Project Manager Warehouse Activation

Role Purpose The Project Manager Warehouse Activation owns the end-to-end delivery of new and upgraded warehouse facilities: site readiness, fit-out, racking and equipment, temperature-controlled infrastructure, systems (WMS/ERP) go-live, staffing, process design and the transition into steady-state operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the role sits at the intersection of engineering, supply chain and operations, and is accountable for delivering each activation on time, on budget and to the required food-safety, quality and productivity standards across our UAE facilities. Key Responsibilities Project Planning & Governance Own the full activation lifecycle for assigned warehouse projects initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, go-live and handover to operations. Build and maintain the master project plan, covering scope, milestones, dependencies, critical path, budget and resource requirements. Prepare business cases, capex requests and cost estimates; track actual spend against budget and report variances. Maintain the project risk and issue register, define mitigation plans and escalate blockers early to the steering group. Chair project governance meetings and provide clear, regular status reporting to the COO and wider leadership team. Site Readiness, Fit-Out & Infrastructure Work with landlords, consultants and contractors on site selection input, layout design, civil works and fit-out delivery. Design and validate warehouse layouts receiving and dispatch bays, chilled and ambient zones, racking configuration, staging, value-added service and packing areas to optimise storage density and material flow. Manage the specification, tendering, procurement, installation and commissioning of racking, MHE, refrigeration and cold-room systems, dock equipment, scales, packaging lines and IT infrastructure. Coordinate all statutory approvals, licences, municipality and civil-defence requirements, HACCP/food-safety certification and utility connections. Manage contractors and vendors on scope, schedule, quality, HSE compliance, snagging and final handover. Systems & Process Activation Partner with IT to configure, test and go live with WMS/ERP, scanning devices, barcoding, labelling and integration with transport and order-management systems. Design and document the operating model and SOPs for inbound, put-away, storage, replenishment, picking, packing, dispatch, returns and stock counting. Define slotting and space-allocation logic, temperature regimes, FEFO/FIFO rules and traceability requirements for perishable and chilled products. Plan and run system integration testing, dry runs, pilot volumes and phased ramp-up before full cutover. Mobilisation, People & Go-Live Determine manpower and shift requirements; work with HR to recruit, onboard and train the warehouse team ahead of go-live. Deliver training on SOPs, systems, equipment operation, hygiene and safety, and confirm competency before activation. Plan and execute stock migration and cutover from existing facilities with minimum disruption to customer service. Lead the hypercare period after go-live, resolving teething issues and stabilising throughput, accuracy and service levels. Performance, Compliance & Handover Define and track activation KPIs schedule adherence, capex spend, inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock time, pick productivity, order fill rate, OTIF and wastage. Ensure the facility operates in full compliance with food-safety, HACCP, cold-chain, HSE and local regulatory requirements from day one. Drive continuous improvement using lean tools, layout optimisation and automation opportunities. Complete formal handover to the operations team with a full documentation pack as-built layouts, asset registers, SOPs, warranties, maintenance schedules and training records. Capture and share lessons learned to build a repeatable activation playbook for future sites.

Desired Candidate Profile

Minimum 5 years of experience managing a warehouse and activating warehouses into operations. Experience gained in Cold Store, 3PL, FMCG or E-Commerce companies. Graduation in Engineering or Supply Chain. PMP or equivalent project management certification. Preferred Experience with temperature-controlled and perishable/fresh-produce operations. Hands-on WMS/ERP implementation or go-live experience. Familiarity with UAE regulatory, municipality, civil defence and food-safety approval processes. Lean, Six Sigma or similar continuous improvement qualification. Currently based in the UAE and available to join immediately. Skills & Competencies Strong project management discipline planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management and reporting. Solid technical understanding of warehouse design, racking systems, MHE and refrigeration. Confident stakeholder management across operations, IT, HR, finance, contractors and vendors. Analytical and data-driven, comfortable with Excel, MS Project or equivalent planning tools. Hands-on, solutions-focused and able to work to tight deadlines in a fast-moving environment. Excellent written and verbal communication in English; Arabic or Hindi/Urdu an advantage. Valid UAE driving licence and willingness to travel between sites.