Company: ASDA
Role: Warehouse Department Manager
I’m Tiff Faulconbridge, and I work as a Warehouse Department Manager at Asda. My role is varied and people-focused, which is one of the things I enjoy most about it. On a typical day, I’m responsible for running a key area of the warehouse and making sure everything operates safely, efficiently and in line with the needs of the business. Alongside the operational side of the job, I also lead a team of colleagues and support them with a wide range of people matters, including pay queries, absence, performance and conduct. As well as managing day-to-day activity, I also take ownership of a shift-wide project focused on engagement, celebrations and recognition, which means helping to create a positive working environment where people feel valued and motivated.
One of the things I’ve learned about logistics is that attitude and willingness to learn can be just as important as formal qualifications. In my experience, having the right mindset, being open to development and being ready to take on new challenges matters a great deal in this sector. There are also apprenticeships available that support learning on the job, which makes logistics a really accessible sector for people coming in through different routes.
I didn’t go to university, and my career has been built through practical experience and learning in the workplace. That has given me the opportunity to develop hands-on knowledge of operations, leadership and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment. For me, that real-world experience has been incredibly valuable and has helped shape the way I lead today.
I found this role through Indeed, but what really drew me to it was the opportunity to broaden my experience within logistics. Before joining Asda, I was working as a manager in Amazon logistics, where I gained a strong understanding of online retail operations. I wanted to explore logistics in a different setting and understand how supermarket retail differs from online retail. That was a big part of what attracted me to the position. I was interested in seeing how another part of the sector operates and challenging myself in a new environment.
Looking back, there were several skills I developed through school, previous work and life experience that made me realise I was well suited to logistics. Being able to work under pressure is a big one, because this is a sector where things move quickly and priorities can change fast. Leadership has also been important, especially in roles where you are responsible not just for performance but for supporting and developing people. I’ve also always had the ability to learn quickly and adapt, which is essential in a sector that is constantly evolving. Another key strength for me has been process creation and improvement, because logistics is all about finding better, smarter and more efficient ways of working.
The best thing about my role is definitely the people I work with. Logistics is very much a team environment, and the relationships you build make a huge difference. I enjoy working with a wide range of people, supporting them, helping them develop and being part of a team that comes together to keep the operation moving. Even in a busy and demanding environment, that sense of teamwork is what makes the job rewarding.
One of the highlights of my career so far was being part of a team that introduced a new de-kit process when I first started. That project improved the flow of equipment across the site and made a real difference to how the operation worked. It was a great example of how even one process improvement can have a meaningful impact across a warehouse. Being involved in something that delivered visible results so early on was a proud moment and reinforced how important innovation and problem-solving are in logistics.
For anyone considering a career in logistics, I’d say it’s a sector with far more variety and opportunity than many people realise. It’s not just about moving goods from one place to another. It’s about people, leadership, problem-solving, process improvement and finding ways to keep complex operations running smoothly. There are many different routes into the sector, and you don’t need to follow one set path to build a successful career. If you are adaptable, willing to learn and enjoy working with people in a fast-moving environment, logistics can offer a really rewarding future.