Warehouse Section Leader - (WSL.50)

Gist; Portbury; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% M&S discount

23 days annual leave

Job summary

Gist is seeking a Warehouse Section Leader to help run a busy operation across a 4 on 4 off shift. You will coordinate daily activity, support resource planning and monitor KPIs to improve performance.

You’ll assist with people-related tasks and provide clear direction to colleagues, while championing safety and accuracy in a fast-paced logistics environment. The role offers a hands-on, non-management leadership path in a critical food logistics operation within the M&S Group network, with

Qualifications

• Previous warehouse, logistics or operational experience, ideally within FMCG or another high-volume environment.
• Good understanding of warehouse operations and the ability to manage changing priorities.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office packages, particularly when working with reports and operational information.
• Experience using a Warehouse Management System, SAP or similar operational system.
• Understanding of operational KPIs and performance measures, or a willingness and ability to learn.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to provide clear direction to colleagues.
• Good organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• The confidence to support employee relations activity, including attendance, return-to-work conversations or other people processes when required.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and managers.
• A strong focus on safety, accuracy and operational standards.
• The flexibility to respond to changing operational requirements throughout the shift.

Responsibilities

• Support daily resource planning to ensure the right people are in the right areas to meet operational demand.
• Coordinate warehouse and outbound activity, helping ensure products move through the operation safely, accurately and on time.
• Monitor operational and picking KPIs, highlighting issues and supporting actions to improve performance.
• Produce and maintain operational reports using systems and Microsoft Office packages.
• Support the management of sickness, holidays and colleague availability across the shift.
• Assist the Warehouse Shift Manager with people-related activity, including return-to-work conversations and other employee relations processes where required.
• Provide clear communication and direction to colleagues across the operation, helping teams understand priorities and expected standards.
• Support the induction and development of new starters and help ensure operational training requirements are completed.
• Identify operational issues or risks and work with the wider team to resolve them quickly and effectively.
• Champion health and safety, ensuring colleagues are working in a safe and compliant environment.
• Support wider warehouse activity and additional operational requirements as priorities change throughout the shift.
• Work closely with other areas of the site to maintain strong communication and effective handovers.

Skills

Warehouse experience

Operational leadership

MS Office proficiency

SAP / WMS experience

Communication skills

Organisational skills

People-relations support

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

At Gist, we're proud to be part of the M&S Group, the logistics engine behind M&S Food.

From our distribution centres to our transport operations and support functions, we connect people, technology and expertise to ensure the right products reach the right stores at the right time.

As we continue to invest in our people, technology and network, there's never been a more exciting time to join Gist and help shape the future of food logistics.

Ready to take the next step in your warehouse career and play a key role in keeping a busy operation running smoothly?

We're looking for a Warehouse Section Leader to join our team, working closely with the Warehouse Shift Manager to support the day-to-day running of the operation.

This is a hands-on operational role where you'll help coordinate warehouse activity, support resource planning, monitor performance and make sure the team has what it needs to deliver safely and efficiently.

You won't have direct line management responsibility, but you will play an important role in supporting colleagues across the shift, helping with attendance and people processes, resolving operational issues and providing clear direction when needed.

This role will see you working a 4 on, 4 off shift pattern, 06:00 AM to 18:00 PM.

What you'll be doing

Reporting into the Warehouse Shift Manager, you'll support the smooth running of the warehouse operation across your shift. Within this role you will:

• Support daily resource planning to ensure the right people are in the right areas to meet operational demand.
• Coordinate warehouse and outbound activity, helping ensure products move through the operation safely, accurately and on time.
• Monitor operational and picking KPIs, highlighting issues and supporting actions to improve performance.
• Produce and maintain operational reports using systems and Microsoft Office packages.
• Support the management of sickness, holidays and colleague availability across the shift.
• Assist the Warehouse Shift Manager with people-related activity, including return-to-work conversations and other employee relations processes where required.
• Provide clear communication and direction to colleagues across the operation, helping teams understand priorities and expected standards.
• Support the induction and development of new starters and help ensure operational training requirements are completed.
• Identify operational issues or risks and work with the wider team to resolve them quickly and effectively.
• Champion health and safety, ensuring colleagues are working in a safe and compliant environment.
• Support wider warehouse activity and additional operational requirements as priorities change throughout the shift.
• Work closely with other areas of the site to maintain strong communication and effective handovers.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys being at the heart of an operation, understands how a warehouse works and wants to build their experience in operational leadership.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone with proven experience working within a warehouse, logistics or fast-paced operational environment who is confident coordinating activity and supporting others.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Previous warehouse, logistics or operational experience, ideally within FMCG or another high-volume environment.
• A good understanding of warehouse operations and the ability to manage changing priorities.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office packages, particularly when working with reports and operational information.
• Experience using a Warehouse Management System, SAP or similar operational system.
• An understanding of operational KPIs and performance measures, or a willingness and ability to learn.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to provide clear direction to colleagues.
• Good organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• The confidence to support employee relations activity, including attendance, return-to-work conversations or other people processes when required.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and managers.
• A strong focus on safety, accuracy and operational standards.
• The flexibility to respond to changing operational requirements throughout the shift.

You don't need to be an experienced people manager for this role. What's important is that you understand operations, are confident working with people and are comfortable taking responsibility for keeping your area running effectively. If you're organised, operationally focused and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where no two shifts are quite the same, we want to hear from you.

Coordinate the operation. Support the team. Drive performance. Make a difference.

Role details:

Salary: £34,800 per annum (DOE)

Working pattern: 4 on, 4 off

Hours: 06:00 AM to 18:00 PM

Location: Portbury BS20 7XR GB

What's in it for you?

As well as a competitive salary, you'll benefit from:

• 20% M&S discount on most things from furniture, fashion and food
• 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays (rising with length of service)

Why Gist?

When you join Gist, you're joining a business that plays a critical role within the M&S Group.

You'll have the opportunity to contribute to a fast-paced operation, work alongside experienced colleagues and play an important part in one of the UK's leading food supply chains.

Our culture is built around our values of being Progressive, Accountable, Collaborative and Ethical, creating an environment where people are trusted, supported and encouraged to grow.

Whether you're coordinating a warehouse operation, supporting your team or helping improve the way we work, your contribution makes a real difference.

Our commitment to inclusion

At Gist, we believe our differences make us stronger.

We're committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to succeed. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know. We'll work with you to ensure you have the support you need.