Shift Supervisor - Distribution / Cold Store

SUMMARY:

Athlone, Cape Town | R21 000 per month

A well-established FMCG operation is seeking an experienced Shift Supervisor to support the day-to-day running of its Distribution Centre and cold-store operation.

This is a hands-on supervisory role responsible for staff management, stock control, cold-chain compliance, vehicle loading, housekeeping, food safety and occupational health and safety. The successful candidate will ensure that products are stored, handled and dispatched accurately and efficiently while minimising stock losses, wastage, shrinkage and operational delays.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities

Staff Supervision & Shift Management

• Coordinate and supervise warehouse and cold-store personnel across the shift.
• Plan staffing requirements for normal operations, weekends and public holidays.
• Manage staff schedules, attendance, timekeeping and registers.
• Monitor staffing costs and ensure wages remain within approved budgets.
• Allocate responsibilities and ensure employees perform according to their respective roles.
• Train and develop staff to create a flexible, multi-skilled team.
• Conduct performance assessments in line with company procedures.
• Ensure adherence to disciplinary procedures and HR policies.
• Ensure employees receive the required departmental inductions covering food safety, hygiene, quality, and health and safety.

Cold Store & Stock Control

• Supervise all cold-store activities to minimise theft, damage, shrinkage and stock losses.
• Ensure correct product stacking, storage and handling.
• Maintain effective stock rotation to ensure older stock is dispatched before newer stock.
• Identify short-dated stock promptly to reduce wastage.
• Verify expiry dates of picked products.
• Account for stock wastage and breakages.
• Conduct regular spot checks on stock handling and storage practices.
• Ensure cold stores remain organised, clean and ready for the following shift.

Cold Chain Management

• Monitor and record cold-store temperatures throughout the day in accordance with required procedures.
• Ensure cold-store temperatures are maintained between 4°C and 7°C.
• Inspect vehicle refrigeration units before loading and ensure units are operating correctly and set at approximately 2°C.
• Prevent vehicles from being loaded where refrigeration systems are not functioning correctly.
• Ensure chilled products remain within the required temperature-controlled environment.
• Conduct random temperature checks on products after vehicle loading.

Loading & Dispatch

• Supervise the accurate and efficient loading of delivery vehicles.
• Ensure vehicles are loaded according to picking lists, route schedules and customer orders.
• Ensure correct products, quantities and product dates are loaded.
• Prevent damaged stock from being dispatched.
• Ensure vehicles are loaded within required timelines while protecting the cold chain.
• Ensure vehicles are not overloaded and loads remain within legal limits.
• Verify loading documentation and required signatures before vehicles are secured.
• Ensure loaded vehicles are parked correctly and refrigeration units are connected to an electrical supply where available.

Housekeeping, Hygiene & Food Safety

• Drive a strong clean-as-you-go culture throughout the Distribution Centre.
• Maintain high housekeeping standards in the cold store and loading yard.
• Ensure cleaning checklists are completed daily.
• Maintain required hygiene standards in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality and hygiene procedures.
• Complete all relevant records, reports and documentation accurately and timeously.
• Participate in internal audits and ensure corrective actions are implemented.

Health & Safety

• Ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and applicable company procedures.
• Identify and report unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.
• Report workplace incidents according to prescribed procedures.
• Ensure employees receive appropriate health and safety induction and training.
• Assist in maintaining required departmental safety performance standards.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 or equivalent
• Valid Forklift License
• Basic Supervisory Qualification
• Minimum 1 years’ experience within an FMCG warehouse environment
• Minimum 3 years' experience in a supervisory capacity
• Computer literate
• Experience working with warehouse management / warehouse systems
• Ability to supervise employees within a busy warehouse and distribution environment

Ideal Candidate

You will suit this position if you are a practical, hands-on supervisor who understands the importance of stock accuracy, cold-chain integrity, productivity, food safety, housekeeping and disciplined staff management.

Experience working in a fast-paced FMCG distribution, refrigerated warehousing or food environment will be particularly relevant.