Night Shift Manager

Savona Group; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Savona Foodservice Limited in Oxford is seeking a hands-on Night Shift Manager to lead a warehouse night operation in ambient, chilled and frozen environments. You’ll manage ~20 staff, plan shifts, brief at start of each shift, and ensure safe loading of up to 30 vehicles per night.

Responsibilities include coordinating with Supervisors, Distribution and HR, maintaining safety standards and driving continuous improvement while delivering on-time deliveries for customers.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years’ management experience within a warehouse, logistics or distribution environment, with experience in foodservice wholesale or FMCG distribution.
• Strong leadership and people management capability.
• Experience in coaching, developing and motivating teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Good PC, literacy and numeracy skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet demanding deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of operational budgets and targets.
• Knowledge of ERP, BI or stock control systems (desirable).
• FLT/MHE licence or willingness to undertake training (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop a warehouse night shift team of approximately 20 colleagues.
• Plan and schedule all shift activities, ensuring workload is allocated effectively.
• Conduct start-of-shift briefings to communicate priorities, safety expectations and operational objectives.
• Ensure all products are accurately picked, replenished, packed and loaded across ambient, chilled and frozen environments.
• Deliver safe, accurate and timely loading of up to 30 vehicles each night.
• Forward planning, looking at upcoming business requirements and planning accordingly.
• Maintain warehouse readiness and operational standards for the following day.
• Monitor staffing levels, attendance and labour requirements to meet operational demands.
• Conduct performance reviews, coaching sessions and development discussions.
• Manage performance, conduct and employee relations matters in line with company policies.
• Identify training needs and implement development plans to improve capability and succession.
• Work collaboratively with Distribution, Supply Chain and Day Shift teams to resolve operational issues.
• Promote continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, accuracy and service.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, HACCP, Food Safety, hygiene and depot procedures.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Planning

Problem-solving

Budget awareness

Tools

ERP systems

Stock control systems

BI knowledge

Job description

Oxford

Night Shift Manager

Based: Oxford
Accountable to: General Manager
Job Type: Permanent
Contract: Full time
Salary: £45,000
Location: In Person

About Savona

Savona is a leading independent foodservice wholesaler with over 50 years of experience supplying chefs, caterers, and hospitality professionals across the South of England. What truly sets us apart isn’t just our products - it’s our people, our culture, and our customer-first mindset.

We’re a business built on relationships. Every order, every delivery, every conversation is driven by one simple value: put the customer at the heart of everything we do. Our team takes pride in going the extra mile - anticipating needs, solving problems, and delivering a service experience that is personal, reliable, and refreshingly genuine.

We work fast, stay flexible, and think differently. As an independent company, we have the freedom to innovate, to act quickly, and to put doing the right thing above all else. Collaboration and integrity guide how we work - with our customers, our partners, and each other.

At Savona, you’ll join a team that values initiative, celebrates fresh ideas, and supports each other to grow. We’re passionate about food, serious about service, and proud of the reputation we’ve built.

Role Summary

We are seeking a hands-on Night Shift Manager to lead our warehouse night operation within a multi-temperature environment. Managing a team of approximately 20 colleagues, you will be responsible for ensuring all picking, replenishment, loading and dispatch activities are completed safely, accurately and on time to support next-day customer deliveries.

Working closely with Supervisors, Distribution, Supply Chain, HR and Day Shift colleagues, you will drive operational performance, maintain compliance standards and develop a high-performing team culture focused on safety, service and continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities

• Health & Safety performance
• Team engagement, attendance and retention
• Warehouse productivity and labour efficiency
• Vehicle loading accuracy and service levels
• Stock integrity and operational control
• Food Safety, HACCP and BRC compliance
• Departmental cost control
• Depot housekeeping and operational standards

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop a warehouse night shift team of approximately 20 colleagues.
• Plan and schedule all shift activities, ensuring workload is allocated effectively.
• Conduct start-of-shift briefings to communicate priorities, safety expectations and operational objectives.
• Ensure all products are accurately picked, replenished, packed and loaded across ambient, chilled and frozen environments.
• Deliver safe, accurate and timely loading of up to 30 vehicles each night.
• Forward planning, looking at upcoming business requirements and planning accordingly.
• Maintain warehouse readiness and operational standards for the following day.
• Monitor staffing levels, attendance and labour requirements to meet operational demands.
• Conduct performance reviews, coaching sessions and development discussions.
• Manage performance, conduct and employee relations matters in line with company policies.
• Identify training needs and implement development plans to improve capability and succession.
• Work collaboratively with Distribution, Supply Chain and Day Shift teams to resolve operational issues.
• Promote continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, accuracy and service.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, HACCP, Food Safety, hygiene and depot procedures.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum three years’ management experience within a warehouse, logistics or distribution environment, with experience in foodservice wholesale or FMCG distribution
• Strong leadership and people management capability.
• Experience in coaching, developing and motivating teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Good PC, literacy and numeracy skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet demanding deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of operational budgets and targets.

Desirable

• Knowledge of ERP, BI or stock control systems.
• IOSH, First Aid or equivalent Health & Safety qualifications.
• FLT/MHE licence or willingness to undertake training.

Leadership Behaviours – including but not limited to:

Invest in People

• Support team members to develop their skills and abilities.
• Promote a team ethos of trust and support, encourage ideas from the team ensuring they feel ‘heard’.

Innovate

• Identify ways to make improvements.
• Share best practice knowledge & experience to improve performance.

Service First

• Build positive relationships with colleagues and other departments.
• Monitor service results against targets, identifying ways to make improvements.

Accountable

• Proactively make things happen and stand by decisions.
• Acknowledge and learn from mistakes.

Get involved

• Actively participate in meetings and business activities
• Seize the initiative to work with others, for the good of the business

Safeguard the Future

• Lead by example, by taking care of the working environment
• Care about how our equipment is used to prevent damage.

Salary

£45,000

Job Type

Full time- Permanent