Operations Lead

CHEP; Spennymoor; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus (10% typical)

Private healthcare

Share scheme

Pension scheme

Life Assurance

25 days holiday

Job summary

CHEP Durham, Spennymoor, is seeking an Operations Lead to head a newly restructured site. You will oversee Production and Yard Operations with Supervisors and frontline leaders, shaping the future through data-driven decision making and accountability.

Reporting to the Plant General Manager, you will embed the new operating structure, drive KPIs, and lead continuous improvement while developing talent and ensuring H&S excellence at a site undergoing transformation.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in manufacturing, production, logistics, or operations.
• Experience developing Supervisors, Team Leaders, or frontline managers.
• Strong understanding of KPIs, data-led decision making, and performance metrics.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Confident with employee relations, performance management, and disciplinary processes.
• Commitment to Health & Safety and operational excellence.
• Coaching leadership style with focus on talent development.

Responsibilities

• Lead Production and Yard Operations through Supervisors and frontline leaders.
• Embed and develop the site's new operating structure.
• Drive performance using operational data, KPIs and metrics.
• Develop leadership capability through coaching, mentoring and succession planning.
• Deliver CI initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency and performance.
• Foster accountability, engagement and a culture of excellence.
• Oversee employee relations and support organisational change while maintaining safety standards.

Skills

Leadership experience

People development

KPIs & data

Continuous improvement

Health & Safety

Coaching leadership

Change management

Job description

Operations LeadLocation: CHEP Durham, Spennymoor, DL16 6JEType: Full Time, Permanent Monday to Friday days.Lead a newly restructured operation and help build a high-performing, data-driven culture.CHEP is looking for an experienced Operations Lead to join our Durham site during an exciting period of transformation and investment. Reporting to the Plant General Manager , you'll lead Production and Yard Operations through a team of Supervisors and frontline leaders, helping shape the future of the site.This is a highly visible leadership role with responsibility for developing people, improving operational performance, embedding new ways of working, and driving a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.If you're passionate about people leadership, operational performance, and leading change, we'd love to hear from you.What We're Looking ForProven leadership experience within a manufacturing, production, logistics, or operational environment.Experience leading and developing Supervisors, Team Leaders, or frontline managers.Strong understanding of KPIs, operational performance, and data-led decision making.Experience driving continuous improvement and operational efficiency initiatives.Confident managing employee relations, performance management, and disciplinary processes.Strong Health & Safety focus and commitment to operational excellence.A coaching leadership style with a passion for developing talent and building capability.Resilient, collaborative, and comfortable leading through change.Key ResponsibilitiesLead Production and Yard Operations through a team of Supervisors and frontline leaders.Embed and develop the site's new operating structure.Drive performance through effective use of operational data, KPIs, and performance metrics.Develop leadership capability through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning.Deliver continuous improvement initiatives that improve productivity, efficiency, and performance.Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and operational excellence.Manage employee relations activities and support organisational change initiatives.Ensure high standards of Health & Safety, compliance, and operational performance.Why Join CHEP?Opportunity to shape a newly restructured operation.Significant influence over culture, leadership capability, and site performance.Ongoing investment and improvement projects across the Durham site.High level of autonomy and visibility within the business.Opportunity to make a lasting impact while developing your own career within a global organisation.What's In It For You?Competitive salaryAnnual bonus opportunity, typically 10% of base salarySingle Private healthcare.Share scheme.Flexible benefits package.25 days holiday plus the option to buy and sell additional leave.Enhanced pension scheme.Life Assurance and Employee Assistance Programme.About CHEPCHEP is a global leader in supply chain solutions, helping move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organisation on earth. Join us and play a key role in building a safer, smarter, and more effective operation at our Durham site.Work Location: In person