Warehouse manager: job description

Warehouse manager : Salaries | Employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills

Warehouse managers supervise deliveries of goods into warehouses and ensure products are accounted for, are stored safely and securely, and are despatched efficiently to customers. They also manage warehouse staff, which includes ensuring that they are working safely.

Typical duties include:

• processing orders.
• operating mechanical and IT systems.
• operating machinery, such as forklifts and pickers, and ensuring it is in working order.
• liaising with transport companies, suppliers and clients.
• supervising use of specialised storage, such as refrigeration.
• training, supervising and appraising staff.
• maintaining statistical and financial records.
• devising and monitoring rotas for staff.
• ensuring that quality objectives and delivery deadlines are met.
• managing budgets.
• administering stock control.
• keeping health and safety records, and ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation.
• investigating accidents and troubleshooting problems.

There are many similarities with the work of logistics and distribution managers, although a position as a warehouse manager is less involved in coordinating logistics on a large organisation-wide scale and more focused on coordinating staff and products within the warehouse (although this still includes overseeing transport to and from the warehouse).

Some graduate schemes involve warehouse management, although this is likely to be part of a logistics or supply chain role.

Warehouse managers may need to work shifts. You may also need to be on call to respond to emergencies out of hours – for example, if a member of the warehouse staff has an accident at work.

Graduate salaries

The UK Government reports that starting salaries for warehouse managers tend to be around £23,000. Earnings will rise with experience and training; you could earn up to £35,000 in this role.

Typical employers of warehouse managers

• Specialist logistics, distribution and haulage companies.
• Manufacturers.
• The armed forces. (the role may be known as logistics manager here).
• Retailers.
• Manufacturers.

Vacancies tend to be advertised by recruitment agencies and on local jobs boards. Professional bodies also advertise jobs on their websites.

Qualifications and training required

You don’t need a university degree to become a warehouse manager. Experience of working in a warehouse is highly valued and you may be able to progress by carrying out an apprenticeship after you leave school. Alternatively, you could begin by working towards a Higher National Diploma (HND) or foundation degree.

Graduates can also become warehouse managers if they have warehouse experience. Graduate schemes in logistics, offered by the likes of Lidl and DHL may provide warehouse management experience and could allow you to take your career in this direction. These schemes are often open to graduates in all degree subjects, though sometimes employers express a preference for a logistics- or business-related degree.

You can see vacancies for logistics, transport and supply chain roles on targetjobs .

Key skills for warehouse managers

• Leadership skills .
• Organisational skills.
• The ability to motivate and train others.
• Time management skills.
• Numerical skills.
• Technical skills.
• IT skills and the ability to learn new IT packages.
• Practical skills, such as the ability to operate machinery.
• The ability to communicate with people from all backgrounds.