Warehouse Manager

Van Leeuwen Limited; Bolton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Van Leeuwen Limited in Bolton is looking for a dedicated management professional to oversee coaching, training, and safety compliance within the warehouse. The ideal candidate will possess relevant experience in the metal industry and demonstrate strong people-management skills.

This role requires a proactive approach to ensure productivity and safety standards are met while fostering a positive workplace culture. Successful candidates will ideally have Six Sigma/LEAN experience and a minimum of 3 years in a management role.

Qualifications

• Good secondary education or equivalent time‑served experience.
• Six Sigma/LEAN experience—preferred.
• Previous experience in the metal industry—preferred.
• Management experience in a manufacturing role for at least 3 years.

Responsibilities

• Coaching and developing employees while adhering to performance management procedures.
• Conducting accident investigations to maintain a safe working environment.
• Managing team productivity and safety improvements.
• Supporting continuous improvement processes and policy implementation.

Skills

People-management skills

Six Sigma

LEAN

Manufacturing experience

Education

Good secondary education or equivalent experience

Job description

Responsibilities

• Coaching, Training and development of employees—identify and implement in partnership with HR, adhere to internal performance management procedures (appraisals, targets, identifying talent and managing underperformance etc).
• Conduct team-based accident/incident investigations as they arise, ensuring safe working practices are adhered to and maintaining a safe working environment at all times.
• Support the development and oversight of the continuous improvement process.
• Manage your team to monitor and improve working methods to increase productivity and/or safety.
• Plan and organise warehouse functions to be carried out in a timely and effective manner, including planning of manning and sawing activities.
• Support the implementation of operations and logistics internal policies and procedures for continuous improvement, including but not limited to site saw strategy, material flow analysis, site FLT/crane strategy and transport coordination and management.
• Supervise material movement, coordinate third‑party service providers and internal departments as necessary to ensure timely and efficient execution, in the own warehouse as well as external locations.
• Manage external contractors via the permit‑to‑work process.
• Work in collaboration with internal stakeholders to address topical issues whilst taking ownership and reporting any issues to the operations manager (QHSE).
• Drive a safety‑first approach and culture of feedback and improvement.
• Adhere to QHSE policies, procedures, training, culture, compliance, audits, investigation/root‑cause analysis, follow‑up and continuous improvement.
• Ensure equipment, PPE and machinery is suitable and safe.
• Collaborate with QHSE to identify and define suitable/sufficient risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Ensure communications are executed in line with company strategy, including toolbox talks, stop‑to‑fix, start‑of‑shift briefs and weekly/quarterly communications.
• Identify and drive cost efficiencies and productivity improvements.
• Optimise the manpower in your area to maintain capacity; value‑added activity is saw cutting.
• Ensure all site KPIs are monitored and communicated with the wider team, whilst opportunities for improvement are identified and actioned.
• Ensure timely and accurate communication with all relevant departments on any factors that will impact delivery dates, commitments to customers, quality and conduct root‑cause analysis and opportunities to improve.
• Identify skills gaps, training requirements (including onboarding for new employees) and support accordingly.
• Coach and develop team members, drive employee engagement and foster a positive workplace culture.
• Create an open‑door work environment where everyone has a voice to enable a continuous improvement ethos where the cultivation of ideas is free.
• Be present and accessible to support all site team members.
• Manage performance effectively and in adherence with internal HR procedures including appraisals, learning & development, attendance, disciplinary actions and grievances (direct reports or escalated situations).
• Act as a change champion—lead by example and promote change initiatives positively and effectively.

Qualifications

• Good secondary education or equivalent time‑served experience.
• Six Sigma/LEAN experience—preferred.
• Previous experience in the metal industry—preferred.
• Having worked in a management role, preferably in the manufacturing environment for a minimum of 3 years.
• People‑management skills.