Sr. Operations Manager - Warehouse

Key Accountabilities

1. Warehouse Start Up & Project Management

• Own the warehouse start up from contract award to go live, including but limited to:

o Layout and capacity planning

o Process design and SOP development

o Labour ramp up and training plans

o Systems implementation (WMS, automation interfaces, reporting tools)

o Cycle count implementation

• Act as the overall operational project lead, coordinating:

o Internal teams (IT, Engineering, HR, Finance, Commercial)

o External vendors (racking, MHE, systems integrators)

o Customer stakeholders

• Build and manage detailed project plans, milestones, RAID logs, and readiness reviews.

• Ensure start up is delivered on time, within budget, and to contractual SLAs.

2. Operational Design & Innovation

• Design scalable, fit for purpose operating models for high volume, complex operations.

• Challenge “standard” solutions where required — applying creative problem solving to constraints such as space, labour, systems, or cost.

• Identify and implement automation, mechanisation, or digital solutions where they deliver real ROI.

• Balance speed of deployment with long term operational sustainability.

3. Leadership & Team Build

• Recruit, develop, and lead a high performing operations leadership team (Ops Managers, Department Manager, Support Functions).

• Establish a strong safety first, performance driven culture from day one.

• Coach leaders through ambiguity and rapid change during start up and ramp up.

• Act as the visible senior leader on site during critical phases.

4. Customer & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the senior operational interface with the customer during implementation and early operations.

• Translate customer requirements into executable operational solutions.

• Manage expectations while maintaining contractual integrity and commercial discipline.

• Present confidently to senior customer stakeholders, including performance updates and risk mitigation plans.

5. Performance, Cost & Risk Control

• Own operational KPIs including:

o Productivity

o Service level attainment

o Safety and quality metrics

o Maintain Cycle count schedules

• Establish strong cost controls during ramp up and steady state.

• Proactively identify operational risks and implement mitigation plans.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives post go live

Skills, Experience & Capability

Essential

• Proven experience leading large scale warehouse operations.

• Demonstrated success in start ups or major operational transformations.

• Strong project management capability in live operational environments.

• Commercially astute — understands cost drivers, margins, and contract obligations.

• Able to operate effectively in uncertain, high pressure environments.

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels.