| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Logistics and Warehousing |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of Warehousing |
| Direct reports | Assistant Warehouse Manager, Warehouse Supervisor, Inventory Control Supervisor |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in warehouse operations with team leadership |
Warehouse Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Warehouse Manager
Department: Logistics and Warehousing
Reports to: Head of Warehousing
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Warehouse Manager runs a single warehouse end to end: receiving, storage, picking, packing, dispatch and the people who do it. They own inventory accuracy, space, productivity, safety and the site's operating cost, and they answer for on-time dispatch to customers or stores. The role mixes hands-on floor control with planning: rosters, layout, cycle counts and audits. A good Warehouse Manager keeps the warehouse clean, safe and accurate, ships everything due each day, and develops supervisors who can hold the floor without them.
Key responsibilities
- Run the warehouse across receiving, put-away, storage, picking, packing and dispatch to the daily plan.
- Own inventory accuracy through disciplined receiving, cycle counts and controlled stock adjustments.
- Plan storage layout and slotting so fast movers are easy to reach and space is well used.
- Set shift rosters and manpower to match volume and keep labour cost per unit in check.
- Meet dispatch cut-offs so customer and store orders leave complete and on time.
- Enforce safety, fire readiness, housekeeping and correct equipment use across the site.
- Manage material handling equipment upkeep and consumables such as packaging and pallets.
- Run stock audits, reconcile with the system, and close gaps with root-cause fixes.
- Handle inbound and outbound coordination with transport to avoid dock congestion.
- Develop supervisors and executives and build cover for every critical warehouse role.
Requirements
- Graduate in commerce, logistics or any discipline
- Solid experience across warehouse functions and systems
- A diploma or degree in supply chain is an advantage
- 6 to 10 years in warehouse operations with team leadership
KRAs and KPIs for a Warehouse Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Dispatch on time | Orders dispatched within cut-off on at least 98 percent of days |
| Inventory accuracy | Stock accuracy above 99.5 percent verified by cycle counts |
| Productivity | Lines picked and packed per man-hour at or above the site standard |
| Cost per unit | Warehouse operating cost per unit handled within budget |
| Safety | Zero lost-time injuries with housekeeping and safety audits passed |
| Space use | Storage utilization held within the healthy working range |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Warehouse management system, RF and barcode scanners, Forklifts and pallet trucks, MS Excel, ERP for inventory.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Distribution Centre Manager, Head of Warehousing, Operations Manager
Interview questions for a Warehouse Manager
- How do you keep inventory accuracy above ninety-nine percent in a busy warehouse?
- Walk me through how you plan a warehouse layout and slotting for fast movers.
- The team keeps missing the dispatch cut-off. How do you diagnose and fix it?
- How do you set a shift roster that matches volume without overtime blowing the budget?
- What safety controls do you never compromise on the warehouse floor?
- Tell me about a stock variance you investigated and how you closed the root cause.
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What does a Warehouse Manager do?
A Warehouse Manager runs a warehouse from receiving to dispatch. They own inventory accuracy, storage layout, picking and packing productivity, dispatch cut-offs, safety and operating cost. They set rosters, run cycle counts and audits, coordinate with transport, and lead supervisors and executives. The job is to ship everything due each day, accurately, safely and within budget.
What is the difference between a Warehouse Manager and a Warehouse Supervisor?
A Warehouse Supervisor leads a team on one function or shift, such as picking or dispatch, and delivers the plan given to them. A Warehouse Manager owns the whole site: layout, rosters, inventory, cost, safety and results. The supervisor executes; the manager plans, decides and answers for the warehouse.
What qualifications do you need to become a Warehouse Manager?
A graduate degree and several years of warehouse experience across receiving, storage, picking and dispatch are the usual base. Employers want a firm grip on inventory accuracy, layout, rosters and safety, plus comfort with a warehouse system and scanners. A supply chain diploma or degree is an advantage but hands-on operations experience matters most.