Warehouse manager
Warehouse managers plan and co-ordinate operations at distribution centres, large retail stores and factories.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a warehouse manager, you could:
- work closely with clients, suppliers and transport companies
- co-ordinate the loading and unloading of goods
- monitor stock levels and storage space
- make sure stock is stored correctly and safely
- plan deliveries, dispatch orders and raise invoices
- organise shift rotas
- oversee recruitment and training
- carry out inspections, like health and safety checks
Working environment
You could work in a warehouse or in an office.
Career path and progression
With experience and training, you could be become a shift manager, site operations manager or overall depot manager.
You could also move into related areas like supply chain management or freight transport.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- business management skills
- leadership skills
- knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
- maths knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- administration skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:
- logistics
- supply chain management
- transport management
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
You could take a college course to get the skills and knowledge you'll need to work as an assistant or trainee warehouse manager.
Courses include:
- planning and supervision of warehouse operations
- supply chain management
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You can apply to do a Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, with a warehousing, retailing or logistics company.
As your career progresses, you could do an Operations Manager Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.
These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine workplace training with study off site.
Entry requirements
To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
If you're working in a warehouse, you could apply for a team leader or assistant manager job.
With further training and promotion, you could then move into a warehouse manager role.
You can apply directly for jobs if you've got management experience in warehousing, transport distribution or retailing.
A qualification in health and safety might also be useful, though not essential.
Career tips
You might have an advantage when looking for work, if you've done forklift training, though employers will put you through this, if it's needed for the job.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in warehousing from Generation Logistics.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.