South Africa: Warehouse Manager posted by Greys Recruitment

Our Client is seeking an experienced Warehouse manager in Woodmead, Johannesburg that will be responsible for end-to-end warehouse and yard operations, ensuring continuous availability of critical spares, consumables, and tooling to sustain production and maintenance activities.
The role is responsible for maintaining inventory accuracy, governance, safety compliance, cost control, supplier coordination, and service delivery to operations while ensuring secure, orderly storage and efficient receiving and dispatch processes aligned with company policies and site requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Warehouse Operations & Service Delivery

• Plan, organise, and control daily warehouse activities, including receiving, put-away, binning, picking, issuing, dispatch, and returns.
• Maintain optimal warehouse layouts, storage locations, racking safety, and clear demarcation of high-usage items, oversized components, and hazardous goods where applicable.
• Ensure operational readiness for breakdown spares and emergency requirements.
• Implement and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and service-level standards for store issues and dispatch turnaround times.
• Coordinate laydown yard operations for bulky items with proper tagging and tracking systems.

2. Inventory Management, Control & Accuracy

• Maintain accurate stock records, including minimum and maximum levels, reorder points, safety stock, and lead-time assumptions for critical spares and consumables.
• Drive inventory accuracy through cycle counting, perpetual inventory controls, structured stocktakes, and reconciliation processes.
• Investigate and resolve stock variances, including receiving errors, incorrect binning, unit-of-measure discrepancies, shrinkage, and system misuse.
• Manage critical spare parts lists in collaboration with maintenance and engineering teams.
• Control obsolete, surplus, and slow-moving stock through reporting, disposal processes, supplier returns, or redeployment across sites.

3. Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Enforce governance over store issues and receipts, ensuring proper authorisations, job card references, cost centre allocations, and segregation of duties where possible.
• Maintain document control and audit trails for all inventory movements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, client requirements, and legal standards relating to storage, hazardous goods, and site access control.
• Maintain warehouse security through access controls, key management, CCTV systems, and management of high-value inventory.
• Lead and support internal and external audits, including financial, safety, ISO, and client compliance audits.

4. Procurement & Supplier Coordination

• Collaborate closely with procurement teams to ensure timely replenishment and accurate item specifications.
• Validate requests relating to specifications, OEM references, alternative products, and units of measure.
• Manage supplier performance regarding damaged goods, short deliveries, incorrect items, delays, warranty claims, returns, and credits.
• Maintain master data integrity, including item codes, descriptions, units of measure, bin locations, and lead times.

5. Receiving, Dispatch, Transport & Documentation

• Manage the complete receiving process, including booking-in, offloading, inspections, counting, and documentation.
• Administer quarantine procedures for non-conforming items.
• Ensure accurate picking, packing, labelling, dispatching, and supporting documentation.
• Manage proof-of-delivery documentation for inter-site transfers.
• Coordinate internal transport requirements and oversee logistics tracking and documentation.

6. Safety, Health, Environment & Quality (SHEQ)

• Ensure warehouse operations comply with SHEQ requirements, including housekeeping, traffic management, PPE compliance, stacking and racking safety, forklift compliance, and emergency preparedness.
• Conduct risk assessments, toolbox talks, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
• Maintain high standards of workplace organisation and safe storage practices.

7. People Leadership & Capability

• Lead, coach, and develop warehouse team members.
• Set performance objectives, monitor performance, and manage attendance and disciplinary matters.
• Ensure adequate staffing, role clarity, training, and competency development, including forklift certification where required.
• Foster a service-driven culture through effective communication and collaboration with operations and maintenance teams.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree or Diploma in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Warehouse Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–8 years of relevant warehouse experience, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Proven experience in inventory control, stocktaking, and critical spares management.
• Strong understanding of warehouse governance, controls, compliance, and audit requirements.
• Experience managing receiving, issuing, dispatch, and returns processes.
• Strong leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
• High attention to detail, integrity, and ability to perform effectively under pressure.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel to operational sites as required.