Stock Department Team Leader

Job type: Permanent. Job ref: 007642. Published: 19 days ago. About Us Were a leading UK retailer with over 200 stores and a growing e-commerce business, supported by a modern, high-volume distribution centre. The site plays a crucial role in ensuring the right products reach the right place, at the right time whether thats to our stores or directly to our customers. Were also investing in automation, including an AutoStore system, to support greater efficiency, accuracy, and throughput in our operations. Role Purpose The Stock Department Team Leader is responsible for leading a team of warehouse colleagues within the stock control function to ensure inventory accuracy, stock integrity, and system alignment. Youll manage day-to-day stock movements, investigations, and replenishment to ensure all areas of the warehouse are fully supported. Youll also play a key role in stock replenishment to the forward picking operation, ensuring stock availability for both retail and e-commerce fulfilment. Working closely with the Shift Manager and other operational teams, youll help maintain a smooth, efficient, and accurate warehouse operation. Key Responsibilities Stock Control & Accuracy Oversee all stock control activities including cycle counts, stock adjustments, and investigations into discrepancies. Ensure accurate and timely updates to the Warehouse Management System (WMS). Lead root cause analysis on stock errors and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Support periodic and annual stocktakes. Plan and manage stock replenishment to the forward picking areas, ensuring the right products are available at the right time to meet operational demand. Monitor replenishment triggers and coordinate with goods-in and picking teams to maintain efficient stock flow. Leadership & People Management Lead, motivate, and develop a team of stock controllers and operatives to deliver high performance. Communicate daily priorities and performance expectations clearly to the team. Monitor workload, allocate tasks effectively, and support team members with problem-solving and development. Promote a positive, safety-conscious culture across the department. Systems & Process Management Maintain strong working knowledge of WMS and related stock systems. Support the integration and operation of automated systems, including AutoStore, ensuring data and system alignment. Work closely with IT, operations, and automation teams to resolve stock-related system issues quickly. Collaboration & Communication Liaise with inbound, outbound, and returns departments to resolve stock and replenishment issues. Work closely with the Planning, Inventory, and Buying teams to provide accurate stock data and insights. Report key metrics and performance updates to the Shift Manager. Health, Safety & Compliance Ensure all stock and replenishment activities are carried out safely and in line with company policies and legal requirements. Conduct regular checks on stock areas to maintain housekeeping and compliance standards. Skills & Experience Essential Proven experience in a stock control or inventory management role within a warehouse or distribution environment. Strong understanding of WMS, stock management, and replenishment processes. Experience supervising or leading a small operational team. Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills. Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across departments. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills. Desirable Experience working within retail or e-commerce distribution. Exposure to automation or ASRS (e.g., AutoStore) systems. Knowledge of continuous improvement techniques (e.g., Lean, 5S). Basic understanding of health and safety practices in a warehouse environment. What We Offer Competitive salary + shift allowance. Pension and benefits package. Career development opportunities within a growing and modernising operation. Training and development in automation systems and leadership. #J-18808-Ljbffr