Warehouse Shift Leader AM

INTRODUCTION

Community Foods Limited is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of dried fruit, nuts and seeds to the UK food industry, with customers in both the manufacturing and the retail sectors. Our site at Witham, Essex is a fully allergen\-controlled site, with multiple capabilities to pack products for large supermarkets and process dried fruits nuts and seeds in bulk for bakeries and manufacturers. We also own several brands, including the UK’s largest organic dried fruit and nut brand, Crazy Jack.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Warehouse Shift Leader is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of the warehouse throughout their shift.

The role has full operational ownership of labour, productivity, service, inventory accuracy, housekeeping, equipment, food safety, and team performance during the shift.

The Warehouse Shift Leader is expected to proactively manage the operation to achieve agreed business KPIs while developing a high\-performing warehouse team through visible leadership, coaching, and accountability. This role is measured on operational performance and is responsible for delivering shift results.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Shift Ownership

· Take full ownership and responsibility for the warehouse operation during the allocated shift.

· Lead and coordinate all warehouse activities from shift start through to shift handover.

· Ensure all activities are completed safely, efficiently, and in line with agreed service levels.

· Manage and prioritise operational requirements throughout the shift.

· Make effective operational decisions to maintain and protect customer service levels.

· Provide a clear and professional handover to the next shift.

Operational Planning

• Conduct daily shift start meetings to communicate operational priorities, targets, and expectations.


• Allocate labour effectively to meet workload requirements and operational demands.


• Balance resources allocation across:

o Goods Out

o Production Supply

o Finished Goods

o Replenishment

o Loading

o Stock Movements

o Housekeeping

o Yard Management

• Continuously monitor workload requirements and adjust labour allocation to maintain operational efficiency.

• Take ownership of all operational KPI performance throughout the shift.


• Review hourly performance against agreed targets and expectations.


• Address and challenge underperformance immediately.

• Identify root causes of missed targets and implement corrective actions.


• Produce recovery plans where KPI's fall below target.

· Lead by example, demonstrating high standards of performance and professionalism.

· Coach and support all warehouse colleagues on a daily basis.

· Conduct return\-to\-work discussions in line with company procedures.

· Support disciplinary investigations where required.

· Deliver informal coaching to improve performance and develop capability.

· Build and develop team skills and capability.

· Ensure new starters receive structured onboarding and appropriate training.

· Maintain accurate training matrices and records.

· Promote high standards of attendance, behaviour, and professionalism across the team.

Health \& Safety

· Ensure all warehouse activities comply with:

o H\&S legislation

o Company procedures

o Safe Systems of Work

· Complete safety observations.

· Investigate near misses.

· Escalate hazards immediately.

· Ensure PPE compliance.

· Maintain forklift safety.

· Ensure pedestrian segregation is maintained.

· Stop unsafe acts immediately.

Food Safety \& BRCGS Compliance

· Take ownership of warehouse compliance throughout the shift.

· Ensure compliance with:

o BRCGS

o GMP

o HACCP

o Allergen Controls requirements

o Organic Controls requirements

o Cleaning Standards requirements

· Challenge poor practices immediately.

· Escalate food safety concerns.

· Protect product integrity at all times.

Inventory Control

· Ensure all stock movements are accurately recorded and processed in line with company procedures.

· Maintain inventory accuracy and integrity across all warehouse locations.

· Investigate stock discrepancies and support effective resolution.

· Support cycle counting and stock verification activities.

· Ensure stock location accuracy and effective warehouse organisation.

· Monitor and enforce adherence to warehouse scanning processes.

· Proactively identify and prevent inventory errors before they occur.

· Ensure FEFO stock rotation principles are consistently maintained.

Customer Service

· Ensure customer orders are despatched OTIF.

· Maintain and protect customer service levels.

· Manage late orders and implement recovery actions where required.

· Prioritise urgent customer requirements effectively.

· Support production requirements and operational priorities.

· Maintain effective communication with the Logistics team.

Continuous Improvement

· Identify opportunities to reduce waste across the warehouse operation.

· Drive improvements to warehouse processes and ways of working.

· Reduce unnecessary travel and improve operational efficiency.

· Optimise labour utilisation to maximise productivity.

· Improve loading efficiency.

· Reduce product damage through effective controls and practices.

· Improve warehouse flow.

· Support Lean improvements initiatives.

· Implement agreed improvement projects.

Equipment Management

· Ensure all MHE is:

o Safe

o Inspected

o Charged

o Available

· Report defects immediately.

· Ensure damaged equipment is quarantined.

· Monitor battery charging.

· Ensure pre\-use checks are completed.

Communication

· Provide regular updates to:

o Warehouse Manager

o Production

o Logistics

o Stock Control

o Quality

o Engineering

· Escalate operational risks early.

· Deliver detailed end of shift reports.

· Maintain accurate shift records.

Shift KPI Ownership

· The Warehouse Shift Leader will be measured against agreed operational KPI's including:

Safety

o Zero Lost Time Accidents

o Near Miss Reporting

o Safety Observations

o PPE Compliance

Service

o OTIF Dispatch

o Trailer Departure Performance

o Production Service Level

o Order Completion

Productivity

o Cases Picked per Labour Hour

o Pallets Moved per Labour Hour

o Labour Utilisation

o Overtime Control

Inventory

o Inventory Accuracy

o Scan Compliance

o Cycle Count Accuracy

o Stock Adjustment Value

Quality

o Picking Accuracy

o Loading Accuracy

o Damage Reduction

o Customer Complaints

o

Compliance

o GMP Audit Scores

o Housekeeping Audit

o BRCGS Compliance

o FLT Checks Completed

o Warehouse Cleaning Completion

o Customer Audits

People

o Attendance

o Training Compliance

o Agency Performance

o Employee Engagement

o Performance Reviews Completed

Decision Making Authority

The Warehouse Shift Leader has authority to:

· Allocate labour across the warehouse

· Reprioritise workloads

· Stop unsafe operations

· Reject unsafe vehicle loading

· Hold vehicles if product integrity is at risk

· Escalate equipment failures

· Manage agency labour during the shift

· Resolve day to day operational issues

· Approve operational changes within agreed procedures

Other

• The above is only an outline of the tasks, resposibilities and outcomes required of the role.


• You will carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by your manager.


• The job description and person specification may be reviwed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of Community foods ltd.

Skills and abilities

· Previous warehouse leadership experience

· Experience leading operational teams

· Strong understanding of warehouse KPI management

· Excellent leadership skills

· Experience within FMCG or Food Manufacturing

· Good SAP/WMS knowledge

· Strong problem\-solving ability

· Excellent communication skills

· FLT Licence

· High level of organisation

Desirable

· IOSH Managing Safely

· BRCGS experience

· Lean / Continuous Improvement experience

· SAP Business One experience

· First Aid qualification

· Internal Auditor qualification

Pay: £35,000\.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension


• Employee discount


• Life insurance


• On\-site parking


• Sick pay

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