Head of Warehouse Operations

Head of Warehouse OperationsFull time Monday - Friday Altrincham Warehouse Office Role OverviewThe Head of Warehouse Operations is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the entire warehouse function, ensuring every product moves through the business efficiently, accurately and cost effectively.This role owns the people, processes, systems, facilities and commercial performance of the warehouse, continually improving the operation to support business growth. Acting as the operational link between Head Office and the warehouse, they ensure stock flows seamlessly through the business, launches are executed successfully and warehouse operations scale ahead of demand.From implementing new warehouse technology and redesigning layouts, to developing future leaders, managing operational budgets and building future expansion plans, the Head of Warehouse Operations creates a warehouse that is scalable, commercially efficient and capable of supporting the long term ambitions of Treats.The successful candidate will be equally comfortable developing long term operational strategy as they are stepping onto the warehouse floor to support the team during peak trading periods. Key ResponsibilitiesWarehouse Leadership• Lead the overall warehouse operation, ensuring a safe, organised and highly efficient working environment. • Develop a high performing warehouse culture built around accountability, ownership and continuous improvement. • Lead by example and maintain a visible presence within the operation. • Be willing to support operational activities during busy periods and peak trading. • Deliver daily operational briefings, setting priorities, targets and expectations. • As the business grows, establish, manage and develop Team Leaders and shift structures.  Operational Excellence• Own the end to end Goods In and Goods Out operation. • Ensure all customer orders are picked, packed and dispatched accurately and on time. • Maintain exceptional inventory accuracy across all warehouse locations. • Continually improve warehouse flow, storage and operational efficiency. • Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures across every warehouse function. • Create scalable warehouse processes capable of supporting significant business growth. • Ensure warehouse operations remain efficient whilst maintaining excellent customer service levels.  Systems & Continuous Improvement• Lead the implementation of warehouse technology including: o Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) o Barcode scanning o Pick verification o Warehouse location management o Process automation • Continually review warehouse processes and identify opportunities for improvement. • Remove unnecessary manual tasks through automation and smarter systems. • Ensure operational systems evolve alongside business growth. • Drive a culture of continuous improvement across every warehouse function.  Performance & Operational Analytics• Develop meaningful warehouse KPIs and reporting. • Measure and continually improve: o Pick accuracy o Pack accuracy o Orders per labour hour o Picks per hour o Labour productivity o Goods In turnaround o Dispatch SLA performance o Inventory accuracy o Warehouse efficiency • Use operational data to make informed decisions and drive improvements. • Present warehouse performance and recommendations to senior leadership.  Warehouse Planning & Expansion• Review warehouse utilisation and future capacity requirements. • Design warehouse layouts that maximise productivity and storage efficiency. • Recommend investment in equipment, racking and automation. • Produce warehouse expansion plans ahead of business growth. • Ensure operational infrastructure scales before capacity becomes a constraint. • Continuously review warehouse workflows to maximise productivity and minimise waste.  Cross Functional Leadership• Act as the primary operational link between Head Office and the warehouse. • Build strong relationships across Buying, Merchandising, Customer Experience and Finance. • Develop processes that improve communication between departments. • Ensure stock movements, launches and operational priorities are communicated clearly. • Improve stock accuracy and inventory visibility through stronger cross functional processes. • Ensure warehouse operations fully support the wider commercial objectives of the business.  Operational Planning & Launch Readiness• Develop operational plans for every product launch. • Ensure the warehouse is fully prepared for all launches well in advance. • Implement operational rules, timelines and cut off points that allow the warehouse to achieve service standards without unnecessary pressure or last minute changes. • Protect warehouse priorities by ensuring work is planned effectively across departments. • Create scalable launch processes capable of supporting significantly higher order volumes. • Identify operational risks ahead of launches and proactively implement solutions.  Standards & Accountability• Define, implement and continually improve warehouse operating standards. • Create a culture of accountability where expectations are clearly understood and consistently achieved. • Hold Team Leaders and warehouse colleagues accountable for performance, behaviours and standards. • Ensure warehouse organisation, cleanliness and safety standards are maintained at all times. • Drive consistency across every warehouse process regardless of trading volume. • Continuously raise operational standards as the business evolves.  People Leadership & Development• Recruit, coach and develop a high performing warehouse team. • Build a culture where individuals are trusted with autonomy whilst remaining accountable for results. • Identify future leaders and create succession plans. • Upskill and cross train the team to create a flexible, multi skilled workforce. • Carry out regular one to ones, coaching sessions and performance reviews. • Create personal development plans that encourage long term career progression.  Workforce Planning• Develop warehouse resource plans aligned with business growth forecasts. • Forecast future headcount requirements alongside sales projections and operational demand. • Build recruitment plans to support future warehouse expansion. • Hire exceptional warehouse talent aligned with company values. • Ensure staffing levels remain within agreed budgets whilst delivering operational excellence. • Continuously review team structure to ensure it supports future growth efficiently.  Strategic Capacity Planning• Work closely with Buying and Merchandising to understand future intake, sales forecasts and promotional activity. • Translate commercial forecasts into warehouse capacity, labour and storage plans. • Ensure the warehouse is prepared for future growth rather than reacting to demand. • Identify operational bottlenecks before they impact service. • Build scalable operational plans that support long term growth.  Facilities ManagementOwn the day to day management of the warehouse premises, including:• Building maintenance • Roller shutters • Alarm and security systems • Utilities • Waste management • External contractors • Operational suppliers • Health & Safety compliance • General warehouse upkeep Ensure the warehouse remains safe, compliant and operational at all times. Commercial & Financial Responsibility• Own the warehouse and operations budget. • Manage the warehouse operational P&L. • Monitor labour costs and operational expenditure. • Deliver efficiency improvements that reduce cost per order. • Evaluate the return on investment for new systems, equipment and operational improvements. • Build commercial business cases for future operational investment.  Ownership of the WarehouseThe Head of Warehouse Operations has overall responsibility for ensuring the warehouse operates as a high performing, scalable function that supports the wider business.This includes ownership of:• Warehouse strategy • People and culture • Warehouse standards • Operational systems • Warehouse layout and expansion • Facilities and contractors • Health & Safety • Operational budgets and P&L • Continuous improvement • Productivity and efficiency • Inventory accuracy • Goods In and Goods Out • Service levels • Cross functional communication • Workforce planning • Future operational strategy   Success Measures (KPIs)Customer• 99.8%+ pick accuracy. • 99.8%+ dispatch accuracy. • Orders despatched within agreed SLA. • Customer fulfilment complaints maintained below target. Operational Performance• Continuous improvements in warehouse efficiency. • Reduced fulfilment times. • Increased picks and packs per labour hour. • Inventory accuracy maintained above 99.5%. • Warehouse capacity consistently ahead of forecast demand. Systems• Successful implementation of WMS, barcode scanning and operational technology. • Reduction in manual processes. • Increased warehouse automation. • Improved operational reporting and visibility. Financial• Warehouse operating within agreed budget. • Reduced cost per order. • Improved labour productivity. • Positive ROI delivered on warehouse improvement projects. People• High employee engagement and retention. • Clear succession plans for key roles. • Multi skilled workforce with effective cross training. • Strong leadership capability developed across Team Leaders. Strategic Growth• Warehouse infrastructure scaled ahead of business growth. • Successful delivery of warehouse expansion projects. • Continuous pipeline of operational improvements implemented throughout the year. • Strong collaboration between Head Office and warehouse teams, resulting in improved communication, stock accuracy and operational flow.