Warehouse Manager

Founded in 2011, The Lakes Distillery has an ambitious vision to become a luxury single malt whisky business and has reached a significant point in our growth. While the brand is still young, we have had real success and traction with small batch releases selling out and our whisky winning the title of "World's Best Single Malt Whisky" in 2022. We are at a point in our journey where we can increase production, establish our roots globally, and deliver real growth across a 5-year plan and beyond.

Whilst our focus is on single malt, we also have a portfolio of whisky blends, gin, and vodka, with each playing its part in driving commercial delivery of the business.

The Warehouse Manager (Finished Goods) will have overall responsibility for the finished goods warehouse operations including management of the warehouse team and drivers, organisation of workloads, ensuring efficiency and continuous improvement of the operations, and the adoption of company values to ensure a healthy working environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Warehouse Operations & Fulfilment

• Managing and assisting with warehouse order fulfilment including pick / pack and system processing, as well as courier booking and issue resolution.
• Managing and assisting with the physical receipt of deliveries and ensuring they are accurately checked and received in WMS and EMCS.
• Managing and assisting with the visual inspection of incoming goods and raising any issues in a timely manner with Supply Chain Manager.
• Managing and optimising the container loading process for export orders.
• Managing the processing and delivery route planning of trade orders in Cumbria, North Lancs, and other locations.
• Completion of EMCS documentation for under-bond shipments.
• Co-ordinating accurate labelling, re-labelling for stock conversions.
• Co-ordinating co-packing and rework orders.
• Planning and maintaining optimum stock levels of kitted products.
• Managing and optimising the stock returns process.
• Managing and optimising quality issues and the rejects process, ensuring the accurate and timely communication and processing of all quality issues and rejects.
• Ensuring all PODs are saved and clearly filed in a timely manner.

Performance Management & Team Leadership

• Manage performance against a suite of KPIs with the warehouse team using a tiered daily operational review process.
• Managing team development via regular 1-2-1 meetings.
• Promoting a clean and organised environment.
• Ensuring that warehouse processes are clearly defined, developed, documented, and adhered to.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Responsibility for managing health and safety at site, including attendance at regular meetings and adhering to Lakes Distillery policies.
• Facilitating and ensuring compliance with all external audits and efficiently resolving any issues raised.
• Managing warehouse vehicles and manual handling equipment processes and ensuring they are inspected, tested, and serviced in a timely manner.
• Managing the provision of waste facilities.

Stock Control & Inventory Accuracy

• Managing the monthly stock count as well as investigating and reporting on discrepancies.
• Managing the ordering of packaging for, and timely fulfilment of, trade samples.
• Managing the supply and reporting of different pallet types.

Stakeholder & Supplier Collaboration

• Working closely with hauliers and their account managers to resolve operational issues or delays and to secure additional capacity where required.
• Proactively engaging with the warehouse landlord in the event of any site issues affecting our operations or to advise when we have any non-standard requests.
• Work closely and collaborate positively with the supply chain, customer service, sales, marketing, brand home, finance, and HR teams via regular structured meetings and pro-actively communicating as required.

Site Standards & Housekeeping

• General housekeeping including a high standard of organisation and cleanliness.
• Promoting a clean and organised environment.

COMPETENCIES, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Experience of warehouse management within a fast-moving warehouse operation, ideally with bonded warehouse experience.
• Proven people management experience.
• Able to meet deadlines and targets.
• Strong communication skills
• Organised with a high level of attention to detail
• Outstanding team player with a pro-active "can-do" attitude.
• Pro-active and hands-on approach and be involved in the physical daily operations.
• Effectively communicate and work with a wide variety of teams throughout the organisation.
• Flexibility in all areas of operation is essential to the success of this role including the ability to plan and prioritise appropriately.
• Culture and solutions-focused with the ability to act proactively to develop initiatives that have a positive and meaningful impact on the operation of the business.
• Exceptional organisational and communication skills, with a detail-oriented mindset and the ability to lead and develop a diverse group of people.
• Financially and commercially astute, with the capability to assess and analyse financial data to aid in decision making that drives commercial success.
• Comfortable with change, with the awareness and understanding to pivot where required and demonstrate the agility required to meet the needs of a growing business.
• Demonstrate an autonomous work ethic and show a high level of attention to detail – developing systems and processes, analysing data and managing the seasonality of a warehouse operation.
• Passionate about the highest levels and standards of order fulfilment in line with our brand values. You will demonstrate strong ownership to ensure WMS and inventory accuracy. You will optimise the configuration, storage, and space in the warehouse. You will ensure pro-active and timely updates in systems.
• Ability to lead by example and delegate tasks as appropriate.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £32,000.00-£38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Experience:

• Warehouse Management: 2 years (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person