities to simplify processes, eliminate waste and reduce unnecessary handling. Develop business cases and make recommendations for operational improvements and capital expenditure. Lead or participate in major warehouse projects including layouts, racking, equipment, automation, systems implementations and operational relocations. Ensure changes are effectively planned, implemented and embedded into the operation. Systems, Data & Technology:   Ensure effective utilisation of SAP, WMS, scanners and other warehouse technology. Ensure warehouse processes are aligned with system functionality and controls. Identify opportunities to automate, digitise or simplify manual processes. Work closely with IT and relevant stakeholders to improve system functionality, data accuracy and operational visibility. Use data and reporting to drive informed operational decisions. Ensure accurate and timely warehouse reporting and performance information. Drive adoption of technology that improves accuracy, productivity, traceability and customer service.   Health, Safety, Security & Compliance:   Take accountability for Health, Safety, Security and compliance. Ensure compliance with company policies, health and safety requirements and applicable legislation. Ensure appropriate forklift, material-handling and equipment standards are maintained. Ensure operators are appropriately trained and authorised. Conduct regular operational, safety and housekeeping inspections. Investigate incidents and implement corrective and preventative actions. Identify and mitigate operational, safety and security risks. Implement appropriate controls to minimise theft, loss, damage and unauthorised access to stock and facilities. Promote a strong safety and security culture throughout the warehouse.   Equipment, Facilities & Resources:   Ensure vehicles, warehouse equipment, racking, forklifts, pallet jacks and other operational assets are maintained, fit for purpose and appropriately utilised. Ensure preventative maintenance requirements are identified and completed. Monitor equipment utilisation, downtime and replacement requirements. Ensure the warehouse environment supports safe and efficient operations. Plan labour, equipment and other operational resources in line with current and future requirements. Identify future infrastructure, equipment and capacity requirements and make recommendations to management.   Stakeholder & Supply Chain Management:   Ensure warehouse priorities support the broader supply chain and customer requirements. Resolve cross-functional operational issues and drive collaborative solutions. Manage relationships with relevant external service providers and contractors. Communicate warehouse performance, risks, capacity constraints and improvement initiatives to senior management.   Operational Governance & Reporting:   Ensure warehouse policies, procedures and standard operating procedures are current, understood and consistently applied. Establish clear operational controls and accountability across all warehouse functions. Provide regular management reporting on warehouse performance, productivity, costs, risks and improvement initiatives. Identify emerging operational risks and proactively communicate these to management. Ensure corrective actions and improvement initiatives are tracked through to completion. Maintain a structured approach to continuous improvement and operational problem solving.   Requirements:   Relevant qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain, Warehouse Management, Operations Management or a related field. Minimum 7+ years' experience in warehouse operations, preferably within a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Proven experience managing a large, multi-function warehouse operation. Proven experience leading and developing warehouse teams through supervisors and team leaders. Strong understanding of inventory control, receiving, put-away, storage, replenishment, picking, packing and dispatch processes. Experience working with ERP\/WMS systems, SAP, warehouse scanning and related technology. Strong understanding of warehouse KPIs, productivity measurement and performance management. Proven track record of implementing process improvements and delivering measurable operational efficiencies. Experience in warehouse layout, capacity planning, space optimisation and resource planning. Experience managing operational budgets and controlling warehouse costs. Strong Excel and data-analysis capability. Experience managing health, safety, security and compliance within a warehouse environment. Experience with warehouse projects, systems implementations, automation and relocations. Strong understanding of supply chain and distribution principles.