Warehouse Manager - Lighting & Events

Location: Reading

Salary: £40,000-£45,000 per annum

Working Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm

Overtime: Optional overtime available

The Opportunity

We're looking for an organised, proactive and hands-on Warehouse Manager to oversee the day-to-day running of a busy warehouse supporting the lighting and live events industry.

This is a varied, practical management role that combines team leadership and forward planning with a hands-on approach to warehouse operations. You'll be responsible for scheduling and allocating workloads, ensuring the right staff and equipment are in place for the week ahead, and keeping operations running smoothly.

This isn't a role where you'll be sat behind a desk all day. You'll be actively involved in the warehouse, supporting the team with equipment preparation, loading and unloading, and ensuring everything is ready for upcoming jobs. You'll also occasionally oversee freelance staff during busier periods.

Key Responsibilities

• 
  

  Oversee the day-to-day running of the warehouse, ensuring operations are organised, efficient and completed to a high standard.

  
  



• 
  

  Schedule workloads, allocate tasks and delegate responsibilities across the warehouse team.

  
  



• 
  

  Plan ahead for upcoming projects, anticipating staffing, equipment and resource requirements.

  
  



• 
  

  Lead, support and motivate warehouse operatives and drivers, providing clear direction and ensuring work is completed efficiently.

  
  



• 
  

  Take a hands-on approach to warehouse activities, including equipment preparation, cleaning, scanning, loading and unloading.

  
  



• 
  

  Ensure equipment is prepared accurately and available on time for productions, collections and deliveries.

  
  



• 
  

  Coordinate truck packs and vehicle loading, ensuring equipment is organised and ready for dispatch.

  
  



• 
  

  Oversee equipment returns, ensuring items are scanned correctly and any missing or damaged equipment is recorded and reported.

  
  



• 
  

  Monitor the condition of rental equipment and coordinate maintenance or external repairs where required.

  
  



• 
  

  Arrange additional temporary or freelance staff during busy periods and oversee their work.

  
  



• 
  

  Maintain a safe, clean and organised warehouse, ensuring health and safety procedures are followed.

  
  



• 
  

  Contribute ideas to improve warehouse layout, equipment storage, preparation processes and overall efficiency.

  
  



• 
  

  Communicate with colleagues across the wider operation to ensure workloads and equipment requirements are managed effectively.

  
  

About You

We're looking for someone who enjoys being involved in the practical side of warehouse management while taking ownership of planning, organisation and team performance.

You'll ideally have:

• 
  

  Previous experience in a warehouse, logistics or operations role, ideally with supervisory or management responsibility.

  
  



• 
  

  The ability to organise workloads, allocate tasks and manage competing priorities.

  
  



• 
  

  Strong forward-planning skills, with the ability to anticipate staffing, equipment and operational requirements.

  
  



• 
  

  A confident, hands-on management style, leading by example and supporting the team when needed.

  
  



• 
  

  Good communication skills and the ability to delegate clearly and effectively.

  
  



• 
  

  Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

  
  



• 
  

  A proactive approach to problem-solving, with the confidence to use your initiative.

  
  



• 
  

  Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office.

  
  



• 
  

  The ability to work both independently and as part of a wider team.

  
  

Desirable Experience

Experience within lighting, AV, live events, broadcast, production or equipment rental would be beneficial, as would familiarity with stock control, rental inventory systems or coordinating temporary and freelance staff.

What's on Offer?

• 
  

  Salary of £40,000-£45,000 per annum.

  
  



• 
  

  Monday-Friday working hours, 8:30am-5:00pm.

  
  



• 
  

  Optional overtime opportunities.

  
  



• 
  

  A varied, hands-on management role with responsibility for both the warehouse team and day-to-day operations.

  
  



• 
  

  The opportunity to contribute ideas, improve processes and help ensure the