Night Shift Warehouse Operations Manager

Pedros Chicken; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

Pedros Chicken is seeking a hands-on Nightshift Manager to oversee night operations in the Distribution Centre, including warehouse, picking, marinade blending, lug wash, and dispatch. You will ensure 03:00 routes are dispatched accurately and on schedule, while maintaining SOPs and food safety compliance.

Responsibilities include staff attendance, pre- and post-shift inspections, FIFO/FEFO stock rotation, temperature-controlled handling, vehicle pre-cooling and on-time dispatch.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Warehouse, Distribution Centre, Logistics or Nightshift Management role.
• Experience managing multiple operational functions within a fast-paced distribution or FMCG environment.
• Strong knowledge of warehouse operations, stock control, picking, loading and dispatch processes.
• Experience managing temperature-controlled products and maintaining cold-chain compliance.
• Sound understanding of FIFO/FEFO principles and stock rotation practices.
• Experience coordinating vehicle loading, dispatch schedules and transport operations.
• Strong people management experience, including performance management, discipline, attendance and employee development.
• Experience managing large and diverse operational teams in a shift-based environment.
• Strong understanding of health and safety, hygiene and SOP compliance.
• Excellent planning, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong administrative and reporting skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, remain calm under pressure and manage competing operational priorities.
• Willingness and ability to work night shifts.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee all night shift operations across the warehouse, poultry, marinade blending, lug wash and dispatch functions.
• Conduct daily roll calls, manage attendance and ensure all employees report for duty on time and in full uniform.
• Conduct pre-shift and end-of-shift site inspections to ensure operational readiness, housekeeping and site security.
• Ensure all SOPs are consistently adhered to across all night shift departments.
• Oversee warehouse and poultry picking activities, ensuring stock is picked accurately and in accordance with FIFO/FEFO principles.
• Monitor stock verification, palletising, shrink-wrapping, staging and cycle counts, and address any damages, shortages or picking irregularities.
• Conduct random route checks to verify picking accuracy and operational compliance.
• Ensure temperature-sensitive poultry stock is handled correctly and the cold chain is maintained throughout the picking and loading process.
• Coordinate vehicle pre-cooling and ensure vehicles meet the required temperature before stock is loaded.
• Work closely with the Dispatch Supervisor and Shunter Driver to ensure trucks are correctly staged, loaded, secured and dispatched according to schedule.
• Ensure all 03:00 routes are staged and dispatched on time.
• Monitor loading activities to ensure stock is correctly loaded, weight is evenly distributed and load bars and trolleys are properly secured.Ensure trucks are locked, sealed, plugged in and cooling units are operational before departure.
• Oversee marinade blending operations and ensure recipes, cold-chain requirements, hygiene and cleaning procedures are followed.
• Manage the lug wash operation and ensure the correct PPE, chemicals and equipment are available and that all cleaning checklists are completed.
• Manage employee performance, discipline, attendance, training and development.
• Ensure adequate staffing and departmental coverage throughout the shift.
• Identify operational improvement opportunities and elevate non-conformances, maintenance and health and safety concerns to the relevant management team.
• Ensure all required reports, handovers and SOP documentation are accurately completed and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure the site is secure, clean and all operational areas are appropriately locked at the end of each shift.

Job description

Pedros Chicken is seeking a hands-on Nightshift Manager to oversee night operations in the Distribution Centre, including warehouse, picking, marinade blending, lug wash, and dispatch. You will ensure 03:00 routes are dispatched accurately and on schedule, while maintaining SOPs and food safety compliance.

Responsibilities include staff attendance, pre- and post-shift inspections, FIFO/FEFO stock rotation, temperature-controlled handling, vehicle pre-cooling and on-time dispatch.