Group General Manager - Operations

Ovia Lighting Ltd.; Tamworth; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Option to purchase up to 5 extra days annual leave

Health Cashback Plan

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Free Parking

Company Car

Job summary

Ovia Lighting Ltd. is seeking a Group General Manager to optimize supply chain and warehouse operations, ensuring growth and efficiency. This role involves strategic planning, accountability for site safety, and collaboration with various business functions.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in large-scale operations, strong financial awareness, and the ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives. Benefits include health plans and the option to purchase extra annual leave. Location: Tamworth, B79 7UL.

Qualifications

• Experience leading supply chain and warehouse functions at a senior level.
• Ability to analyze operational data and create actionable insights.
• Strong track record delivering operational or systems projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead a transformative program for supply chain optimization.
• Manage site safety and compliance.
• Develop budget forecasts and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Skills

Leadership of large-scale operations

Development of operational strategies

Understanding of supply chain processes

Continuous improvement methodologies

Financial awareness and budgeting

Strong commercial acumen

Excellent communication skills

Education

Business Related Degree or demonstrable experience

Job description

Overview

The Group General Manager will lead a transformative programme to optimise the organisation’s supply chain and warehouse operations, positioning the function for future growth and digital advancement. This is a critical leadership role responsible for enhancing operational efficiency, modernising warehouse management systems, and ensuring the seamless flow of products across all business divisions and locations—from influencing how goods for sale are delivered through to how customer delivery is achieved to agreed SLAs.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors and relevant functions of the business to shape and future proof the warehousing & outbound logistics vision and strategy for the Scolmore Group into clear, actionable objectives.
• Hold full accountability for site safety, ensuring a highly visible safety‑first culture.
• Be aware and maintain expert knowledge on working practices to ensure legal & operational compliance to relevant company standards and those set by law.
• Proactively monitor changing trends in the business, identify potential challenges within the warehouse and logistics landscape early, developing effective mitigation strategies as required.
• Identify the right calibre of human resource and the effective development of people is central to the success of a well organised warehouse & distribution operation. The post holder will therefore have the gravitas to take the lead and set the vision.
• Provide expert insight, guidance, and support to the Board, delivering high‑quality reports within agreed timeframes, supported by meaningful analysis and commentary. Use data driven assessment to evaluate operational improvement ideas.
• Work in partnership with the project management office key stakeholders, internal departments, and external vendors to implement and enhance systems, ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure, acting as subject‑matter expert in this regard.
• Identify opportunities for process optimisation, providing strategic direction and actively supporting the delivery of improvement initiatives.
• Anticipate future space, equipment, and resource requirements in line with the organisation’s growth strategy. Design and consider future models of operation that could be adopted to better suit the business demand.
• Act as the functional lead for warehouse expansion, relocation, and growth projects.
• Remain informed of emerging trends and innovations in warehouse technology, leveraging these to drive operational improvements and strengthen route‑to‑market strategies.
• Take ownership of budget forecasting, proactively identifying efficiencies and cost‑saving opportunities for Board consideration.
• Accountability for all inventory across all locations is a pre‑requisite for this role.
• Operate with a strong strategic focus, clearly articulating how activities align with organisational objectives and contributing to the wider business strategy and policy development.
• Develop and implement robust business continuity and disaster recovery plans to safeguard operational resilience.
• People: Provide leadership, direction and management to the Head of Operations, building highly engaged leadership teams and embedding a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex HR matters, working in partnership with the Head of Operations to ensure effective, compliant, and people‑focused outcomes.
• Transport and Logistics: Monitoring and evaluating the performance of transportation and logistics service providers, holding them accountable for agreed‑upon service levels.
• Collaborating with other departments, such as procurement, sales, and customer service, to align logistics strategies with overall business objectives.
• Supporting regular reviews on the suitability and competitiveness of all service providers to the warehouse and logistics operation.

Essential Knowledge, Experience, and Skills

• Proven experience leading large‑scale, multi‑site operations, supply chain, and warehouse functions at a senior level.
• Ability to develop and deliver operational strategies aligned to business growth and customer expectations.
• Deep understanding of end‑to‑end supply chain processes (procurement, inventory control, warehousing, distribution).
• Track record of driving efficiency, cost monitoring, and service improvements through continuous improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma).
• Ability to analyse complex operational data, design & create KPIs and translate it into actionable insights for senior leadership and Board‑level reporting.
• Strong financial awareness, including budgeting, cost control, and ROI evaluation of operational initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen with an ability to regularly benchmark 3rd party services.
• Ability to engage and influence at all levels, including Board and senior stakeholders. A methodical approach with demonstrable expertise.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify complex operational concepts.
• Strong track record of delivering large operational or systems projects on time and within budget.
• A proven expert in overseeing and providing leadership to a busy warehousing & distribution operation.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience within large scale (000’s of SKUs) electrical distribution, manufacturing, distribution or wholesale environments.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt, Black Belt) or equivalent continuous improvement qualifications.

Education and Qualifications

Business Related Degree or demonstrable experience.

Benefits

• Option to purchase up to 5 extra days annual leave
• Health Cashback Plan
• Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Free Parking
• Company Car

Site Location: Scolmore House, Tamworth, B79 7UL