Warehouse Manager - Cold Chain
Overview
Cold Chain Warehouse Managers oversee specialized temperature-controlled facilities, ensuring pharmaceutical, food, and perishable products maintain required temperatures throughout storage and distribution while meeting strict regulatory compliance standards.
- 1Monitor and maintain temperature-controlled storage zones (frozen, chilled, ambient)
- 2Ensure compliance with HACCP, GMP, and GDP guidelines
- 3Manage temperature monitoring systems and alarm response protocols
- 4Oversee product receiving with temperature verification and documentation
- 5Implement strict FIFO/FEFO inventory rotation procedures
- 6Coordinate with quality assurance for temperature excursion investigations
- 7Manage cold chain logistics and refrigerated transport coordination
- 8Supervise staff in cold storage safety procedures and PPE usage
- 9Maintain refrigeration equipment and backup power systems
- 10Conduct regular cold room audits and calibration verification
- 11Manage product quarantine and recall procedures
- 12Ensure traceability and batch tracking compliance
Education
Diploma/Degree in Supply Chain, Food Science, or Logistics Management
Experience
4-7 years cold chain or pharmaceutical warehouse management
Skills
- ✓Temperature monitoring and control systems
- ✓Cold chain logistics and validation
- ✓HACCP and GMP compliance knowledge
- ✓Pharmaceutical GDP guidelines (for pharma cold chain)
- ✓Quality assurance and deviation management
- ✓Refrigeration equipment understanding
- ✓Cold storage safety protocols
- ✓Regulatory audit preparation and management
Setting
Cold storage facility with freezer (-25°C) and chiller (2-8°C) zones
Hours
May include night and weekend on-call for temperature alarms
Travel
Minimal - primarily facility-based
Physical Demands
High - regular exposure to cold environments requiring PPE
Salary Range
R30,000 - R55,000 per month
Structure
Competitive salary reflecting specialized skills; performance bonuses
Benefits
Medical aid, provident fund, cold environment allowances, specialized training
Challenges
- •Managing critical temperature excursions and product loss risks
- •High energy costs for refrigeration systems
- •Specialized staff training and retention in harsh environments
- •Stringent regulatory compliance and audit requirements
Opportunities
- •High demand due to specialized nature of cold chain expertise
- •Growth in pharmaceutical cold chain (vaccines, biologics)
- •Career advancement to cold chain network manager roles
- •International opportunities in global cold chain companies
Industry Trends
- •IoT temperature monitoring and predictive analytics
- •Blockchain for cold chain traceability
- •Expansion of COVID-19 vaccine cold chain infrastructure
- •Energy-efficient and sustainable cold storage technologies