Warehouse Manager

Job Title: Warehouse Manager KZN, South Africa

Reporting to: Warehouse and Logistics Manager, Africa

Location: Canelands - South Africa

ABOUT UPL:

UPL is focused on emerging as a premier global provider of total crop solutions designed to secure the world’s long-term food supply. Winning farmer's hearts across the globe, while leading the way with innovative products and services that make agriculture sustainable, UPL is the fastest-growing company in the industry. Our successes in the field add up to powerful financials. UPL delivers results from protecting crops that translate into attractive investor value. Based on the recognition that humankind is one community, UPL’s overarching commitment is to improve areas of its presence, workplace, and customer engagement.

Our purpose is ‘OpenAg’. An agriculture network that feeds sustainable growth for all. No limits, no borders.

We are one team, for maximum impact. One team with shared goals. We have a laser-like focus on what our customers need and want, on anticipating their future needs, and on how we can create innovative solutions and experiences for them. We think outside the box and go beyond our comfort zone. We believe in agility, we mix the power of speed, with structure from process. And wherever we can, we always believe in having fun.

Role Summary:

The Manager plays a pivotal role in optimizing the performance of our own warehouse and third-party logistics (3PL) warehouses, ensuring that the company’s own and outsourced warehousing operations deliver on both efficiency and effectiveness. With the increasing reliance on 3PL partners to handle critical supply chain functions, this role is essential for identifying inefficiencies, driving cost reduction initiatives, and ensuring operational excellence across all 3PL-managed sites including own warehouses. The Manager not only focuses on immediate operational improvements but also champions long-term strategic changes that align with broader business objectives. This role directly impacts the company’s bottom line by enhancing service levels, reducing costs, and improving customer satisfaction.

This position requires a deep understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies, as well as expertise in warehousing, logistics, and supply chain operations. The Manager will be responsible for conducting in-depth analyses of current processes, identifying areas of waste, and designing solutions that deliver measurable improvements in performance. By implementing industry best practices, optimizing warehouse layouts, and ensuring optimal material flow, the role significantly enhances warehouse productivity and service delivery. Additionally, the Manager will be the key liaison between the company’s own warehouses and 3PL providers, ensuring that they meet and exceed contractual agreements and performance targets.

Role Responsibilities:

• Process Optimization: Analyse warehouse operations within our own warehouse and 3PL environment to identify inefficiencies in processes such as inbound, outbound, picking, packing, and Operations Management. Utilise Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to reduce waste, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity. Implement warehouse best practices to ensure optimal material flow, space utilization, and order accuracy. Support the integration and optimization of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) with the 3PL provider to improve visibility and control over operations.

• Performance Measurement and Reporting: Develop, track, and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) for 3PL warehouses, focusing on areas such as On Time in Full (OTIF), inventory accuracy, cost per order, order fulfilment time, and space utilization. Establish continuous improvement goals for the 3PL based on KPI performance and monitor progress toward meeting or exceeding those goals. Provide detailed reports on the performance of 3PL warehouse operations, identifying trends, areas for improvement, and proposed corrective actions.

• Collaboration with 3PL Providers: Work closely with 3PL providers to foster a culture of continuous improvement in their operations. Collaborate with 3PL teams to design and implement improvement initiatives that address process bottlenecks, capacity constraints, or quality issues. Lead regular performance review meetings with 3PL partners to evaluate progress on continuous improvement projects and adjust strategies as needed.

• Cost Reduction Initiatives: Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities within the 3PL warehouse operations without compromising service levels or customer satisfaction. Analyse cost drivers such as labour, space utilization, equipment usage, and transport to reduce waste and maximize resource efficiency. Support 3PL providers in optimizing their use of labour, material handling equipment, and storage space to achieve operational cost savings.

• Lean and Six Sigma Implementation: Lead Lean and Six Sigma projects to reduce inefficiencies, eliminate non-value-added activities, and enhance the overall productivity of 3PL warehouses. Provide training and guidance to 3PL staff on Lean principles, waste reduction techniques, and problem-solving tools. Facilitate Kaizen workshops and continuous improvement events with cross-functional teams to drive incremental improvements in warehouse processes.

• Warehouse Layout and Capacity Planning: Conduct detailed analyses of warehouse layout and space utilization to improve material flow and optimize storage capacity. Collaborate with 3PL providers on layout redesign projects to maximize efficiency, particularly in areas such as receiving, staging, picking, and packing. Use capacity planning tools to forecast demand and ensure that 3PL warehouses are equipped to handle peak periods and future growth.

• Change Management and Process Standardization: Lead change management initiatives to ensure the smooth adoption of new processes and technology within the 3PL warehouse environment. Standardize warehouse processes across all 3PL sites to ensure consistency, reduce errors, and maintain high service levels. Work with the internal supply chain and logistics teams to ensure alignment between internal processes and 3PL operations.

• Compliance and Risk Mitigation: Ensure that all improvement initiatives comply with industry regulations, safety standards, and company policies. Identify and mitigate operational risks, including labour shortages, equipment failures, or supply chain disruptions, that may impact warehouse performance. Work with the 3PL to implement robust safety, quality, and compliance practices that meet both company and regulatory requirements.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Collaborate with internal stakeholders such as procurement, planning, customer service, and finance to ensure that 3PL improvement initiatives align with business objectives. Act as the liaison between the company and 3PL providers, ensuring open communication and alignment on goals and expectations. Present continuous improvement findings, project updates, and outcomes to senior management, ensuring they are informed of progress and challenges.

Personal/Team Accountability:

• Ownership of Results: The Manager is personally accountable for the accuracy and integrity of inventory data across all 3PL sites including UPL warehouses. This includes ensuring that stock counts, reconciliations, and all inventory transactions are executed with precision and are aligned with company standards.

• Proactive Problem-Solving: The individual in this role is responsible for identifying and addressing discrepancies, inefficiencies, or risks in Operations Management. They are expected to take proactive measures to prevent issues and to drive corrective actions when necessary.

• Continuous Improvement: The Manager is accountable for continuously seeking out opportunities to enhance processes, reduce costs, and improve the overall efficiency of inventory operations. This includes staying updated on industry best practices and implementing relevant innovations.

• Collaborative Leadership: While The Manager is responsible for their own performance, they are also accountable for fostering a collaborative environment where other team members are empowered to contribute to Operations Management success. This includes leading cross-functional initiatives and ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned with inventory objectives.

• Shared Goals: The success of the Warehouse Operations depends on the collective efforts of the UPL Warehouse staff and 3PL team. The Manager is responsible for ensuring that the team meets its collective goals, such as achieving inventory accuracy targets, reducing stock discrepancies, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:

• Technical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Minimum of 7 years of experience in warehouse operations, logistics, or continuous improvement, with a focus on warehouse environments. Certified in Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt preferred). Proven experience in driving process improvements and achieving operational efficiencies. Vast experience with warehouse operations in 3PL settings and managing third-party service providers will be a big advantage. Strong proficiency in data analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel, SAP 4/HANA, Power BI, or other reporting software. Vast experience in managing inventory in a complex environment consisting of more than 1000 SKUs.

• Behavioural Requirements: Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement methodologies, with experience in implementing these in a warehouse setting. Ability to analyse complex operational data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable recommendations. Strong project management skills to drive continuous improvement initiatives, including planning, execution, and tracking progress. Ability to quickly diagnose operational inefficiencies and implement effective solutions. Strong ability to work collaboratively with both internal teams and external 3PL partners to achieve common goals. Experience in leading change management initiatives, particularly in implementing new processes or technologies. Strong focus on accuracy and precision, especially when analysing performance data or implementing process changes. Familiarity with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, preferably SAP or Oracle. Proven ability to manage, develop and motivate teams while instilling discipline and accountability for goal achievement. Ability to enforce health and safety regulations to ensure a safe working environment for all employees.

UPL Competencies:

• Execution excellence
• Change management
• Communication
• Creativity
• Customer Centricity
• Individual development
• People leadership
• Result orientated
• Adaptability & Resilience