Warehouse Manager

A Regional Senior Manager - Warehouse for Home Centre Chennai would own
endtoend regional warehouse operations, people, and performance, ensuring service to stores/customers while optimizing cost and compliance.

Role overview
Regional Senior Manager - Warehouse (Chennai) will lead the Home Centre regional distribution centre, responsible for inbound, storage, inventory control, order picking, dispatch and returns for all Home Centre formats serviced from Chennai. The role ensures OTIF service, space and cost optimisation, adherence to safety and statutory norms, and drives process excellence in line with Landmark Group standards.

Key responsibilities
 Lead endtoend warehouse operations for the Chennai regional DC, covering inbound, putaway, storage, picking, dispatch, returns and valueadded services for Home Centre.  Plan and manage daily, weekly and seasonal volumes to meet store and customer SLAs (OTIF, fill rate, lead time) while optimising manpower, MHE and space utilisation.  Own inventory accuracy for the warehouse; drive robust cycle counting, stock reconciliation and rootcause analysis of variances in coordination with supply chain and finance.  Ensure strict adherence to all health, safety, fire, security and housekeeping standards; implement and monitor SOPs, safety trainings and incident reporting.  Implement and continuously improve warehouse processes, layouts, storage strategies and material flows (e.g., ABC zoning, fastpick areas) to increase productivity and reduce damages and shrinkage.  Drive effective utilisation and maintenance of WMS, scanners and other technology; ensure all transactions are executed accurately and on time in the system.  Monitor key performance metrics (productivity, cost per case, OTIF, dock to stock, picking accuracy, damages, shrinkage) and drive action plans to close gaps.  Coordinate closely with transport/logistics partners to plan dispatch schedules, optimise vehicle utilisation, and ensure ontime deliveries to stores/customers in the region.

Partner with Buying, Planning, Stores Operations and Customer Service
teams to resolve service issues, support launches and peak events, and provide clear visibility on stock and dispatch status.  Prepare and manage the warehouse operating budget (manpower, MHE, transport, consumables); identify and drive costsaving and productivityimprovement initiatives.  Ensure full compliance with all statutory requirements related to labour, EHS, fire, legal metrology and any local warehousing regulations applicable in Tamil Nadu.  Lead operational readiness for audits (internal, external, safety, compliance) and close audit observations within agreed timelines.  Support network/footprint expansion projects, warehouse capacity enhancements and any automation initiatives for the Chennai site.

People management
 Lead a team of Assistant Managers, Executives, Supervisors and warehouse associates (including 3P workforce), ensuring clear role clarity, shift planning and performance management.  Recruit, train, coach and develop the warehouse team on SOPs, WMS usage, safety, 5S and continuous improvement; build strong internal successors for critical roles.  Drive a performanceoriented, safe and inclusive culture on the shopfloor, ensuring high engagement and low absenteeism/attrition.

Key interfaces
 Internal: Regional Supply Chain, Central Supply Chain, Buying & Planning, Store Operations, Finance, HR, Admin/Facilities, Loss Prevention, IT.  External: Transporters, 3PL partners (if any), statutory authorities, auditors and other vendors related to warehouse operations.

KPIs / success measures
 OTIF to stores/customers, order cycle time and fill rate.  Inventory accuracy, shrinkage/damages, and stock loss.

Productivity (lines picked per hour, cases handled per FTE) and cost per unit
handled.  Safety metrics - LTIFR, number of incidents/near misses, audit scores.  Team stability, training coverage and engagement indicators.

Candidate profile
 Graduate in any discipline; MBA/PG in Operations/Logistics/Supply Chain preferred.  10-14 years of experience in large warehouse/DC operations, preferably in retail, FMCG, ecommerce or 3PL; minimum 3-4 years leading a midtolarge site.  Strong working knowledge of WMS, inventory management, MHE operations and safety regulations in warehouse environments.  Proven experience managing large teams and 3P workforce in highvolume, fastpaced operations.  Datadriven with strong analytical, problemsolving and stakeholdermanagement skills; able to influence crossfunctional teams and external partners.  Working knowledge of English; familiarity with Tamil is mandatory for managing shopfloor workforce and local stakeholders.