Operations Manager - Pallet Distribution

Freight Personnel; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus after probation

25 days holiday

Pension

Job summary

Freight Personnel is recruiting for a Global Distribution operations leader based in London. This role runs the depot day-to-day, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations that meet service and productivity targets.

You will lead the operations teams, manage resources and drive continuous improvement to support growth and customer satisfaction. Reporting to the senior leadership, you will oversee circa 60 staff, implement KPI dashboards, optimise labour and equipment, ensure

Qualifications

• Significant experience in an operations management role within pallet or parcel distribution, warehousing or a related environment.
• Proven track record of managing large teams in a fast-paced, high-volume operation.
• Strong understanding of warehouse/logistics processes (receiving, storage, picking, packing, dispatch, returns and collections).
• Experience in managing KPIs and driving performance improvement.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities; capable of balancing multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all levels.
• Good IT literacy, including WMS/TMS and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and coordinate all depot operations (inbound, outbound, storage, picking, packing, loading, returns, recruitment, Collections & Deliveries, Commercial growth, Night contracts).
• Ensure daily, weekly and monthly operational targets (volume, service levels, accuracy, productivity) are achieved or exceeded.
• Monitor KPIs and operational dashboards; take prompt action to address performance issues.
• Optimise use of labour, equipment, space and systems to maximise throughput and minimise cost.
• Directly manage circa 60 staff including Shift Managers / Team Leaders / Operations and Drivers.
• Set clear objectives and expectations for staff; hold teams accountable for delivery.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews and manage absence, conduct, and capability issues in line with HR policies.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of team members to ensure appropriate staffing and skills.
• Promote a positive, inclusive working environment built on respect, accountability and teamwork.
• Ensure all operations comply with health and safety legislation, company policies and industry standards.
• Champion a strong safety culture; lead by example and ensure adherence to safe systems of work and PPE requirements.
• Conduct / oversee risk assessments, audits, investigations and implementation of corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and customer requirements (e.g. handling of goods, security, quality standards).
• Ensure orders are processed accurately and on time in line with customer service level agreements (SLAs).
• Monitor service performance, error rates, returns and customer complaints; implement improvements to reduce failures.
• Work closely with Customer Services / Account Management teams to resolve issues and meet customer expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, workflows, layouts and resource utilisation in the hub.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives (e.g. Lean/CI projects, standard work, visual management).
• Implement and embed new systems, tools or ways of working, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum benefit.
• Work in partnership with CI / Projects teams to deliver operational improvements and change programmes.
• Work with Planning, Transport and Inventory teams to align daily/weekly operational plans with demand.
• Ensure appropriate resource planning for peak periods, seasonal variations and special projects.
• Manage rota, shift patterns and overtime to balance service, cost and team wellbeing.
• Manage operational budgets for labour, equipment, consumables and overtime within agreed limits.
• Track and analyse cost drivers; implement actions to improve cost efficiency without compromising service or safety.
• Provide input into budgeting, forecasting and business cases related to hub operations.
• Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders (HR, CI, Transport, IT, Finance, Customer Service).
• Provide regular performance updates and insight to senior management.
• Communicate clearly with teams on priorities, changes and performance expectations.

Skills

Operations management

People management

Communication

Planning

Problem solving

Tools

WMS/TMS

Excel

Job description

We are now recruiting for a Global Distribution company based in the Ealing borough of Greater London they are looking for an Operations Manager, The role is responsible for the day-to-day running of the depot, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations that meet service, quality, and productivity targets. This role leads the operational teams, manages resources, and drives continuous improvement to support business growth and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Management & Performance

• Lead, manage and coordinate all depot operations (e.g. inbound, outbound, storage, picking, packing, loading, returns, recruitment, Collections & Deliveries, Commercial growth, Night contracts).
• Ensure daily, weekly and monthly operational targets (volume, service levels, accuracy, productivity) are achieved or exceeded.
• Monitor KPIs and operational dashboards; take prompt action to address performance issues.
• Optimise use of labour, equipment, space and systems to maximise throughput and minimise cost.

People Leadership & Management

• Directly manage circa 60 staff including Shift Managers / Team Leaders / Operations and Drivers.
• Set clear objectives and expectations for staff; hold teams accountable for delivery.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews and manage absence, conduct, and capability issues in line with HR policies.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of team members to ensure appropriate staffing and skills.
• Promote a positive, inclusive working environment built on respect, accountability and teamwork.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all operations comply with health and safety legislation, company policies and industry standards.
• Champion a strong safety culture; lead by example and ensure adherence to safe systems of work and PPE requirements.
• Conduct / oversee risk assessments, audits, investigations and implementation of corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and customer requirements (e.g. handling of goods, security, quality standards).

Customer Service & Quality

• Ensure orders are processed accurately and on time in line with customer service level agreements (SLAs).
• Monitor service performance, error rates, returns and customer complaints; implement improvements to reduce failures.
• Work closely with Customer Services / Account Management teams to resolve issues and meet customer expectations.

Continuous Improvement & Efficiency

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, workflows, layouts and resource utilisation in the hub.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives (e.g. Lean/CI projects, standard work, visual management).
• Implement and embed new systems, tools or ways of working, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum benefit.
• Work in partnership with CI / Projects teams to deliver operational improvements and change programmes.

Planning & Coordination

• Work with Planning, Transport and Inventory teams to align daily/weekly operational plans with demand.
• Ensure appropriate resource planning for peak periods, seasonal variations and special projects.
• Manage rota, shift patterns and overtime to balance service, cost and team wellbeing.

Financial & Cost Control

• Manage operational budgets for labour, equipment, consumables and overtime within agreed limits.
• Track and analyse cost drivers; implement actions to improve cost efficiency without compromising service or safety.
• Provide input into budgeting, forecasting and business cases related to hub operations.

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders (HR, CI, Transport, IT, Finance, Customer Service).
• Provide regular performance updates and insight to senior management.
• Communicate clearly with teams on priorities, changes and performance expectations.

Working hours as required to conduct the role but a standard week based upon Monday - Friday.

Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in an operations management role within Pallet or Parcel Distribution, Llogistics, Warehousing, Distribution or a related environment.
• Proven track record of managing large teams in a fast-paced, high-volume operation.
• Strong understanding of warehouse/logistics processes (receiving, storage, picking, packing, dispatch, returns and collectiosn).
• Demonstrable experience in managing KPIs and driving performance improvement.
• Solid people management skills: coaching, performance management, handling difficult situations.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities; comfortable balancing multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all levels.
• Good level of IT literacy, including WMS/TMS and Excel (or equivalent tools).

Personal Attributes

• Hands-on leader who is visible on the floor and leads by example.
• Decisive and resilient; able to manage pressure and fast-changing priorities.
• Strong problem-solver with a pragmatic, results-oriented approach.
• High level of integrity and commitment to safety, quality and fairness.
• Able to motivate and engage diverse teams through change.

Package and Benefits

• £65-75,000 Basic Salary
• Poss Car/Allowance
• Bonus TBC after probation period
• 25 Days holiday
• Pension