Warehouse Manager

Who are we?

Ward Distributors has been distributing hardware, plumbing, and sanitary ware into Botswana since 1983, including our own Ward-tech range, through our own operation on the ground, Ansa Botswana.

We're still family-owned, and many of our team have been with us for 10, 15, even 20 years. It's the kind of business where the numbers matter, because real relationships, with customers, suppliers, and each other, depend on getting them right.

Your role in the team As Warehouse Manager, you'll own everything that happens between the moment stock arrives on our floor and the moment it's loaded out the door. Receiving, storage, picking, and dispatch all sit with you. Once a load leaves the bay, it's in the hands of our Logistics Manager, who owns the fleet, routing, and delivery, so your focus stays squarely on what happens inside the warehouse.

This is a newly formalised role with real authority attached to it. You'll set how the warehouse operates, hold that line with every other department, including sales, and be the person our long-serving floor team can rely on to back them up. You'll also be accountable for the basics that make a warehouse safe to work in: secure and locked environment, a clean, hazard-free floor, properly maintained equipment, and a team that follows safety practice because you hold the standard, not just because a policy says so. If you're someone who leads from the floor rather than from behind a desk, this role was built for you.

What you will do

• Take full ownership of daily warehouse operations: receiving, storage, slotting, picking, and dispatch
• Supervise and support the warehouse team, backing them up and setting clear expectations for how work gets done
• Manage stock accuracy through regular, structured cycle counts, and close out the gap between what the system shows and what's physically on the floor.
• Liaise with Procurement on incoming stock and supplier delivery performance
• Coordinate closely with our Logistics Manager to hand off accurate, complete, on-time loads at the dispatch bay
• Own and enforce the boundary of warehouse authority, particularly where stock control and floor decisions are concerned, so instructions come from one place, not several
• Manage receiving and goods-in against proper paperwork, so nothing sits on our shelves unaccounted for
• Oversee use of our Omni system for order picking, stock visibility, and reporting
• Own warehouse health and safety end to end: correct use of equipment, properly issued and maintained protective clothing, hazard identification, and safe working practices on the floor
• Keep the warehouse clean, tidy, and organised as a daily standard, not an occasional clean-up, and hold the team accountable to it
• Maintain safety records, incident logs, and inspection checklists, and prepare the warehouse for internal or external health and safety audits
• Track and report on core warehouse KPIs: pick accuracy, stock count variance, and on-time load-out readiness
• Manage relationships with suppliers and internal departments to keep the flow of goods moving without friction
• Control expenses against budget and find cost savings at every opportunity, without sacrificing quality or service
• Identify consumables needed to run receiving, warehouse, and dispatch operations through internal procurement requirements to finance department.
• Oversee and vet customer and supplier returns, and report credit note requirements
• Investigate stock variances, investigate causes and request inventory adjustments by finance department.
• Drive continuous improvement across warehouse processes, and keep documentation and filing systems accurate and up to date

Who we are looking for

You've managed a warehouse before, and you know the difference between running a floor and just being present on it. You're comfortable being the person who sets the rules and defends them, even when that means a difficult conversation with another department.

You're hands-on. You'd rather be walking the floor than sitting behind a screen, and your team knows you'll back them up. You care about doing things properly: accurate stock, safe practices, and paperwork that's actually followed. And you're looking for a business where your experience will be trusted and your authority will mean something from day one.

What you will need for this role

• Grade 12 / NQF Level 4, with Mathematics
• At least 5 years' experience in warehouse and logistics management, including direct supervision of a team
• Knowledge of a vehicle fleet management, including driver scheduling, compliance, and maintenance a bonus
• Working knowledge of an ERP or warehouse management system (Omni, QAD, SAP, or similar)
• Proficiency in MS Office, Excel essential
• Experience with stock control, cycle counting, and resolving stock discrepancies
• A valid driver's licence; Code 10 or Code 14 an advantage
• Forklift certification, or willingness to obtain one
• Experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or FMCG warehouse environment
• Strong, confident communication skills, able to hold a boundary with other departments without losing the relationship
• A genuine, practical understanding of warehouse safety and compliance

Where you will work

You'll be based at our distribution warehouse, on the floor with your team for most of your day. This isn't a remote or hybrid role. It's hands-on, physical, and central to how Ward Distributors gets goods to customers across Botswana on time and in full.

Apply now

If you're ready to run a warehouse where your word carries weight, we want to hear from you.

Email your CV to: recruitment@warddistributors.co.za.

Applications close: 7 September 2026

Pay: R30 000,00 - R35 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person