Typical duties
- Plan labour and shifts around inbound and outbound volume
- Lead supervisors, forklift drivers and pickers
- Keep inventory accurate through cycle counts and audits
- Track pick accuracy, on-time and in-full delivery and cost per order
- Manage safety, traffic and loading practices
- Work with transport, customers and suppliers
- Manage the warehouse system and processes
- Control budgets, equipment and layout
Skills, licences & tickets
- Experience leading warehouse teams
- Warehouse management system skills
- Knowledge of safe loading and chain of responsibility
- Inventory control and KPI reporting
- Labour planning and rostering
- Forklift or high risk work knowledge is helpful
A warehouse manager leads the receiving, storage, picking and dispatch of goods. This warehouse manager job description explains the duties, the key measures and the skills employers look for, with a focus on FMCG and distribution.
FMCG stands for fast-moving consumer goods. Those warehouses handle high volumes of packaged food, drinks and household products, so speed, accuracy and stock rotation matter every day.
What does a warehouse manager do?
The manager plans labour against expected volumes, allocates work and leads supervisors and teams. They check that inbound goods are received accurately, stock is stored correctly and orders are picked and dispatched on time.
They also run safety: traffic management, forklift controls, manual handling, housekeeping and incident follow-up. Regular cycle counts and audits keep inventory records accurate.
Key warehouse measures
- Pick accuracy is the share of lines picked correctly.
- On-time in-full measures whether orders arrive complete and on time.
- Inventory accuracy compares system records with physical stock.
- Cost per order or pallet shows how efficiently the site runs.
Skills and qualifications employers look for
Employers look for leadership of warehouse teams, WMS skills and solid knowledge of safe loading and transport. Chain of responsibility for warehouse managers explains why. A diploma in logistics or supply chain helps, but many managers progress through experience.
Planning skills matter too. The guide to warehouse labour planning from volume shows how managers estimate headcount.
Pay, hours and employment types
Warehouse manager roles are usually permanent and full-time, with early starts, shift cover and peak-period overtime. Salary depends on site size, industry and team size, and public earnings data groups these roles with other distribution management jobs, so compare current job advertisements.
How to become a warehouse manager
A common path runs from storeperson or forklift driver to leading hand, supervisor and then manager. Build experience in inventory control, safety and rostering, and learn the warehouse system well. The storeperson entry and forklift driver entry describe the first steps.
Related Resources
- Warehousing and logistics recruitment in Melbourne
- Permanent recruitment in Melbourne
- Chain of responsibility for warehouse managers
- Warehouse labour planning from volume
- Cycle counting compared with annual stocktake
- WMS and scanner skills for warehouse hiring
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a warehouse manager do?
A warehouse manager leads the team and processes for receiving, storing, picking and dispatching goods and is responsible for safety, accuracy and cost.
What qualifications do you need to be a warehouse manager?
Many employers look for experience first, often with a diploma in logistics or supply chain. Forklift knowledge and WMS skills are valuable.
What KPIs does a warehouse manager track?
Common measures include pick accuracy, on-time in-full delivery, inventory accuracy, safety incidents and cost per order or pallet.
What is chain of responsibility for a warehouse manager?
It is a legal duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. People who control loading and scheduling share responsibility for safe loads and fatigue management.
Safety and Accuracy Come First
A warehouse manager earns trust by keeping people safe and orders right, then building speed. If you are working toward the role, see current openings on the job board or submit your CV.
