Hunter Campbell’s Supply Chain Excellence Series profiles jobs within the Supply Chain job family including jobs in demand, salaries, and employment prospects.
In this article, the role of Warehouse Manager is in the spotlight.
Purpose of the Role
Warehouse Managers play an integral part in the Supply Chain, managing inward goods and making sure products are delivered to customers in full, on time, and with no damages. The product range could be a mix of raw materials, parts or finished goods. The role is often in charge of supervising staff, fleets, equipment as well as administration to ensure the warehouse runs like clockwork.
There can be differing responsibilities depending if a role is for a company with their own distribution warehouse or within a 3PL (Third Party Logistics) environment that manages the distribution for multiple clients.
Qualifications
There are several pathways to becoming a Warehouse Manager.
Many progress their career from a Storeperson position through to supervisory and 2IC roles. This pathway is possible without the need for formal qualifications.
It is becoming increasingly common for corporate organisations to offer graduate programmes, with graduates gaining diverse experience across a business before choosing a pathway such as warehousing. Graduates starting their careers in these organisations are often degree qualified in areas such as Supply Chain Management or Business Studies.
It is common for Warehouse Managers to have other key certifications, including Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and Health and Safety.
Key Skills Required
Leadership – probably the most important is the ability to inspire and motivate a team in what can be a busy and challenging environment
Technically savvy – the ability to use a WMS (Warehouse Management System) and programmes such as Excel to ensure accurate inventory levels is key
Problem solving – these skills are critical for handling the many complexities and issues that can arise from managing inwards goods, inventory, and dispatch
Planning and organisational skills – again, these skills are critical to be able to successfully handle the daily workflows while also being able to adapt quickly when things do not go as planned
Financial acumen – Warehouse Managers need to be able to manage operational and staffing budgets as well as Profit and Loss (P&L) statements
Communication – strong communication skills are important for managing the pace, employees, and internal and external stakeholders
And common sense!
Career Prospects
The pathway of a Warehouse Manager can vary greatly depending on the size of the business. In a larger organisation, it is possible to progress into roles including National Warehouse Manager, Supply Chain Manager or Logistics Manager.
Recruitment Forecast
The importance of having strong warehousing and distribution operations has certainly been highlighted as a result of the current economic climate. The need for Warehouse Managers is expected to increase alongside the growth of E-commerce.
An efficient warehousing operation must be able to accurately pick and dispatch stock to customers on time, every time to keep ahead of the competition. We expect to see further demand for quality Warehouse Managers who can establish efficient processes.
There is also considerable demand for candidates who have experience working with WMS Systems and RFID scanning, as companies recognise the need for increasingly sophisticated technology to remain competitive.
Salary Guide
This information is anecdotal and based on roles Hunter Campbell is currently recruiting or has previously recruited and relate to base salaries. They do not include any additional bonuses or benefits.
Intermediate: $90,000 – $110,000
Advanced: $110,000 – $150,000
National / Regional: $150,000 – $200,000 +
The salaries of Warehouse Managers can vary considerably depending on responsibilities and whether they are working for a company with their own warehousing capabilities or in a 3PL environment.
A Warehouse Manager leading a small team and a single warehouse function would typically expect to earn in the region of $90,000 to $110,000.
Those in larger warehouses with added commercial responsibilities, such as budgets and managing supplier relationships, could expect to earn between $110,000 and $150,000.
Candidates managing multiple warehouses and teams throughout a region or throughout the country could expect to earn a salary of more than $150,000.
If you would like to find out more about the role of a Warehouse Manager, please contact consultant Nick McConnochie. Nick specialises in the recruitment of Supply Chain, Distribution and Logistics. For more news and views, visit our website by clicking here, see what opportunities we have available here or follow us on LinkedIn.
