Position Summary
The Warehouse Manager is responsible for leading all warehouse operations within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This role ensures the efficient receipt, storage, inventory control, and distribution of raw materials, packaging materials, and finished goods while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance.
The Warehouse Manager provides leadership to warehouse personnel, oversees inventory accuracy, supports production operations, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to optimize warehouse efficiency and customer service.
Key Responsibilities
Warehouse Operations
- Manage all daily warehouse activities, including receiving, storage, order picking, shipping, staging, and inventory movements.
- Ensure timely supply of raw materials and packaging to production.
- Coordinate shipping schedules to meet customer delivery requirements.
- Develop and maintain efficient warehouse layouts to maximize storage capacity and workflow.
- Monitor warehouse productivity and implement improvements to increase efficiency.
- Ensure warehouse cleanliness and organization in accordance with food safety standards.
Inventory Management
- Maintain accurate inventory records within the company's ERP/MRP system.
- Monitor inventory levels and work with Purchasing and Production Planning to prevent shortages or excess inventory.
- Lead regular cycle counts and annual physical inventory counts.
- Investigate inventory discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expired, First Out) inventory practices where applicable.
- Ensure proper inventory rotation to minimize waste and product expiry.
Food Safety & Quality
- Ensure warehouse operations comply with all food safety programs, including HACCP, GMPs, sanitation requirements, allergen controls, and customer standards.
- Support compliance with FSSC 22000, SQF, BRCGS, or equivalent food safety certification programs, as applicable.
- Maintain full product traceability and lot control.
- Participate in internal, customer, and third-party food safety audits.
- Ensure all warehouse documentation is complete, accurate, and audit-ready.
Health & Safety
- Promote and maintain a strong safety culture.
- Ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC regulations and company safety policies.
- Conduct regular warehouse safety inspections.
- Investigate incidents, near misses, and injuries and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure safe operation of forklifts and material handling equipment.
- Maintain emergency preparedness within warehouse operations.
Leadership & People Management
- Lead, coach, mentor, and develop warehouse staff.
- Recruit, train, and onboard new warehouse employees.
- Schedule staffing to meet operational requirements.
- Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching.
- Monitor attendance, productivity, and employee engagement.
- Foster a respectful, collaborative, and accountable workplace culture.
Shipping & Receiving
- Oversee inbound and outbound shipments.
- Verify receiving documentation and inspect incoming goods.
- Ensure shipping documentation is complete and accurate.
- Coordinate with carriers, freight providers, and customers.
- Monitor transportation performance and shipping costs.
Equipment & Facility
- Ensure forklifts, pallet jacks, racking systems, and warehouse equipment are maintained and inspected.
- Coordinate repairs and preventative maintenance.
- Monitor warehouse security and access controls.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve warehouse processes, inventory accuracy, labour utilization, and warehouse efficiency.
- Participate in Lean Manufacturing and 5S initiatives.
- Develop and monitor warehouse KPIs.
- Recommend improvements to warehouse systems and technology.
Qualifications
Education
- Diploma or Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business, or related discipline preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of warehouse leadership experience.
- Minimum 3 years managing employees in a food manufacturing environment.
- Experience with ERP/MRP inventory systems.
- Experience working in refrigerated and frozen food environments is considered an asset.
- Experience supporting food safety certification programs is preferred.
Knowledge & Skills
- Strong understanding of warehouse operations and inventory management.
- Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, food safety regulations, and sanitation requirements.
- Knowledge of WorkSafeBC occupational health and safety regulations.
- Strong leadership and team development skills.
- Excellent organizational and planning abilities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- High attention to detail and inventory accuracy.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word).
- Experience using ERP/MRP systems (such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, NetSuite, or similar).
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in refrigerated and freezer environments as required.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs (23 kg) occasionally.
- Ability to operate sit-down and stand-up forklifts if certified.
- Ability to safely climb stairs and warehouse ladders.
Certifications
Preferred certifications include:
- Valid Forklift Certification
- WHMIS
- Occupational First Aid (Level 1 or equivalent)
- Food Safety or HACCP training
- Supervisory or Leadership training
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The Warehouse Manager may be evaluated on:
- Inventory accuracy (%)
- On-time shipment performance
- Production material availability
- Warehouse labour productivity
- Order picking accuracy
- Cycle count completion
- Inventory shrinkage
- Health & Safety performance
- Food Safety audit results
- Employee engagement and turnover
- Warehouse housekeeping and 5S audit scores
Core Competencies
- Leadership
- Accountability
- Customer Focus
- Safety Leadership
- Food Safety Commitment
- Planning and Organization
- Team Development
- Communication
- Decision Making
- Continuous Improvement
- Problem Solving
- Adaptability
- Integrity
Working Conditions
This position works in a food manufacturing environment that includes office, warehouse, refrigerated, and production areas. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, or extended hours may be necessary to support operational requirements.
Pay: From $80,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
