Distribution Centre Manager

UK Power Networks; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days annual leave

Reservist Leave – 18 days full pay and

22 unpaid leave

Private Health Insurance / SimplyHealh

Personal Pension Plan – company match

Cycle to Work Scheme

Season Ticket Loan

Discounts for retailers (Switched On)

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

The Distribution Centre Manager will report to the Logistics Supply Manager within Network Operations at our Maidstone office. This is a permanent role with a starting salary of £68,144 and a 3% bonus, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

Key responsibilities include managing a 15-20 person team, driving OTIF targets, and ensuring cost-efficient operations while maintaining safety and compliance. Close date: 31 October 2026.

Qualifications

• Good knowledge and experience of warehousing and distribution operations.
• SAP experience is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel).
• Experience with problem solving to root cause level.
• Strong information and data analysis skills.
• Ability to sell ideas to teams and managers.
• Customer-oriented and delivery-focused mindset.
• Proactive with coaching experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the Distribution Centre to ensure on-time delivery.
• Take ownership of customer enquiries from the Customer Issue Log and resolve promptly.
• Utilise an Activity Matrix to plan daily, weekly, monthly tasks.
• Ensure SOPs and procedures are reviewed and maintained.
• Provide supervision to the logistics team and manage costs within budget.
• Deputise for the Logistics Supply Manager when needed.
• Promote health, safety and environmental policies across operations.

Skills

Problem solving

Data analysis

Customer focus

Delivery focus

Coaching

Proactive

Sell ideas

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

The Distribution Centre Manager will report directly to the Logistics Supply Manager and will work within Network Operations based in our Maidstone office. You will be a permanent employee.

You will attract a starting salary of £68,144 per annum per annum and a bonus of 3%.

Close Date: 31st October 2026

We also provide the following additional benefits

• 23 days annual Leave
• Reservist Leave – Additional 18 days full pay and 22 unpaid
• Private Health Insurance / SimplyHealth
• Personal Pension Plan – Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
• Tenancy Loan Deposit Scheme, Season Ticket Loan
• Tax efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, and Green Car Leasing Schemes
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers’ products
• Discounted gym membership

Job Purpose

To ensure Physical deliver plan within a Logistics Team striving to continuously add customer value whilst constantly reducing cost.

To manage and operate a Distribution Centre through the provision of a safe, efficient and effective operation, delivering true value through a commitment to a 98% OTIF defined service level at the lowest possible cost.

Dimensions:

• Management of circa 15-20 direct reports,
• Responsible for spending that will affect cost centre performance
• Band 4 as per the Financial Authority Limits Matrix

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Always conduct oneself in a professional manner to promote a positive image of the Logistics function and UK Power Networks in general demonstrating the Vision and Values of the company
• Take ownership of customer enquiries and/or concerns originating from the Customer Issue Log, provide efficient feedback and resolution within agreed timeframe targets
• Utilise an Activity Matrix to plan and execute daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tasks
• Ensure procedures, process flows and SOPs and reviewed and maintained
• Deputise for the Logistics Supply Manager on request in cases of absence
• Complete ad hoc duties as requested by the Logistics Supply Manager
• Day to day supervision of all personnel and associated tasks within their reporting structure ensuring all tasks are completed on time and in full.
• Assist the Logistics Supply Manager to ensure that operational costs are kept below budget minimising additional spend on overtime and property related damage etc.
• Ensure high standard of safety, compliance with all HSS and Environmental Policies. Including…
• Assist with the delivery of the Logistics / Network Operations Safety Plan with the principal aim of Zero Harm and reducing the likelihood of LTI’s and PIM’s.
• Completion of ICASS inspections as per agreed targets.
• Ensuring annual refreshers and Health Surveillance requirements are completed on time.
• Ensure day to day management of staff and application of appropriate HR Policies where breaches occur.
• Personal development of all direct reports through Individual Performance Reviews (IPR’s), training and succession plans.
• Facilitate good communication with all internal / external customers.
• Ensure good standards of housekeeping at all locations.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

The role requires strong analytical and lateral thinking skills along with communication experience to engage with both internal and external stakeholders across the business from field staff to Senior Management.

The Distribution Centre Manager will have relevant warehousing experience and will interact with all other Logistics management roles within the structure to ensure all are kept appropriately always informed in regard to any safety or performance issues that may affect customer delivery and operational performance.

Attention to detail and the ability to prioritise is essential, as the Distribution Centre Manager is accountable for ensuring the team process all related activities within their departmental structure in line with request, therefore enabling materials to be delivered to ensure the electricity distribution network is maintained.

In context of the Network Operations Continuous Improvement Mission Directed Work Programme (MDW), the Distribution Centre Manager will lead and empower the team to achieve its goals and to attain a sense of purpose. Key responsibilities include:

• Facilitates the 8-minute MDW meeting, leads the team to achieve its key performance indicators
• Coaches team members to update and apply visual management
• Addresses problems or issues that impact on the team; delegates responsibilities to team members to investigate improvement ideas or problems and propose solutions. Leads and coaches’ problem solving applying tools such as three questions, 5 Why’s, Fishbone etc.
• Escalates problems and innovations that cannot be solved by the MDW team
• ‘Walks the Talk’ regarding the company Vision and Values. Frequently relates to these and explains them in terms of demonstrated behaviour.

The Storm Role for this position will be categorised as Logistics Distribution Coordinator.

ATTITUDE, QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

Must bring a positive attitude living the values of the organisation. Proactive and drives improvement either through team interaction or operating autonomously.

Qualifications

• Good knowledge and experience of warehousing and distribution operations.
• SAP
• Microsoft Office products including PowerPoint, Excel
• Experience of completing problem solving to root cause level is essential
• Information and data analysis
• Able to sell ideas to teams and managers
• Customer-oriented
• Delivery-oriented
• Proactive
• Coaching experience

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they fully understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and particularly where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

Employees need to be aware that for some craft and operational roles that work at height, or use fall arrest devices, there is an upper weight limit of 116Kg due to maximum safe working load of the safety equipment that is used.

If in doubt ask!

We may use AI-enabled tools to support elements of our recruitment process. These tools help us manage applications more efficiently and consistently, but they do not make hiring decisions. All recruitment decisions are made by trained employees using human judgement and oversight. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly and transparently, in line with our legal, regulatory and ethical obligations.

Your data will be hosted within a secure environment and will only be used by UK Power Networks for the purpose of which it is intended. The data is used only as an input to provide insights for the screening process and is not retained by the model or by UK Power Networks’ contractor, shared with the contractor’s other customers or with OpenAI, or used to train or improve AI models.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Where applicable, this role is subject to safer recruitment processes and robust pre‑employment checks