Warehouse Assistant Manager

Warehouse Assistant Manager

Reports To: Services Manager

Location: The Nest

Who are Bird & Blend Tea Co.? 

Bird & Blend Tea Co. is an eco-conscious, people-focused, award-winning & B Corp-certified Tea Mixology company on a mission to spread happiness & reimagine tea!

Bird & Blend was set up & is run by Krisi & Mike, who met whilst studying Politics (of all things!) at university. 

Building Bird & Blend from scratch while staying true to their ethos & values has been Krisi & Mike’s passion for over 10 years.

From the early days of packing tea in their bedroom & attending markets, to now, with an awesome team, multiple retail stores & a thriving international online store, Bird & Blend is leading the way in tea innovation in the UK.

Bird & Blend has grown out of a core belief in doing business in a better way. This is ultimately our why - it’s why we are in business & what we believe in. Of course, we want to welcome as many people as possible into our Magical World of Tea but fundamentally it’s what we care about other than great tea that makes us magical.

You can read heaps more information about us and our mission here: https://www.birdandblendtea.com/pages/our-story 

What’s the Role?

As the Warehouse Assistant Manager, you’ll work closely with the Services Manager to lead and support a dedicated team. Your role will be hands-on, helping with daily tasks, ensuring orders are processed accurately and on time, and maintaining high standards for safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

This position is perfect for someone who enjoys problem-solving, organising workflows, and improving processes. You’ll coordinate the movement of goods, tackle challenges, and find ways to make operations smoother and more effective.

You'll play a key role in creating a safe, organised, and positive work environment while working with other departments to keep warehouse operations aligned with Bird & Blend’s goals. Every order you help dispatch contributes to a great experience for our customers and partners.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead from the Front: Take an active, hands-on role in warehouse operations while guiding and supporting the team. Demonstrate Bird & Blend’s values of 'we are one team' by working alongside colleagues to ensure smooth, efficient, and high-quality operations.
• Team Development: Support the recruitment, training, and performance reviews of the warehouse team, encouraging skill development and fostering a growth mindset.
• Staff Wellbeing: Act as the initial point of contact for team concerns, ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment that celebrates individuality.
• Rota Management: Assist in creating and maintaining team schedules to meet operational needs while balancing workload distribution.
• 1:1s & Coaching: Conduct regular check-ins with team members to track progress, address concerns, and provide guidance.

Operational Efficiency

• Daily Workflow Management: Take an active role in picking, packing, and dispatching orders while overseeing task allocation. Ensure daily and weekly schedules are met by working alongside the team and keeping operations running smoothly.
• Order Fulfilment: Ensure accurate and timely picking, packing, and dispatching of goods for all store, wholesale, and online orders, achieving On Time In Full (OTIF) targets.
• Inventory Control: Assist in monitoring stock levels, cycle counting, and identifying discrepancies. Work proactively to address inventory challenges.
• Goods In & Out: Oversee the receipt and dispatch of goods, ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards.
• Space Optimisation: Organise warehouse layouts to maximise storage capacity and streamline processes.

Collaboration & Communication

• Cross-Department Coordination: Work closely with the Fulfilment, Production, and Planning teams to ensure smooth operations and alignment of workflows, maintaining a visible presence on the warehouse floor.
• Stakeholder Relations: Maintain open communication with retail managers and key stakeholders to meet warehouse-related requests with a customer-focused approach.
• Reporting: Provide updates on operational KPIs to the Services Manager, contributing to strategic decisions and continuous improvement initiatives.

Health & Safety Compliance

• Safety Culture: Promote and enforce health and safety standards, ensuring a safe working environment for all team members.
• Food Safety: Maintain compliance with food safety protocols, ensuring traceability and high standards of hygiene throughout warehouse operations.
• Audit Readiness: Support preparation for internal and external audits by ensuring records are accurate and processes are compliant.

Continuous Improvement

• Process Optimisation: Identify and implement initiatives to improve warehouse efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance team productivity.
• Sustainability Efforts: Promote sustainable practices, such as efficient energy use, proper waste disposal, and adherence to zero-waste goals.
• Adaptability: Proactively address challenges in workflows by working directly with the team to find and implement solutions and prepare the team for seasonal or business growth demands.

Social & Environmental Impact

• Community Engagement: Support Bird & Blend’s social initiatives, including charity campaigns and community projects, acting as an ambassador for meaningful causes.
• Eco-Goals: Assist in achieving sustainability targets by encouraging efficient resource use, proper disposal of waste, and responsible material handling.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: Previous experience in warehouse or logistics operations, with exposure to team leadership and stock management processes.
• Leadership: Strong ability to inspire, train, and develop a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Organisation: Excellent organisational skills with a focus on detail and accuracy.
• Health & Safety Knowledge: Familiarity with health and safety regulations, food safety protocols, and industry compliance standards.
• Communication Skills: Proven ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Analytical mindset with the ability to address challenges proactively and implement solutions efficiently.
• Sustainability Commitment: Passion for environmentally and socially responsible practices within a warehouse setting.

Working Hours
This is a full-time role based at "The Nest," our Back Ops site. Standard hours are between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Sunday to Friday. However, with our ongoing growth plans, shift patterns may change across the week, meaning Monday to Friday may not always be the standard working pattern. Flexibility will be essential, especially during peak periods or seasonal demands.

Once the second shift is implemented, the Assistant Manager will take full responsibility for overseeing it.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Bird & Blend’s growth and community-driven mission while developing a thriving and efficient warehouse team.