Warehouse First Line Manager

Loom Talent; Ashford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Loom Talent is seeking a Warehouse First Line Manager in Ashford, Surrey. This hands-on leadership role oversees goods-in through to despatch, ensuring customer requirements, targets, quality and safety are met.

The role leads a team, drives performance on the warehouse floor and reports to management with clear KPIs. The ideal candidate has warehouse supervisory experience in a 3PL/logistics environment, strong people management skills, and a solid grasp of WMS and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in warehouse operational management or supervision in 3PL/logistics/FMCG.
• Strong experience leading warehouse teams.
• Understanding of goods-in to despatch processes.
• Experience with operational KPIs and service-level targets.
• People-management: performance, attendance and development.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety in warehouse environments.
• Experience with WMS and IT literacy.
• Structured, numerate and methodical approach to performance management.
• Ability to make decisions in a busy environment.
• Experience identifying and implementing continuous improvement opportunities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider management team.
• Counterbalance or Flexi forklift licence advantageous; experience operating warehouse equipment.
• Experience of disciplinary processes and absence management is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise warehouse teams across goods-in, storage, picking, handling and despatch operations.
• Ensure orders and outbound deliveries are processed accurately and on time using WMS.
• Own day-to-day operational performance: service, productivity, quality and cost targets.
• Lead daily shift briefings and ensure clear communication.
• Manage resources and workforce deployment, including seasonal planning.
• Monitor KPIs: productivity, quality, stock accuracy, service levels, attendance.
• Ensure Health & Safety procedures are followed.
• Identify and address quality, hygiene, damage and stock issues.
• Develop and motivate the warehouse team and manage performance.
• Create a positive, inclusive working environment.
• Investigate and resolve operational performance issues and customer concerns.
• Produce accurate daily/weekly reports for management and customers.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service; implement improvements.
• Ensure policies and safe systems of work are followed.
• Collaborate with wider management to meet site objectives.

Skills

Warehouse management

Team leadership

Health & Safety

Operational KPIs

Problem solving

Tools

Warehouse management systems

Job description

Job title:

Warehouse First Line Manager

Location:

Ashford, Surrey

Salary:

£35,000 - £37,000 per annum

Working hours:

Monday to Friday, 40 hour week (day shift)

The Company

Supporting a 3PL logistics provider, we are looking for an experienced Warehouse First Line Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day performance of a busy warehouse operation.

This is a hands-on leadership role, overseeing warehouse activities from goods-in through to picking, despatch and delivery, while ensuring customer requirements, operational targets, quality standards and Health & Safety requirements are consistently achieved.

You will lead, motivate and develop a warehouse team, ensuring resources are effectively managed and operational KPIs are achieved. The role would suit an experienced warehouse supervisor or team leader looking to take the next step in their management career.

The role of a Warehouse First Line Manager

• Lead and supervise warehouse teams across goods-in, storage, picking, handling and despatch operations.
• Ensure customer orders and outbound deliveries are processed accurately and on time using relevant warehouse management systems.
• Take ownership of day-to-day operational performance, ensuring agreed service, productivity, quality and cost targets are achieved.
• Lead daily shift briefings and ensure clear, effective communication across the team.
• Manage resources and workforce deployment to meet operational requirements, including seasonal and peak-period planning.
• Monitor and report key operational KPIs including productivity, quality, stock accuracy, service levels and attendance.
• Ensure all Health & Safety procedures and legislative requirements are consistently followed.
• Identify and address potential quality, hygiene, damage and stock integrity issues.
• Build, motivate and develop the warehouse team, supporting recruitment, performance management, absence management and ongoing development.
• Create a positive, inclusive and engaged working environment across the operation.
• Investigate and support the resolution of operational performance issues, customer complaints and service-level concerns.
• Produce accurate daily and weekly operational reports for management and customers where required.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and service through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Implement agreed operational improvements and monitor their impact.
• Ensure company policies, procedures and safe systems of work are followed consistently.
• Work collaboratively with the wider management team and other departments to achieve site and customer objectives.

Requirements

• You will have previous warehouse operational management or supervisory experience, ideally within a 3PL, logistics, distribution or FMCG environment.
• Strong experience leading and managing warehouse teams.
• A good understanding of warehouse processes from goods-in through to despatch.
• Experience working against operational KPIs and service-level targets.
• Strong people-management skills, including performance, attendance and team development.
• A good understanding of Health & Safety within a warehouse environment.
• Experience with warehouse management systems and good general IT literacy.
• A structured, numerate and methodical approach to managing operational performance.
• The ability to make effective decisions and solve problems in a busy environment.
• Experience identifying and implementing continuous improvement opportunities.
• The confidence to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of a wider management team.
• A valid Counterbalance or Flexi forklift licence would be advantageous, along with experience operating warehouse equipment.
• Experience of disciplinary processes, investigations and absence management would also be beneficial.

The Package

• Up to £37,000 per annum
• 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays
• Pension scheme

Apply

We are looking for someone who is hands-on, commercially aware and focused on delivering operational excellence. You'll be comfortable managing people, driving performance and making decisions on the warehouse floor, while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality and customer service.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Warehouse Supervisor or First Line Manager to join a growing operation and take ownership of a key operational function.