WHAT DOES A WAREHOUSE MANAGER DO?

Published: Dec 29, 2025 - The Warehouse Manager leads daily warehouse operations across receiving, storage, inventory control, and dispatch to ensure accurate and on-time delivery. This role supervises and trains teams, enforces safety and quality standards, and improves processes to boost productivity and reduce costs. The manager tracks KPIs through WMS and real-time data, collaborates with internal and external partners, and resolves issues to maintain smooth supply flow and customer satisfaction.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Warehouse Manager

1. Warehouse Manager Duties

  • Policy Compliance: Strategically run a warehouse in compliance with the company’s policies and vision
  • Operations Coordination: Coordinate receiving, warehousing, distribution and inventory control functions
  • Space Optimization: Review and manage efficient space utilization while maintaining the highest safety standards
  • Process Execution: Initiate, coordinate and carry out efficient operational policies and procedures that are based on safety and efficiency
  • Safety Standards: Maintain standards of health, safety, and security for the facility, its contents and most meaningfully the staff
  • Performance Reporting: Supervise and report monthly performance as per standard critical metric requirements
  • Stakeholder Communication: Work with external customers like business partners, suppliers and transport companies as the need arises
  • Workforce Planning: Plan daily work, assign tasks appropriately and appraise the performance of warehouse staff
  • Project Management: Project management for the site, including Systems Integrations
  • Staff Training: Train warehouse personnel on accurate processes and offer empowerment and support

2. Warehouse Manager Details

  • Shipping Operations: Responsible for the operations of the Shipping and Receiving department as well as Inventory Control
  • Inventory Auditing: Audit and report inventory while making recommendations on which items to order and restock
  • Customer Support: Provide exceptional internal customer service by being a point of contact for warehouse-related queries
  • Issue Resolution: Help investigate and resolve customer concerns in a prompt and responsive manner
  • Stock Reconciliation: Confirm that finished goods inventory agrees with inventory counts in the database system
  • Inventory Adjustments: Research discrepancies and make inventory adjustments in the system
  • Team Supervision: Manage warehouse associates, monitoring work and ensuring the safe use of warehouse equipment
  • Policy Enforcement: Initiate, coordinate and enforce optimal operational policies and procedures
  • Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to all warehousing, handling, and shipping legislation requirements

3. Warehouse Manager Responsibilities

  • Warehouse Protocols: Establish warehouse practices and protocols to achieve an efficient warehouse
  • Forklift Training: Assist with conducting forklift training for required Company personnel
  • Skills Assessment: Assess the candidate’s training and performance utilizing this equipment and evaluate skill levels
  • Staff Retraining: Retrain personnel according to the required timeframes
  • Best Practice Procedures: Aid in the establishment of best practice operational procedures for all warehouse activities
  • Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce movement and material waste
  • Rate Negotiation: Periodically review shipping agreements and work to negotiate the best rates and contracts
  • Goal Setting: Set warehouse and team goals in collaboration with executive management and other team leads
  • Safety Regulations: Keep up to date on the latest federal and state safety regulations
  • Cross Department Coordination: Communicate with other departments to ensure products are shipped promptly

4. Warehouse Manager Accountabilities

  • Schedule Planning: Reviews inbound appointment log and open order report each day to plan work activities
  • Inbound Outbound Scheduling: Plans inbound and outbound schedules accordingly to meet customer metrics
  • Labor Forecasting: Determines staffing needs based on workload and schedules staff accordingly
  • Task Assignment: Assigns workers to specific duties based on workload and shipping schedules
  • Procedure Updates: Reviews and updates operational procedures and ensures they are communicated to and understood by the warehouse associates
  • Productivity Tracking: Tracks productivity and qualifies performance by individual, function, and department
  • Inventory Accuracy: Works with Inventory Control to ensure the highest level of inventory accuracy possible
  • Payroll Management: Manages the payroll of the department
  • Handling Guidance: Advises employees on handling items received, stored, and shipped
  • Equipment Methods: Methods and use of equipment in handling, storing, maintaining, and shipping stock, and related problems

5. Warehouse Manager Functions

  • Discrepancy Analysis: Traces the history of items to determine reasons for discrepancies between inventory and stock control records and recommends remedial actions to resolve discrepancies
  • Workflow Planning: Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow
  • Instruction Delivery: Issues written and oral instructions
  • Safety Compliance: Ensures that proper safety procedures are followed
  • Conflict Resolution: Maintains harmony among workers and resolves grievances
  • Team Supervision: Directly supervises 20 employees in the area of Operations
  • Policy Adherence: Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws
  • Hiring Training: Interviewing, hiring, and training employees
  • Work Direction: Planning, assigning, and directing work
  • Performance Management: Appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints and resolving problems
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