Warehouse Manager

Are you a confident, grounded and resilient leader who thrives in a complex, fast-moving environment? We're recruiting for a Warehouse Manager to take ownership of two fine art warehouse sites — based primarily in Ware, with regular travel to Royston — leading the teams, driving operational excellence, and championing safety and standards across both locations. This is a genuine leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys coaching and developing people as much as they enjoy solving operational problems, working closely with Senior Leadership, Projects, Transport, Customs and Shipping to deliver an exceptional service to high-value clients.

The Role

You'll take full strategic and operational oversight of both sites — inventory, space, workflow, people and Health & Safety — building a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement across your teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of two warehouse sites, ensuring safe, efficient and high-performing environments.
• Lead, coach and develop your teams — including mentoring existing supervisors and warehouse staff — building accountability, professionalism and teamwork.
• Manage workforce planning, resource allocation and operational priorities to hit business requirements and project deadlines.
• Own warehouse processes end-to-end, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, accuracy and service delivery.
• Manage goods in, goods out, inventory movements and location control through accurate digital systems.
• Lead inventory audits and stock accuracy, investigating discrepancies and implementing corrective action.
• Optimise warehouse layout, space utilisation and future capacity planning.
• Ensure artworks and high-value assets are stored, handled and protected to the highest standards.
• Act as Health & Safety ambassador across both sites — promoting a proactive safety culture and ensuring full compliance with policy, procedure and legislation.
• Oversee incoming and outgoing shipments, resolving operational issues and ensuring exceptional service delivery.
• Work flexibly and travel regularly across both warehouse locations as required.

About You

We're looking for a great people manager who's equally comfortable operating strategically and getting hands-on operationally.

Essential:

• Proven experience managing a warehouse or operational environment.
• Strong people leadership, coaching and team development experience.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Solid understanding of warehouse processes, inventory management and efficiency.
• Experience implementing process improvements and driving change.
• Strong Health & Safety knowledge and a track record of promoting a positive safety culture.
• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
• A confident communicator, comfortable engaging across all levels of the business.
• Able to work independently, make decisions and take ownership.
• Full, valid driving licence essential — this role requires regular travel between Ware and Royston.

Desirable:

• Experience within fine art, logistics or specialist storage.
• Knowledge of art handling principles or the care of high-value items.
• Experience working within a project-based environment.
• Experience using warehouse management or inventory systems.

What's on Offer

£20–£23 per hour + £6ph overtime rate. Full-time, permanent role on a 45-hour contract (split shifts — earliest starts around 6am, varying with workload). A genuine leadership role across two sites, with real scope to shape processes, mentor teams and drive long-term improvement.

If you're a natural people leader who takes ownership, enjoys finding solutions, and wants to bring strategic thinking to a hands-on operational role, we'd love to hear from you.