Asst Operations Manager - Cold Store

Role purpose

Warehouse and produce operations

• Manage assigned warehouse shifts, zones and activities; monitor workload, priorities, order volumes, cut-off times and operational bottlenecks.
• Oversee receiving, put-away, storage, replenishment, picking, staging and dispatch in accordance with daily plans.
• Maintain warehouse discipline, housekeeping and storage practices through floor inspections and operational oversight.
• Ensure fresh produce is handled and stored correctly; monitor product movement, storage conditions, shelf-life and product ageing to minimize damage, spoilage and losses.
• Apply FIFO/FEFO and segregate rejected, damaged, expired and held stock; coordinate product quality, food safety and temperature concerns with Quality and QHSE.

People, fulfilment and dispatch

• Plan and deploy manpower; monitor attendance, absenteeism, overtime and productivity; arrange shift-start briefings and reallocate staff as workload changes.
• Coach supervisors and warehouse associates on performance and discipline.
• Monitor receiving, unloading, quantity verification and documentation; coordinate quality checks, timely put-away and escalation of delays, shortages and concerns.
• Ensure accurate and timely picking; investigate shortages and discrepancies, prioritize urgent orders, and meet retail, wholesale, HORECA and e-commerce requirements.
• Coordinate staging and loading by customer, route and vehicle; work with Transport on vehicle availability, departure times, delays, product safety and dispatch records.

Inventory, compliance and reporting

• Maintain inventory and location discipline; investigate discrepancies with Inventory, support cycle counts and stock verification, and ensure physical movements are recorded in WMS/ERP.
• Monitor temperature-controlled activities, report deviations, limit exposure outside controlled conditions and support food-safety, hygiene and GMP compliance.
• Ensure material-handling equipment is available and operational; escalate breakdowns and promote safe use.
• Monitor PPE, forklift and pedestrian segregation, clear aisles, emergency exits and loading areas; support safety inspections and audits.
• Prepare daily and weekly reports covering productivity, inventory accuracy, dispatch performance and manpower utilization; report issues, coordinate with relevant teams and complete shift handovers.
• Act as Operations Manager during the Manager’s absence when required.

Education and experience

• Minimum 5–7 years of warehouse operations experience and at least 2 years in a supervisory or assistant management role.
• UAE warehouse experience and WMS/ERP systems experience are required.
• High-volume receiving, picking and dispatch experience is required.
• A bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, warehouse management, operations management or a related discipline is preferred; a relevant diploma may be considered with strong experience.
• Previous fruits and vegetables or e-commerce warehouse experience is preferred; related sectors include fresh produce, FMCG, cold store, food distribution and 3PL.
• Fresh-produce handling, FIFO/FEFO and temperature-controlled operations experience, and experience managing multicultural warehouse teams, are preferred.
• Warehouse management, supply chain or logistics certification is advantageous; HACCP or food safety certification is advantageous; Lean, Six Sigma or continuous-improvement qualifications are desirable.

Pay and benefits

• Pay is AED 9,000–11,000 per month.
• Benefits listed include medical insurance, a supportive work environment, career growth opportunities and company-provided visa.

Work location

• Work location is in person.