Operations Manager - UK Storage rollout

Spencelooker Recruitment Ltd; Preston; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Pension

Wider company benefits

Job summary

SpenceLooker Recruitment is delighted to be working with a UK property investment business launching a national storage platform. They seek an ambitious Operations Manager – Storage to open and operate a growing portfolio of container, open and secure storage facilities across the UK, near Preston with regular travel.

You will coordinate site layouts, fit‑out, branding, security and launches; drive occupancy, income and customer service; recruit and develop site teams; and help shape operating

Qualifications

• At least two to three years’ experience in storage, self-storage, container operations or a comparable site-based business.
• Experience managing day-to-day performance of a storage or operational facility.
• Strong understanding of sales, occupancy, pricing and customer service.
• Experience supervising employees, contractors and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the operational setup and launch of new storage facilities across the UK.
• Support rollout of approximately 6–10 new locations each year.
• Visit prospective sites and provide input on acquisitions and layouts.
• Coordinate site preparation, branding, security and access control systems.
• Recruit, train and support customer-facing and site-based employees.
• Monitor occupancy, pricing, enquiries and customer retention.
• Travel to existing and proposed storage locations throughout the UK.

Skills

Storage operations

Multi-site management

Team leadership

Commercial awareness

Customer service

Job description

Near Preston | Circa £50,000 + Car Allowance + Performance Bonus + Benefits

SpenceLooker Recruitment is delighted to be working on a retained basis with a highly successful and entrepreneurial UK property investment business as it launches and grows a new national storage platform.

The business is seeking an ambitious Operations Manager – Storage to help open and operate a growing portfolio of container storage, open storage, secure compounds and selected self‑storage facilities across the UK.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Store Manager, Cluster Manager, Area Manager or developing Operations Manager who is ready to take the next step in their career and become directly involved in the rollout of a new national business.

The Opportunity

Working closely with senior management and the wider property team, you will help deliver approximately 6–10 new storage locations each year.

You will become involved with each site before it opens, helping to coordinate its layout, fit‑out, branding, security, access systems, contractors and operational launch.

Once facilities are trading, you will help drive their occupancy, income, customer service and operational performance.

This is a varied, hands‑on role offering considerably more responsibility than managing a single storage facility. It provides the successful candidate with an opportunity to help shape operating procedures, establish new sites and develop into a senior operational position as the portfolio grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the operational setup and launch of new storage facilities across the UK.
• Support the rollout of approximately 6–10 new locations each year.
• Visit prospective sites and provide operational input into new acquisitions.
• Help determine site layouts, container positioning, customer access and operational requirements.
• Coordinate site preparation, fit‑out, branding, signage, security and access‑control systems.
• Appoint and manage contractors, suppliers, maintenance providers and security companies.
• Ensure new facilities are operationally ready before opening.
• Recruit, train and support customer‑facing and site‑based employees.
• Help establish an in‑house maintenance and site‑support capability.
• Monitor occupancy, pricing, enquiries, sales conversions and customer retention.
• Support local marketing and new‑site launch campaigns.
• Ensure facilities are safe, secure, presentable and maintained to a consistently high standard.
• Implement operating procedures, KPIs and performance‑reporting systems.
• Ensure health and safety, regulatory and company requirements are followed.
• Resolve operational and customer‑service issues across the portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to improve income, efficiency and the customer experience.
• Work closely with the company’s acquisitions, property, asset management, finance and marketing teams.
• Travel to existing and proposed storage locations throughout the UK.

About You

We are looking for a bright, ambitious and commercially minded operations professional who is ready to progress beyond responsibility for a single location.

You are likely to be working as a:

• Storage Store Manager or Site Manager
• Assistant or Deputy Store Manager ready for progression
• Cluster or Area Manager
• Junior Operations Manager
• Multi‑site retail, trade‑counter, logistics‑yard or operational property manager

Direct experience within self‑storage, container storage or open storage would be particularly attractive. However, candidates from closely related multi‑site operational businesses will also be considered if they possess strong commercial, customer‑service and site‑management experience.

You will ideally have:

• At least two to three years’ experience in storage, self‑storage, container operations or a comparable site‑based business.
• Experience managing the day‑to‑day performance of a storage or operational facility.
• A strong understanding of sales, occupancy, pricing and customer service.
• Experience supervising employees, contractors and suppliers.

What’s on Offer

• Performance‑related bonus.
• Pension and wider company benefits.
• The opportunity to help build a new national storage business from an early stage.
• Direct involvement in opening approximately 6–10 new facilities each year.
• Exposure to site design, mobilisation, operations and commercial performance.
• Considerable autonomy and direct access to senior decision‑makers.
• Genuine opportunity to progress into a senior national operations position as the platform expands.

This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious storage professional to move beyond managing an individual facility and play an important role in building and operating a growing UK‑wide portfolio.

Seniority level: Manager

Industry: Warehousing, storage and commercial property

Employment type: Full‑time

Location: Near Preston, with regular UK travel