Logistics Operations Manager - Stansted Airport

WHSmith Careers; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

33 days holiday

Employee Assistance Programme

Family Friendly Leave

Annual Bonus

Cycle to work scheme

Staff Discount Card

Job summary

WHSmith is recruiting a Logistics Operations Manager to drive operational excellence across our logistics and retail operations in the United Kingdom. You will lead and develop teams, ensure compliance, and deliver high standards while minimising shrink and maintaining a safe, efficient customer environment.

You will build strong cross-functional relationships with landlords, support teams, and Store Management, embed business standards, and lead audits to support risk management and commercial

Qualifications

• Proven experience working in retail operations or commercial management.
• Ability to build and manage cross-functional relationships across teams.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and food safety compliance and risk management.
• Experience conducting audits and performing thorough risk assessments.
• Expertise in shrink minimisation strategies.
• Strong coaching and development skills for team members.
• Excellent relationships with landlords, customers, colleagues and partners.
• Full, valid UK driving license - desirable

Responsibilities

• Create a positive, inclusive, high-performing team culture through coaching, engagement, and development.
• Improve skills and business performance via training, best practice, and stakeholder relations.
• Continuously improve operations by addressing skills gaps, coaching, and compliance.
• Drive operational excellence by reducing shrink and maintaining store standards.
• Build relationships with landlords, support teams, and stores to hit business goals.
• Provide independent assurance through audits, risk reviews, and controls validation.
• Collaborate with operations leaders to review audits and implement SMART action plans.

Skills

Retail operations

Stakeholder relationships

Coaching & development

Audits & risk assessments

Health & safety knowledge

Shrink minimisation

Interpersonal skills

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.