Dispatch Team Leader

DoughGirl; Skegness; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts

Pension plan

Training and progression opportunities

Company bonus potential

Job summary

DoughGirl in Skegness is seeking a hands-on Dispatch Team Leader to drive day-to-day picking, packing and dispatch, coordinating the team and workloads to meet deadlines across wholesale and retail orders.

You will work closely with the Dispatch Manager, oversee accuracy, stock checks and on-time deliveries, and foster a positive, compliant workplace with food-safety and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or supporting a team in dispatch or warehousing.
• Strong organisation, time management and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and address performance issues.
• Good problem-solving and IT skills; confident with warehouse systems.
• Willingness to work hands-on with the team when required.
• Experience with food manufacturing or ecommerce fulfilment is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and support the Dispatch team throughout the day.
• Allocate workloads based on order volumes and priorities.
• Run briefings, communicate priorities and coach the team.
• Monitor performance, provide feedback and training.
• Oversee accurate picking, packing and dispatch to deadlines.
• Coordinate completed orders for courier handovers and manage stock checks.

Skills

Team leadership

Supervising a team

Organisation

Time management

Attention to detail

IT skills

ERP systems

Order-management systems

Courier systems

Stock control

Food safety compliance

Tools

ERP systems

Order-management systems

Courier systems

Shipping platforms

Job description

Lead our Dispatch team from the floor and help ensure customer and wholesale orders are picked, packed and dispatched accurately and on time.

DoughGirl and The Chuckling Cheese Company supply customers across the UK through our websites, retail stores, marketplaces and wholesale channels. Our Dispatch operation is central to delivering an excellent customer experience.

Working closely with the Dispatch Manager, you will coordinate the team, allocate workloads, monitor productivity and keep orders moving safely and efficiently. This is a hands‑on leadership position: you will understand what is happening across the department and step in to support operational work when required.

Reports to: Dispatch Manager

Unsuccessful applications and files are securely deleted after three months.

Pay and progression

The starting rate is £15.00 per hour, rising to £15.90 per hour following successful completion of probation, required training and demonstration of competency in the role. There is also an opportunity to earn up to £6,000 per annum through the Company Performance Bonus Scheme, subject to applicable company performance targets and scheme terms.

Team leadership

• Lead, motivate and support the Dispatch team throughout the working day.
• Allocate people and workloads according to daily order volumes and priorities.
• Make sure team members understand their responsibilities and targets; run briefings and communicate priorities clearly.
• Monitor individual and team performance and provide coaching, feedback and training.
• Support onboarding, training and competency sign-off for new team members.
• Address poor performance or standards promptly and support attendance and people‑management processes.
• Promote a positive, collaborative working environment and lead by example.

Dispatch operations

• Oversee accurate picking, packing and dispatch of customer orders within required deadlines.
• Monitor order volumes, progress and productivity throughout the day and reprioritise work when needed.
• Maintain checking, packaging and presentation standards.
• Coordinate completed orders for courier collection and support courier handovers.
• Identify orders at risk of missing a deadline and take action early.
• Investigate picking, packing and dispatch errors and support the team operationally during busy periods.
• Prioritise wholesale orders and monitor their progress through picking and packing.
• Ensure stock is allocated correctly and investigate missing products.
• Check P Aways, relevant stock locations, fridges and holding areas before reporting products unavailable.
• Identify genuine shortages and communicate outstanding product requirements with Bakery.
• Ensure orders are assigned correctly and **escalate** urgent risks to the Dispatch Manager.

Stock and inventory

• Monitor stock availability and communicate shortages promptly.
• Support accurate stock booking, movement, storage and rotation.
• Support counts and investigate discrepancies.
• Identify and report damaged or unsuitable products.
• Minimise wastage and operational errors.

Productivity and improvement

• Monitor daily picking, packing and team productivity while protecting order accuracy and quality.
• Identify bottlenecks, recurring errors and barriers to productive work.
• Suggest improvements to layouts, working methods and communication between departments.
• Reduce unnecessary movement and wasted time, and report operational concerns to the Dispatch Manager.

Quality, food safety and compliance

• Follow and enforce food safety, hygiene, allergen and product-handling procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organised and safe Dispatch area.
• Ensure health‑and‑safety requirements and PPE rules are followed.
• Support internal and external audits when required.
• Escalate food safety, quality or safety concerns immediately.

Working with other departments

Work closely with the Dispatch Manager, Bakery and Production, Warehouse, Customer Service, Sales, Technical and management teams. Communicate issues early and clearly, especially where customer orders or dispatch deadlines may be affected.

How performance is measured

• Orders dispatched on time and wholesale orders completed.
• Picking and packing accuracy and reduction in dispatch errors.
• Dispatch and team productivity.
• Stock accuracy and effective shortage management.
• Training completion and team performance.
• Health‑and‑safety compliance and food‑safety and hygiene standards.

Essential skills and experience

• Experience in dispatch, warehousing, fulfilment or a similar operational environment.
• Experience supervising, leading or supporting a team.
• Strong organisation, time management, prioritisation and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure, communicate clearly and address performance issues.
• Good problem‑solving and IT skills, with confidence learning warehouse, ERP and order‑management systems.
• Willingness to work hands‑on alongside the team when required.
• Food manufacturing, ecommerce fulfilment, FMCG or wholesale dispatch.
• Courier systems, shipping platforms, stock control and inventory management.
• Food Safety qualifications or health‑and‑safety training.

Personal attributes

• Positive, proactive, reliable and highly organised.
• Confident leading others, making decisions and taking ownership.
• Calm under pressure and focused on solutions.
• Able to challenge poor standards appropriately.
• Committed to both productivity and accuracy and to continuous improvement.
• Be accountable: take responsibility for your work.
• Be Better: Keep learning, there's always room for improvement.
• Be Collaborative: Work together, we are one team!
• Be Proud: Put the work in and be proud of your achievements!
• Be Proactive: Stay curious and apply your initiative to be efficient within your role.
• As a Team Leader, demonstrate these principles and encourage them within your team.

Pay, bonus and benefits

• Starting pay of £15.00 per hour, rising to £15.90 per hour following successful completion of probation, required training and demonstration of competency.
• Opportunity to earn up to £6,000 per annum through the Company Performance Bonus Scheme, subject to applicable company performance targets and scheme terms.
• Staff discounts across DoughGirl and The Chuckling Cheese Company products.
• Company pension.
• Training and development and career progression opportunities within a growing business.
• Support from the Dispatch Manager and wider management team.

Working hours

This is a full‑time position. Flexibility is required during peak trading periods, seasonal events and periods of increased order volumes. Weekend working may form part of the role depending on operational requirements.