Logistics Operations Manager - Stansted Airport

WHSmith Travel; Bentfield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

33 days holiday (including bankhols)

Employee Assistance Programme

Family Friendly Leave

Annual Bonus

Cycle to work scheme

Staff Discount Card for railway stores

Job summary

WHSmith is seeking a Logistics Operations Manager to lead our retail logistics and compliance, driving operational excellence and maintaining safe, high-standards across stores and distribution centres.

You will coach teams, build strong cross‑functional relationships with landlords, stores and support teams, run audits and risk assessments, and embed business standards through training and continuous improvement. A full understanding of Health & Safety and shrink reduction is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience working in retail operations or commercial management.
• Strong ability to build and manage cross-functional relationships.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and food safety compliance.
• Experience conducting audits and risk assessments.
• Expertise in shrink minimisation strategies.
• Passion for coaching and developing team members to their potential.

Responsibilities

• Create a positive, inclusive, high-performing team culture through coaching and leadership.
• Improve skills and performance via training, best practice, and stakeholder relationships.
• Improve operations by identifying skills gaps, coaching, and strengthening compliance and risk management.
• Drive operational excellence by reducing shrink and maintaining safe store environments.
• Build relationships with landlords, support teams, and stores to hit business goals.
• Provide independent assurance through audits and verification processes.

Skills

Retail operations

Cross-functional relationships

Health & Safety

Food safety compliance

Audit & risk assessments

Coaching & development

Interpersonal skills

Driving licence

Job description

At WHSmith, our mission is simple: to enhance every journey through exceptional service, and at the heart of this are our people, customers, and partners. As a Logistics Operations Manager at WHSmith, you will play a key role in driving operational excellence, ensuring compliance, and delivering high standards across our logistics and retail operations. You will lead and develop teams to create a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture, while driving continuous improvement, minimising shrink, and maintaining safe, efficient, and commercially successful operations.

What you will be doing:

• Creating a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture by championing colleague wellbeing, engagement, collaboration, and development through coaching, feedback, and leadership.
• Improving skills and business performance through training, best practice, strong stakeholder relationships, and continuous improvement.

• Continuously improving operations by identifying skills gaps, coaching colleagues, and strengthening compliance, risk management, shrink control, logistics, and commercial decisions.
• Actively improving team skills and business performance through feedback, training, development, and best practice.

• Driving operational excellence by coaching teams to reduce shrink, improve compliance, maintain high in-store standards, and consistently deliver a safe and efficient customer environment.

• Building strong relationships with landlords, support teams, and stores to achieve business goals, resolve issues, improve performance, and protect the WHSmith brand.

• Provide independent assurance and compliance oversight through robust verification processes, audits, and reviews, proactively identifying risks, validating controls, and supporting the delivery of a safe, legal, and compliant operation.

• Work with operational leaders, Store Management, and support teams to review audits, create SMART action plans, and embed business standards across operations.

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience working in retail operations or commercial management
• Skilled in building and managing effective cross-functional relationships across teams
• Proficient/Knowledgeable in Health & Safety, as well as food safety compliance and risk management
• Experience in conducting audits and performing thorough risk assessments.
• Expertise in best practices and strategies for minimising shrink.
• A strong ability and passion to coach and develop team members to reach their potential.
• Strong interpersonal skills – building solid relationships with landlords, customers, colleagues and partners.
• A full, valid UK driving license - desirable

How we reward our teams:

• Competitive salary, pension scheme, and 33 days holiday (including bank holidays).
• Employee Assistance Programme to support physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Family Friendly Leave
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff Discount Card for railway stores (subject to policy)

About us:

With a rich heritage, WHSmith continues to grow, particularly in airports, hospitals, rail stations, and motorway services. Our InMotion brand is leading the way in digital accessories, offering an exceptional customer experience. We have established strong partnerships with brands like M&S and Costa Coffee to broaden our customer offerings across the UK. As we grow, our mission remains simple: to make every journey better.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, where our colleagues are welcome and free to be themselves.