Shift Manager

About COAT

We are an ambitious, fast-growing D2C paint brand that has brought its warehousing in-house, building a world-class operation from the ground up. Every role in this team matters. We take real pride in accuracy, pace and doing things properly. We are all about simplicity, ease and conscious thinking. If we can make decorating a more enjoyable experience, for our customers and the environment, then we are winning.

The Shift Manager is the operational lead on the floor. You hold full responsibility across all three departments: Paint, Samples and Inventory/Goods In, and you take direct ownership for throughput, people, safety and standards during your shift. You report directly to the Head of Operations and are their eyes on the ground. This is not a role for someone who needs managing. We need someone who shows up every shift with a clear plan, takes ownership without being asked, acts immediately when something is off, and builds a team culture that is disciplined, fair and high performing. You will be responsible for the rota, compliance, training and the day-to-day running of the warehouse. Everything flows through you. We have a fast-growing operation and high standards. If you are the kind of manager who waits to be told, over-complicates decisions, or manages up instead of managing the floor, this is not the right role. If you lead from the front, communicate clearly and take pride in your team output, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Oversight
• Hold full operational oversight of Paint, Samples and Inventory/Goods In throughout your shift.
• Monitor throughput in real time: identify and resolve bottlenecks before they become problems.
• Act as second-level escalation for Team Leaders, resolving issues beyond their scope.
• Manage accurate, thorough shift handovers to ensure continuity across the operation.
• Own the daily figures for your shift and take personal responsibility for the team hitting them.
• Be visible on the floor. Your team should see you regularly, not only when there is a problem.
• Make decisions. Do not stall, over-escalate or wait for permission on things within your remit.
• Rota and Resourcing
• Own and publish the weekly rota in advance, without being chased. The team should always know their schedule.
• Plan resourcing proactively based on order volumes, forecasts and known absences.
• Manage absence and cover in real time: make adjustments during the shift without disrupting output.
• Allocate operatives to departments based on skill, volume and priority, not habit.
• Track attendance, lateness and absence patterns and escalate concerns to the Head of Operations.
• Ensure the rota reflects fair and consistent allocation of hours across the team.
• People and Culture
• Lead by example in everything: attitude, accuracy, effort and professionalism.
• Reinforce a culture of Hungry, Humble and Smart behaviours across all teams.
• Recognise good performance, name it publicly in the brief and make people feel valued.
• Support Team Leaders with in-the-moment coaching and performance guidance.
• Manage performance issues early, directly and with proper documentation. Do not let things drift.
• Ensure departments collaborate: remove friction, resolve conflict, hold shared accountability.
• Maintain the management chain. Direct reports should escalate through the right structure, not around it.
• Create an environment where people want to perform, not one where they are policed into it.
• Compliance and Safety
• Enforce health and safety standards across the full operation for every shift.
• Conduct weekly fire alarm tests and log results accurately.
• Check emergency lighting monthly and report any failures without delay.
• Carry out daily safety walkthroughs: housekeeping, clear walkways, racking integrity.
• Ensure all COSHH requirements are met for tint and paint materials.
• Act as first point of contact for health and safety incidents; complete incident reports accurately.
• Ensure compliance with manual handling, PPE, fire safety and all regulatory requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date compliance records and flag anything overdue to the Head of Operations immediately.
• Promote a proactive safety culture: safety is led from the top and expected from everyone.
• Training and Development
• Own the training function for the warehouse, supported by your Team Leaders.
• Ensure every operative is trained to the required standard before working unsupervised.
• Maintain training records for all warehouse staff and keep them current.
• Work with Team Leaders to deliver structured onboarding for new starters and sign off competency at each stage.
• Escalate any competency gaps or training needs to the Head of Operations.
• Continuously assess whether the team is performing to standard and address gaps proactively.
• Stock and Operational Checks
• Conduct weekly and ad-hoc stock checks as directed by the Head of Operations.
• Review and sign off daily despatch readiness before carrier collections.
• Complete shift handover reports and flag operational risks clearly.
• Support stock adjustment processes and investigate discrepancies with Team Leaders.
• Maintain accurate shift logs to support data-led decision making.
• Continuous Improvement
• Ensure SOPs are followed correctly across all departments: flag and address deviations.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and raise improvement ideas to the Head of Operations.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of warehouse workflows and ways of working.
• Maintain high standards of organisation, cleanliness and presentation across the warehouse.

What We Are Looking For

Essential:

• At least 1 to 2 years of supervisory or management experience in a warehouse or production environment.
• A track record of running a shift independently, without needing to be directed.
• Demonstrable experience managing rotas, resourcing and attendance.
• Strong people management skills: you have managed performance, coached individuals and had difficult conversations.
• Experience owning health and safety compliance, not just following it.
• Good computer literacy, including Excel and warehouse or stock management systems.
• Clear, direct communicator who keeps the Head of Operations informed proactively, not reactively.
• Someone who acts first and escalates second. You do not stall or wait for permission on things in your remit.
• High personal standards: your area reflects your standards, and you hold your team to the same.
• A builder of culture, not a manager of tasks. You develop people and make the team better.

Desirable:

• Experience in a D2C or light manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with Warehouse Management Systems such as TradePeg.

This role is not right for you if:

• You need significant direction or structure before you can act.
• You prefer to manage upwards rather than manage the floor.
• You struggle to make decisions under pressure.
• You find it difficult to challenge underperformance in your team directly.
• You treat rota and admin as someone else's responsibility.

What is on Offer

• A key role in a rapidly scaling warehouse operation.
• Opportunity to shape culture and processes from the ground up.
• Ongoing training and development.
• Competitive pay and future shift expansion.

Benefits

• Discounted paint!
• Service warehouse with multiple perks.
• Mental Health Support
• Discount on retailers

Our Behaviours

Three behaviours sit at the heart of how we operate. They apply to every person in the warehouse, at every level: from the way an operative approaches their pick accuracy, to the way a Shift Manager runs their operation. They are not just values on a wall. They are the standard we hold ourselves and each other to, every day.

• HUNGRY - You drive the shift to hit targets, and you own it when things fall short. You set the bar and hold it every single day.
• HUMBLE - You listen to your Team Leaders, share the wins and build an operation people want to be part of.
• SMART - You know where to focus. You do not firefight everything: you prioritise what moves the needle.

The Practical Bits

• Location: Harrow, London
• Hours: 4 days in 4 days off, including weekend
• Reports to: Head of Operations
• Experience: Minimum 1 to 2 years supervisory or management experience required
• Type: Permanent