About the Job Title "Cold Storage Supervisor"

Cold Storage Supervisor Job Description

Cold storage supervisors are responsible for overseeing various activities involved in the storage of items kept in the cold (e.g., fridge or freezer). Cold storage supervisors will need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. However, for more progression opportunities, cold storage supervisors may want to consider achieving a bachelor’s degree. 

Cold Storage Supervisor Job Profiles: This is a general writeup based on our research into Cold Storage Supervisor positions in the Warehouse Manager career area. For individual, real-life job profiles of actual people with this type of job, check out our job profiles page.

What's it like to be a Cold Storage Supervisor?

Duties and responsibilities

A cold storage supervisor is responsible for overseeing various activities involved in the (yep, you guessed it) storage of items in the cold (e.g., fridge or freezer). They will be responsible for running, directing and monitoring a team of other workers and will need to ensure the efficient running of goods in cold storage. Their typical duties and responsibilities include:

  • Receiving, storing, testing, and shipping items kept in cold storage
  • Implementing warehouse safety programs that specifically apply to cold storage
  • Dealing with customer questions and complaints
  • Reviewing work orders to determine forecasts so that you can make plans for peak delivery periods
  • Creating working schedules for pickups and deliveries of cold items
  • Supervising staff and provide them with relevant training on all aspects of the operation
  • Working to develop an efficient cold storage layout to maximize storage space and ease of movement within the facility

Qualifications

As a bare minimum, cold storage supervisors will need to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. However, an increasing amount of cold storage supervisors have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as supply chain management, logistics, business or administration. This is because this teaches them the skills and expertise they need to stand out from the crowd and have the best employment opportunities.

Skills and relevant work experience

To have the best opportunities as a cold storage supervisor, it is advisable to have as much experience in the field as possible (e.g., as a warehouse worker or shelf stacker). As well as this, cold storage supervisors will need skills such as:

  • Organization skills, as cold storage supervisors will need to manage a team of other workers and juggle a number of different tasks
  • Problem-solving skills, as cold storage managers will be faced with different problems every single day and they MUST be able to come up with solutions quickly and efficiently
  • Leadership skills, are cold storage supervisors will oversee teams of other warehouse workers and must be able to motivate and manage them
  • Teamwork skills, as cold storage supervisors will be responsible for creating cohesive teams that promote trust and open communication
  • Communication skills, as cold storage supervisors will need to communicate updates and problems with their superiors, team members and clients
  • Technology skills, as cold storage supervisors will have to check the functioning of the complicated equipment that is used to keep things chilled and cold

Hours

The majority of colds storage supervisors work full time. Some cold storage supervisors will work normal business hours. However, some cold storage supervisors may have to work night or weekend shifts. They may also be on call to deal with emergencies at any time.

Salary

According to Indeed.com, the average annual salary for a cold storage supervisor is $51,368 per year. There is not data on the lowest or highest 10 percent.

Progression

Cold storage supervisors tend to progress from other warehouse roles. Through experience and correct training, they gain the experience required to manage a team. Similarly, cold storage supervisors can progress to more senior roles. Such roles include as a warehouse manager or cold storage managers.

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