Warehouse Supervisor - Life Sciences at DHL

Role Overview            

The Warehouse Supervisor oversees the daily operations of the warehouse within a freight forwarding environment, ensuring full compliance with MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines. This role is critical in ensuring life science and pharmaceutical shipments are handled, stored, and distributed in accordance with regulatory standards and company procedures. The position also focuses on staff supervision, operational efficiency, safety, and service excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Control

• Supervise and coordinate daily warehouse activities, including inbound and outbound shipments, storage, and dispatch of life science products.
• Ensure all handling and storage procedures align with GDP, MHRA regulations, and internal quality standards.
• Maintain traceability for all temperature-sensitive shipments, escalating any deviations per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Oversee goods receipt, segregation, and put-away processes to ensure proper product handling and inventory accuracy.
• Ensure all temperature monitoring, packaging, and handling equipment is calibrated and functioning within specifications.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and secure warehouse environment at all times.

Compliance & Quality

• Implement and uphold GDP-compliant processes for the storage, picking, packing, and dispatch of temperature-controlled and time-critical shipments.
• Ensure adherence to MHRA licence requirements, including proper documentation, audit readiness, and record retention.
• Conduct internal inspections and support preparations for MHRA, QA, RP and customer audits.
• Investigate non-conformances, deviations, and temperature excursions; initiate corrective actions promptly.
• Collaborate with the Quality team to maintain up-to-date SOPs, work instructions, and training records across all warehouse functions.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Lead, manage, and motivate a team of warehouse operatives, ensuring adequate staffing levels across all shifts.
• Conduct regular staff performance reviews, provide training, and support ongoing development to maintain GDP compliance and operational efficiency.
• Enforce adherence to site security, health & safety (H&S), and GDP policies.
• Manage access controls for restricted areas and ensure only authorized personnel handle regulated products.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement within the team.

Safety & Security

• Ensure a safe working environment in compliance with legal requirements and company H&S procedures.
• Perform routine safety checks; enforce the correct use of PPE and manual handling practices.
• Support the Site Security Nominee by managing visitor controls, warehouse access, and incident reporting protocols.

Communication & Coordination

• Coordinate closely with Operations, Quality, Customer Service, and Transport teams to ensure efficient and compliant shipment handling.
• Communicate proactively with customers and agents to resolve delays, discrepancies, or temperature-related issues.
• Support the Warehouse Manager in KPI reporting, resource planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills and Experience: 

• Proven history of management skills
• Customer service focus
• Good Administrative skills
• Results driven and good attention to details
• Good written and spoken English
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to prioritise and perform under pressure
• A level education or broad GCSE level education and previous management history (would be desirable)

Benefits:

• A competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Pension scheme which includes life assurance 
• Access to professional employee assistance and wellbeing programme
• A competitive package of voluntary benefits including retail, entertainment, gym membership, cycle to work scheme, contribution to eye care costs, and many more discounts 
• Training and Development opportunities with a strong focus on internal promotion