Hire a Warehouse Supervisor
Warehouse supervisors fulfill the critical role of overseeing and coordinating the daily operations of the warehouse. They receive and store goods, ensure efficient delivery of goods, manage staff, maintain inventory, and secure the warehouse. They implement production, productivity, quality, and customer service standards to achieve appropriate volume within the decided time frame. In doing so, they ensure efficient execution of the processes and maximize warehouse productivity. Most companies hire supervisors to evaluate, design and analyze warehouse solutions to support their new and existing businesses. For professionals looking to make a career in this field, the job outlook looks positive. The average salary a warehouse supervisor makes is $52,000 per year, with the top workers in the profession earning $94,000 per year. They are hired in several sectors, including retail, food service, manufacturing, and health care. Career progression opportunities are plenty, with workers moving into roles such as the warehouse manager, operations supervisor, or operations manager.
Tasks essential to the role
Warehouse supervisors play a vital role in the logistics department of a company. In general, they oversee the daily activities of workers and ensure the smooth flow of merchandise. Their goal is to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction through quality warehouse operations, both incoming and outgoing. They organize and manage the inventory and the storage area, ensuring the accuracy of the shipments and inventory transactions. Warehouse supervisors maintain a record of items, document relevant information, and create and utilize reports to forecast the warehouse status. While undertaking their duties, they have to confer and coordinate with other departments to maximize work efficiency. Besides, they are involved in determining the staffing needs of the warehouse. They communicate the job expectations, train their employees, and report their performance effectiveness to the decision-makers. Apart from this, they often interface with customers to resolve their queries. In addition, they identify improvement areas, adjust existing work procedures and practices and establish innovative means of accomplishing warehouse activities. Ultimately, they ensure that the daily operational needs meet and exceed the performance expectations, thereby increasing the profitability of the business.
Required qualifications and skills
Hiring an efficient warehouse supervisor is key to making your logistics operations a success. When selecting candidates for the role, employers seek individuals with a proven experience as a warehouse supervisor. While most hiring managers require a GED or diploma, some employers favor candidates with a bachelor’s degree in logistics, supply chain management, or business administration. Familiarity with warehouse software packages and MS Office is a plus. The potential hire should have exceptional supervisory skills and leadership experience, someone who has demonstrated the ability to direct and coordinate the daily operations. The candidate should have the ability to analyze the relevant data and make necessary updates as and when required. To succeed in the job, they should have outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with a hands-on commitment to getting the job done and strong organizational and time management skills.
