Warehouse Manager in Poole

Based in Poole, Dorset (onsite) Monday - Friday 9:00 - 17:00 37.5 Hours per week. The Warehouse Manager is a member of the Group’s Senior Management Team and holds full accountability for all warehouse operations, including stock integrity, people leadership, pick, pack and despatch activities, and the effective management of logistics partners to ensure safe, timely and cost-effective delivery of products to customers. The role holder is responsible for developing, implementing and sustaining robust warehouse procedures aligned to Poole Bay Holdings Management Ltd’s ambitious growth plans. This includes ensuring all warehouse employees are appropriately trained, competent and compliant, with accurate records maintained in line with Health & Safety legislation and company standards. The Warehouse Manager also holds responsibility for warehouse facilities management. Poole Bay Holdings Management Ltd is committed to customer excellence and, as a senior leader, the Warehouse Manager is expected to embed this philosophy throughout the warehouse function, continuously driving high service standards, operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Warehouse Operations & Performance: Provide strategic and operational leadership for all warehouse activities, ensuring service levels, productivity, accuracy and customer commitments are consistently achieved. Own end-to-end warehouse performance, ensuring consistent application of standard operating procedures and effective escalation of material risks, constraints or failures. Protect stock integrity by working closely with Stock Control, Supply Chain and Sales, ensuring the warehouse function is optimally positioned to fulfil customer orders on time and in full. Lead the development and continuous improvement of warehouse processes, systems, layouts and infrastructure in support of business growth.
• Leadership, People Management & Capability: Provide strong leadership to the warehouse management team, setting clear expectations, holding managers accountable for performance and behaviours, and supporting capability development. Ensure all people-related processes within the warehouse are managed appropriately, including training, attendance, performance management and investigations, in line with company policy and employment legislation. Create a positive, safe and inclusive working environment that supports employee wellbeing, engagement and retention.
• Health, Safety, Compliance & Data Protection: Hold accountability for Health & Safety compliance within warehouse operations, ensuring safe systems of work, training and monitoring arrangements are in place and effective. Work in partnership with the Group Health & Safety and Compliance Manager to ensure warehouse quality procedures, regulatory requirements and audit standards are met. Ensure compliance with GDPR and data protection requirements in relation to warehouse operations, including the secure handling, storage and access to employee, customer and operational data, and ensuring appropriate controls, training and awareness are maintained within the warehouse management team.
• Cost Control, Logistics & Commercial Oversight: Drive effective cost control across warehouse operations, including labour, logistics, consumables and third-party suppliers, ensuring value for money and alignment with service expectations. Oversee relationships with logistics and transport providers, ensuring shipping methods, costs and performance support customer service objectives. Monitor warehouse-related costs and performance against agreed KPIs, identifying variances, risks and improvement opportunities, and reporting to the Line Manager and Senior Management Team as required.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Act as a senior operational point of contact for internal departments, ensuring clear communication, collaboration and alignment across the business. Provide regular, structured reporting to the Senior Management Team, including performance updates, risks, and improvement initiatives. Ensure customer requirements and priorities are clearly understood and reflected in warehouse planning and execution.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Demonstrable experience managing a warehouse or distribution operation with full operational accountability [Essential]. Warehouse, logistics or distribution qualification [Desirable]. Health & Safety or operational management training (e.g. IOSH or equivalent) [Desirable].
• Skills: Strong management and leadership skills, including managing managers [Essential]. Ability to set direction, standards and expectations across a large operational function [Essential]. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including senior stakeholder reporting [Essential]. Strong decision-making skills with the ability to assess risk, prioritise and escalate appropriately [Essential]. Proven ability to build trust, resolve conflict and lead by example [Essential]. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, using data to inform decisions [Essential]. High level of IT competence, including WMS, spreadsheets and operational reporting tools [Essential]. Ability to drive continuous improvement and manage change in a fast-paced environment [Essential].
• Knowledge and Experience: In-depth knowledge of warehouse operations across inbound, storage, picking, packing and despatch [Essential]. Strong knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and operational compliance requirements. Working knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles as they relate to employee and operational data [Essential]. Understanding of cost control, productivity measures and service level management. Experience leading warehouse operations in a busy, fast-paced environment [Essential]. Experience managing and developing management-level roles (e.g. Assistant Managers, Supervisors) [Essential]. Experience owning operational performance against KPIs and reporting to senior leadership. Experience overseeing Health & Safety compliance and responding to incidents or investigations [Essential]. Experience working cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Sales, Finance and Logistics partners [Essential].
• Personal Attributes: Credible, calm and professional senior leader with strong personal integrity [Essential]. Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to operational excellence [Essential]. Resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating in a changing business environment [Essential]. Strong sense of ownership and accountability [Essential].

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday per annum (including Christmas closure) rising to 26 days after 5 years and 27 days after 10 years, plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time staff).
• £200 per annum for health and wellbeing activity / gym membership (after 1 year of service).
• Voucher awards for ideas.
• Social committee organising departmental events and activities.
• Summer BBQ and/or Christmas party for whole company and partners.
• Free parking.
• Modern offices with kitchen and break facilities.
• Community / Charity day with line manager approval.
• Opportunity to get involved with events and initiatives to support local charities.
• 1 piece of PBH branded merchandise as a welcome / thank you for being part of the PBH team!
• 10% discount at a local independent gym.
• Ongoing support, development and training in line with needs of the role and business.
• Financial support to cover cost of specialist eyesight tests for DSE users & glasses for DSE use (including frames that cost up to £50).
• Auto-enrolment for eligible staff - 8% Pension with NowPensions – (3% Employer & 5% Employee on qualifying earnings).