Flow Room Lead

Greggs plc; Geddington; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Colleague discount on Greggs products

Free hot drinks

Paid breaks

Health and wellbeing app

6 weeks annual leave

Pension with employer match

Employee assistance app

Long service awards

Discounts on everyday shopping

Job summary

Greggs plc is building a brand-new Flow Room at Symmetry Park Kettering. The role leads the start-up team, recruits and trains staff, and collaborates with engineering and IT to define processes for the automated flow of goods.

You will create SOPs, establish governance, and drive continuous improvement, while ensuring safety, quality, and customer focus during a rapid site-launch period starting early 2027.

Qualifications

• Experience with automated warehouse operations.
• Ability to write and implement SOPs and operational best practices.
• Experience in start-up environments, ideally with new warehouse/automation site launches.
• Strong communication and leadership skills; able to build trust across levels.
• Experience training others and onboarding; ownership of knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities

• Recruit a cohesive Flow Room team.
• Partner with on-site operations and engineering for smooth automated system and product flow.
• Oversee Flow Room functions including tactical labour planning and staffing alignment.
• Lead and coach Flow Room shift team with effective handovers and daily briefs.
• Monitor WMS dashboards, implement best practices, and address issues proactively.
• Manage IT and automation incidents with transparent escalation and rapid resolution.
• Ensure customer service remains a focus and drive improvements.
• Review Flow Room processes, SOPs, and risk assessments for continuous improvement.
• Deliver standard and ad-hoc reports to inform decisions.
• Develop team capability through PDRs, monthly 1-to-1s, and development plans.

Skills

Automated warehouse operations

Start-up environment experience

SOP development

Process design

Team training

IT literacy (Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook)

Tools

SAP EWMS

Material Flow Systems

SynQ

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Are you ready to be part of something new and exciting in Kettering? Our brand-new logistics site, situated at Symmetry Park Kettering, will offer a fresh and innovative environment, and we're looking for enthusiastic and passionate colleagues to help lay the foundation for something truly great. We have a fantastic opportunity to join our team in National Distribution Centre Kettering as Flow Room Lead. Reporting to the Warehouse Manager, this will be a key role in the Flow Room working with planning, engineering and warehouse operations teams to deliver optimal outcomes for both colleagues and customers. Initially you will actively participate in systems testing, engaging with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation and performance. You'll also support the recruitment of your wider team who will start the journey of opening our new purpose-built ambient/chill site in early 2027. This initiative is a key part of our growth strategy, aimed at expanding our supply chain to meet the needs of our growing number of shops across the UK.

• This is a full-time role.
• The role will be on a 4 on, 4 off, 12 hour shift pattern basis, including days, nights and weekends.
• You'll be part of the start-up team, helping to shape the way the Flow Room operates from day one.
• You'll be expected to learn systems, processes, and stakeholder relationships quickly and independently, while also helping to define them. As one of the first in the Flow Room team, you'll be responsible for creating the training materials and onboarding plans for future team members.
• We're looking for someone who thrives in ambiguity, ready to build processes, write SOPs, and create standards where none yet exist.
• You'll work closely with engineering, IT, operations, and leadership to define what "good" looks like in our Flow Room and implement the practices to make it reality.
• The base location for this role is Symmetry Park Kettering, NN14 1FQ.

What you'll do

• Take an instrumental role in recruiting a cohesive Flow Room team.
• Partner with on-site operations and engineering teams to ensure smooth automated system and product flow.
• Oversee all Flow Room functions, including tactical labour planning and alignment with operational and engineering teams to manage staffing and drive performance.
• Lead and support the Flow Room shift team to adhere to deadlines set for the site through effective shift handovers, cross-departmental daily briefs and regular meetings and coaching.
• Monitor the National Distribution Centre (NDC) Warehouse Management System (WMS) through KPI dashboards, housekeeping routines, and configuration of best practices to support operational throughput, identifying and addressing issues proactively.
• Manage IT and automation incidents with a focus on transparency, escalation, and rapid resolution of major issues impacting operations.
• Ensure customer service is at the heart of the Flow room, with regular reviews and recommendations for action to improve customer satisfaction.
• Promote consistency and quality by regularly reviewing Flow Room processes, SOPs, and risk assessments to embed continuous improvement.
• Deliver standard reports to the NDC senior team, with performance commentary and provide ad-hoc reports and system queries to inform operational decisions.
• Continually assess and build the capability of the team, carrying out PDRs with direct reports, agreeing targets and objectives, conducting monthly 1 to 1s and agreeing individual development plans, promoting a culture of achievement and responsibility.
• Ensure all activities comply with safety standards and contribute to a secure, well-governed Flow Room environment.

You will fit right into this role if you:

• Have detailed experience of an automated warehouse operation.
• Have experience in start-up environments, ideally with new warehouse or automation site launches.
• Are comfortable working in a fast-moving, unstructured environment and enjoy bringing clarity and order through process design and documentation.
• Have experience writing, implementing, and embedding SOPs and operational best practices.
• Have a "builder" mindset, bringing structure, governance, and continuous improvement into evolving operations.
• Have experience training others and enjoy taking ownership of knowledge sharing, documentation, and onboarding.
• Understand that in a start-up environment, you help create the structure others will rely on
• Have a detailed understanding of the functionality and operation of automated systems; SAP Extended Warehouse Management, specifically Material Flow Systems, is essential and knowledge of SynQ would be desirable.
• Are customer-focused with a commitment to quality, efficiency, and accuracy.
• Are a strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust at all levels.
• Are calm and effective under pressure, able to manage multiple priorities at pace.
• Have strong IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Outlook.
• Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a track record of implementing workable solutions.
• Are a clear and confident communicator with excellent written and verbal skills.
• Are results-driven with strong planning, prioritisation, and organisational abilities.
• Are skilled in influencing and challenging constructively to drive continuous improvement.
• Are supportive of an inclusive workplace culture.

Competitive pay

• We share 10% of all our profits with our colleagues
• Colleague discount allowing you and a family member to enjoy up to 50% off your favourite Greggs products
• Free hot drinks for you to enjoy while on a break
• Paid breaks allowing you to recharge your batteries
• Health and wellbeing app providing remote GP and physiotherapy services
• 6 weeks annual leave which includes bank holidays
• Colleague share plans to help you invest and save for your future
• Pension scheme to help you plan for your future. We'll match your contributions up to 7%
• Confidential Employee assistance app and helpline to help with your wellbeing
• Long service awards celebrating key milestones in your career
• Savings and discounts for your everyday shopping, leisure and wellbeing