The Role
The Warehouse Team Leader is responsible for delivering safe, efficient and high-performing warehouse operations within an assigned functional area. As a key member of the warehouse leadership team, the role provides day-to-day supervision, guidance and support to Warehouse Operatives, ensuring operational plans are executed effectively and service, productivity, quality and inventory accuracy targets are consistently achieved.
Reporting to the Warehouse Operations Shift Manager, the Warehouse Team Leader is responsible for delivering operational excellence through effective resource planning, workload prioritisation, performance management and team development. The role promotes a positive safety culture, ensures compliance with company policies, procedures and regulatory requirements, and acts as the first point of escalation for operational issues.
The Warehouse Team Leader plays an active role in driving continuous improvement, supporting process standardisation and embedding best practice across the operation. The role also contributes to the implementation, optimisation and ongoing development of Warehouse Management System (WMS) functionality and other operational improvement initiatives, helping to enhance efficiency, accuracy, customer service and overall business performance.
Responsibilities
Inbound, Put-Away & Replenishment
· Supervise inbound deliveries within the assigned operational area, ensuring goods are received, checked and processed accurately, with discrepancies investigated and reported promptly.
· Coordinate the timely and accurate put-away of stock into designated warehouse locations, maintaining inventory accuracy at all times.
· Monitor pick-face replenishment activities to ensure stock availability, resolving operational issues where possible and escalating significant concerns as required.
· Ensure inbound, put-away and replenishment activities are completed in line with operational priorities and productivity targets.
· Support the achievement of inventory accuracy targets through effective stock handling, location management and adherence to warehouse processes.
Picking, Packing & Dispatch
· Supervise picking, packing and dispatch activities to ensure customer orders are completed accurately, safely and within agreed service levels.
· Ensure outbound priorities, order cut-off times and customer service requirements are clearly communicated and consistently achieved.
· Monitor order accuracy, dispatch performance and workflow efficiency, taking corrective action where appropriate.
· Identify and escalate issues that may impact service, quality, productivity or customer satisfaction.
Team Leadership & Performance
· Allocate workloads, set daily priorities and provide clear direction and support to Warehouse Operatives.
· Monitor individual and team performance against productivity, quality, accuracy and service targets, providing coaching and guidance to drive continuous improvement.
· Support the onboarding, training and development of warehouse operatives to ensure required skills and operational standards are maintained.
· Support attendance management and people processes, escalating performance, conduct and employee relations matters where appropriate.
· Lead by example in promoting high standards of safety, quality, productivity, housekeeping and teamwork.
Health, Safety & Compliance
· Ensure company policies, warehouse procedures and Health & Safety requirements are consistently followed.
· Promote a positive safety culture, challenging unsafe behaviours and encouraging safe working practices.
· Report and investigate accidents, near misses, equipment defects and operational incidents in accordance with company procedures.
· Ensure housekeeping standards are maintained and warehouse equipment is operated safely and correctly.
Systems, Improvement & Communication
· Support the effective use of the Warehouse Management System (WMS), ensuring warehouse transactions are completed accurately and in a timely manner.
· Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, process standardisation and WMS enhancements that improve operational efficiency, inventory accuracy and customer service.
· Maintain effective communication with colleagues, supervisors and other departments to support the smooth and efficient running of warehouse operations.
· Provide operational support and cover for other Warehouse Team Leaders during periods of absence or increased business demand.
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Warehouse Operations Experience
· Proven experience within a warehouse operation, ideally in a fast-paced distribution, logistics or manufacturing environment.
· Strong understanding of end-to-end warehouse processes, including goods in, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing, dispatch and stock control.
· Good knowledge of inventory management principles, stock accuracy controls and warehouse housekeeping standards.
· Experience working within a WMS-controlled warehouse environment.
Team Leadership & People Management
· Proven ability to lead, motivate, coach and develop warehouse teams to achieve productivity, quality, accuracy and customer service targets.
· Experience supporting people-management activities, including return-to-work discussions, attendance management, one-to-one meetings, performance reviews and difficult conversations.
· Experience supporting formal employee relations processes, including investigations, disciplinary hearings and attendance reviews, in partnership with management and HR.
· Hands-on leadership style with a visible, floor-based approach and a commitment to leading by example.
Health, Safety & Compliance
· Sound knowledge of Health & Safety legislation, safe warehouse practices and the importance of maintaining a safe, compliant and well-organised working environment.
· Demonstrable commitment to promoting a positive safety culture and ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures.
Performance, Systems & Reporting
· Experience monitoring productivity, labour utilisation and operational KPIs, taking corrective action to address performance issues where required.
· Working knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), ERP platforms and Microsoft Excel to support operational control, reporting and performance analysis.
· Ability to interpret operational data and use insights to drive improvements in efficiency, quality and service.
Planning, Problem Solving & Decision Making
· Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
· Ability to make sound operational decisions, resolve day-to-day challenges and remain calm under pressure.
· Proactive approach to identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and implementing practical solutions.
Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Warehouse Operations Experience
· Supervisory or Team Leader qualification.
· IOSH Working Safely or equivalent health and safety training.
· Experience operating or working within a VNA, Counterbalance and Reach FLT operated environment.
· Lean, Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence training.
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
