Warehouse Manager

Job Description

Role Purpose:

To provide strategic leadership and governance for Raw Material Stores, Packaging Material Stores, Finished Goods Warehousing and Dispatch Operations across the manufacturing facility, ensuring optimum inventory levels, world-class warehousing practices, superior customer service, inventory accuracy, working capital optimization and statutory compliance. The role is responsible for developing warehousing strategies, driving operational excellence, improving inventory productivity, reducing logistics and warehousing costs, and ensuring seamless support to manufacturing and sales operations.

Key Result Areas (KRAs)

1. Inventory Governance & Working Capital Management

·        Establish inventory policies, norms and controls for RM, PM, WIP and FG inventories.

·        Drive inventory optimization initiatives while ensuring uninterrupted production support.

·        Monitor inventory turns, stock ageing, slow-moving and obsolete inventory.

·        Lead periodic inventory reviews with Procurement, Production Planning and Finance.

·        Drive working capital reduction initiatives.

2. Strategic Stores Management

·        Provide leadership to the RM Stores function through the RM Stores Manager.

·        Ensure timely receipt, storage and issue of materials to production.

·        Monitor material availability against production plans.

·        Ensure FIFO/FEFO compliance across all storage locations.

·        Review inventory variances and corrective actions.

3. Finished Goods Warehousing & Distribution

·        Provide leadership to the FG Warehouse Manager for storage, order fulfilment and dispatch operations.

·        Ensure customer orders are dispatched accurately and on time.

·        Drive warehouse capacity planning and space optimization.

·        Ensure warehouse readiness during seasonal demand peaks.

·        Improve warehouse productivity and service levels.

4. Warehouse Excellence & Continuous Improvement

·        Lead implementation of Lean Warehousing, TPM, 5S and Kaizen initiatives.

·        Drive warehouse automation and digitalization projects.

·        Establish benchmark warehousing practices.

·        Improve warehouse throughput and productivity metrics.

·        Lead continuous improvement projects across stores and warehouse functions.

5. SAP & Systems Governance

·        Ensure transaction discipline and data integrity in SAP.

·        Drive implementation and optimization of SAP MM, WM modules.

·        Develop warehouse dashboards and MIS systems.

·        Improve inventory visibility through digitization initiatives.

·        Ensure master data accuracy.

6. Customer Service & Dispatch Excellence

·        Ensure achievement of OTIF delivery commitments.

·        Monitor dispatch planning and transportation coordination.

·        Review customer complaints related to dispatches and inventory availability.

·        Ensure compliance with customer portal requirements and service level agreements.

7. Compliance, Quality & Safety

·        Ensure adherence to company policies, SOPs and statutory requirements.

·        Ensure warehouse compliance with ISO, EMS, OHSAS and audit requirements.

·        Drive safe warehousing practices and material handling standards.

·        Review safety performance and corrective actions.

8. Team Leadership & Capability Development

·        Develop leadership capabilities of RM Stores Manager and FG Warehouse Manager.

·        Build succession pipeline within stores and warehouse functions.

·        Establish performance standards and review mechanisms.

·        Foster a culture of accountability, customer focus and continuous improvement.

Authorities mapped to this position -

Inventory Governance

·        Approve inventory policies and stocking norms.

·        Approve inventory rebalancing and stock transfer decisions.

·        Approve cycle counting programs.

·        Recommend inventory write-offs and disposal actions.

Warehouse Operations

·        Approve warehouse operating procedures.

·        Approve warehouse layout and storage optimization plans.

·        Approve dispatch priorities in exceptional situations.

·        Approve warehouse manpower deployment strategies.

·        Approve warehouse operational expenditure within approved budgets.

·        Recommend capital expenditure for warehouse infrastructure, automation and storage systems.

·        Approve inventory adjustment requests within delegated authority limits.

People Management

·        Conduct performance evaluations.

·        Recommend recruitment, promotion and disciplinary actions.

·        Approve training and capability development plans.

·        Approve manpower requirements for stores and warehouse functions.

Vendor & Service Providers

·        Evaluate and recommend logistics partners and warehouse service providers.

·        Recommend annual contracts and service agreements.

·        Review transporter and warehouse service performance.

Educational Qualifications

Essential

·        Bachelor’s degree in engineering / MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain Management, Operations or Logistics.

Experience

·        15–20 years of experience in manufacturing supply chain operations.

·        Minimum 5 years leading both Stores and Warehousing functions.

·        Experience in FMCG, Paper, Packaging, Printing, Publishing or Stationery manufacturing industries preferred.

·        Strong exposure to SAP-based inventory and warehouse management systems.

Technical Competencies

·        Inventory Management & Inventory Optimization

·        SAP MM (Mandatory), SAP WM (Preferred)

·        Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

·        Supply Chain Planning, Material Requirement Planning (MRP)

·        Logistics & Distribution Management

·        Inventory Analytics

·        Lean Warehousing

·        TPM & 5S, Cost Optimization

·        Advanced Excel & Power BI

·        Project Management

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

·        Strategic Thinking

·        Business Acumen

·        Leadership & People Development

·        Cross Functional Collaboration

·        Customer Orientation

·        Analytical Thinking

·        Problem Solving

·        Decision Making

·        Change Management

·        Communication & Presentation Skills

·        Continuous Improvement Mindset

·        Stakeholder Management

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Inventory & Working Capital

Service & Operations

Cost & Efficiency

Compliance & Safety

People Development