Shift Supervisor - Distribution / Cold Store

West Coast Personnel; Athlone; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

West Coast Personnel in Ireland is recruiting for a hands-on Distribution Centre Supervisor to lead warehouse and cold-store teams, manage staffing, and ensure compliance with food safety, quality and health and safety standards.

You will monitor loading, stock control, temperature monitoring and housekeeping, while driving stock accuracy and cold-chain integrity, with a focus on cost control and disciplined staff management.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 or equivalent required.
• Valid Forklift License required.
• Basic Supervisory Qualification required.
• Minimum 1 year experience in FMCG warehouse environment.
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Computer literate and able to use warehouse management systems.
• Ability to supervise staff in a busy warehouse/distribution setting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and supervise warehouse and cold-store personnel across the shift.
• Plan staffing requirements for normal operations, weekends and public holidays.
• Manage staff schedules, attendance, timekeeping and registers.
• Monitor staffing costs and ensure wages stay within budgets.
• Allocate responsibilities and ensure employees perform their roles.
• Train and develop staff to create a flexible, multi-skilled team.
• Conduct performance assessments as per procedures.
• Ensure inductions covering food safety, hygiene, quality, and health and safety.

Skills

Staff supervision & shift management

Stock control & cold-chain

Food safety awareness

Health & safety compliance

WMS experience

Education

Grade 12 or equivalent

Valid Forklift License

Basic Supervisory Qualification

Experience in FMCG warehouse

Tools

Warehouse management systems

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Staff Supervision & Shift Management

Coordinate and supervise warehouse and cold-store personnel across the shift.

Plan staffing requirements for normal operations, weekends and public holidays.

Manage staff schedules, attendance, timekeeping and registers.

Monitor staffing costs and ensure wages remain within approved budgets.

Allocate responsibilities and ensure employees perform according to their respective roles.

Train and develop staff to create a flexible, multi-skilled team.

Conduct performance assessments in line with company procedures.

Ensure adherence to disciplinary procedures and HR policies.

Ensure employees receive the required departmental inductions covering food safety, hygiene, quality, and health and safety.

Cold Store & Stock Control

Supervise all cold-store activities to minimise theft, damage, shrinkage and stock losses.

Ensure correct product stacking, storage and handling.

Maintain effective stock rotation to ensure older stock is dispatched before newer stock.

Identify short-dated stock promptly to reduce wastage.

Verify expiry dates of picked products.

Account for stock wastage and breakages.

Conduct regular spot checks on stock handling and storage practices.

Ensure cold stores remain organised, clean and ready for the following shift.

Cold Chain Management

Monitor and record cold-store temperatures throughout the day in accordance with required procedures.

Ensure cold-store temperatures are maintained between 4°C and 7°C . Inspect vehicle refrigeration units before loading and ensure units are operating correctly and set at approximately 2°C . Prevent vehicles from being loaded where refrigeration systems are not functioning correctly.

Ensure chilled products remain within the required temperature-controlled environment.

Conduct random temperature checks on products after vehicle loading.

Loading & Dispatch

Supervise the accurate and efficient loading of delivery vehicles.

Ensure vehicles are loaded according to picking lists, route schedules and customer orders.

Ensure correct products, quantities and product dates are loaded.

Prevent damaged stock from being dispatched.

Ensure vehicles are loaded within required timelines while protecting the cold chain.

Ensure vehicles are not overloaded and loads remain within legal limits.

Verify loading documentation and required signatures before vehicles are secured.

Ensure loaded vehicles are parked correctly and refrigeration units are connected to an electrical supply where available.

Housekeeping, Hygiene & Food Safety

Drive a strong clean-as-you-go culture throughout the Distribution Centre.

Maintain high housekeeping standards in the cold store and loading yard.

Ensure cleaning checklists are completed daily.

Maintain required hygiene standards in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Ensure compliance with food safety, quality and hygiene procedures.

Complete all relevant records, reports and documentation accurately and timeously.

Participate in internal audits and ensure corrective actions are implemented.

Health & Safety

Ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and applicable company procedures.

Identify and report unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.

Report workplace incidents according to prescribed procedures.

Ensure employees receive appropriate health and safety induction and training.

Assist in maintaining required departmental safety performance standards.

Minimum Requirements

Grade 12 or equivalent

Valid Forklift License

Basic Supervisory Qualification

Minimum 1 years experience within an FMCG warehouse environment

Minimum 3 years' experience in a supervisory capacity

Computer literate

Experience working with warehouse management / warehouse systems

Ability to supervise employees within a busy warehouse and distribution environment

Ideal Candidate

You will suit this position if you are a practical, hands-on supervisor who understands the importance of stock accuracy, cold-chain integrity, productivity, food safety, housekeeping and disciplined staff management .

Experience working in a fast-paced FMCG distribution, refrigerated warehousing or food environment will be particularly relevant.