Central Stores and Warehouse Manager in Oxford

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we are on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, policy makers, and entrepreneurs to tackle humanity's greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you will join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs.

Your Role

We are seeking an experienced Central Stores and Warehouse Manager to establish and lead a centralized warehouse operation for our growing multi-building research campus. The role will design and implement warehouse infrastructure, manage inventory systems, oversee logistics processes, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Your Responsibilities

• Central Warehouse Operationalisation: Lead the planning, development and launch of a centralized warehouse, including design layout, inventory system implementation, and operational processes.
• Define and implement operational processes, including goods-in/out, stock control, distribution workflows, hazardous materials handling and waste/reverse logistics.
• Develop and implement efficient inventory control systems to manage stock levels across labs and buildings.
• Ensure accurate inventory records using appropriate software tools (ERP/WMS).
• Specify and oversee the installation of warehouse infrastructure (racking, equipment, signage, cold-storage, safety systems etc.).
• Work with procurement to manage supplier deliveries and ensure on-time availability of scientific materials and consumables.
• Establish vendor delivery schedules and performance benchmarks.
• Establish service-level agreements (SLAs) and KPIs for logistics operations across the institute.

• Distribution & Internal Logistics: Manage internal logistics for multi-site deliveries, returns and inter-departmental distribution.
• Design and manage internal logistics including scheduled deliveries, courier systems, and emergency requests.
• Oversee courier, freight and vendor logistics, ensuring compliance with documentation, tracking and regulatory requirements.
• Develop efficient routing and delivery schedules to support research teams' operational continuity.
• Serve as the key point of escalation for service issues and customer satisfaction across the institute.

• Team Leadership & Compliance: Recruit, train, and manage warehouse/logistics staff.
• Ensure compliance with HSE standards and research-specific handling protocols (e.g., cold chain, hazardous materials).
• Identify opportunities to improve logistics efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize delays.
• Implement metrics for performance monitoring and reporting.

Requirements

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience managing logistics, warehouse management, or supply chain operations, preferably in research, pharmaceutical, biotech, or technical environment.
• Demonstrated ability to set up and manage a warehouse or central store operation from concept to operationalisation.
• Proficiency in inventory management systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, or similar WMS/ERP tools).
• Strong understanding of inventory control, procurement processes and distribution logistics.
• Knowledge of HSE and regulatory standards related to storage and handling of laboratory supplies and chemicals.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Full clean driving licence.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Experience in a startup, R&D, or lab-based environment with multi-site coordination.
• Familiarity with the logistics of cold storage, hazardous materials, or specialised scientific equipment.
• Understanding of Just-In-Time (JIT) supply systems in a research setting.
• Lean/Six Sigma certification or experience in process optimisation.

Benefits

Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 + travel allowance + bonus. Enhanced holiday pay. Pension. Life Assurance. Income Protection. Private Medical Insurance. Hospital Cash Plan. Therapy Services. Perk Box. Electric Car Scheme.

Working Together – What It Involves

You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford and can commit to being fully office based. Please note we cannot offer hybrid working for this role. During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.