Operations Shift Manager

SearchWorks Pty Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Employee benefits

Job summary

SearchWorks Pty Ltd is seeking an Operations Shift Manager to lead high-volume logistics across London, Birmingham and Nottingham. This onsite role focuses on shift performance, people management and KPI delivery in a fast-paced environment.

You will manage workforce planning, drive continuous improvement and work closely with cross-functional teams to optimize processes and service levels. Equity and benefits accompany a career‑growth path within a rapidly expanding logistics tech business.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience managing shifts and operational teams in high-volume logistics.
• Proven ability to drive productivity, service levels and KPIs.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Own shift performance: productivity, service, quality and KPIs.
• Lead large operational teams and ensure accountability.
• Manage workforce planning with permanent and agency staff.
• Drive improvement using data and dashboards to identify issues.
• Coach, support recruitment, onboarding and training.

Skills

Shift management

Operations leadership

Workforce planning

Data-driven decision making

KPI management

Job description

Operations Shift Manager –Logistics & Operations

Locations: London | Birmingham | Nottingham

Salary: £45,000-£60,000 + Equity & Benefits

Working Pattern: 5 days onsite | Rotational day and night shifts

Lead High-Volume Operations. Help Build a Growing Logistics Network.

We’ve partnered with a fast-growing logistics technology business, backed by $35M in Series A funding, combining logistics operations, technology, data and AI to build a more efficient delivery network.

They’re looking for experienced Shift Managers, Operations Managers, Warehouse Managers and Logistics Managers to join their growing operations teams across London, Birmingham and Nottingham.

This is a hands‑on leadership role where you’ll take ownership of shift performance, people, productivity, service levels and KPIs. You’ll use operational data to identify issues, solve problems and drive continuous improvement in a fast‑paced, high‑volume parcel and sortation environment.

You’ll need to make decisions quickly, manage competing priorities and lead from the front, with a direct impact on operational performance.

Why Join?

This isn’t simply a role where you’ll maintain an established operation. You’ll have the opportunity to help build, improve and scale the operation as the business grows.

Combining logistics expertise with technology, data, AI and automation, the business offers an environment where operational improvements can have a meaningful impact.

You’ll also work alongside teams across Operations, Engineering, Product and Data, helping improve processes, solve operational challenges and shape how the wider network develops.

What You’ll Do

• Own shift performance: Take accountability for productivity, service, quality and operational KPIs, ensuring targets are achieved.
• Lead operational teams: Motivate, develop and manage large teams, building a strong culture of accountability and performance.
• Manage workforce planning: Allocate permanent and agency staff effectively, ensuring the right people are in the right areas at the right time.
• Drive performance through data: Monitor KPIs, productivity, service levels, labour costs and operational dashboards to identify issues and improvement opportunities.
• Solve problems in real time: Respond to bottlenecks, staffing gaps, missed targets and service issues to keep operations running efficiently.
• Deliver continuous improvement: Investigate root causes of underperformance and implement practical, measurable improvement plans.
• Manage performance: Coach employees, address underperformance and handle difficult performance conversations where required.
• Handle peak operations: Maintain productivity and service standards during seasonal peaks, volume surges and changing operational demands.
• Work cross-functionally: Collaborate with site leadership and wider Operations, Engineering and technical teams to resolve challenges and improve processes.
• Support team development: Assist with recruitment, onboarding and training to build strong operational teams.
• Maintain operational standards: Ensure compliance with Health & Safety requirements, operational procedures and site standards.
• Lead from the floor: Remain hands‑on during busy periods, supporting the team and stepping in wherever the operation requires it.

What We’re Looking For

• Previous experience as a Shift Manager, Operations Manager, Warehouse Manager or Logistics Manager.
• 5+ years’ experience managing shifts, operational teams and KPIs within a high-volume logistics, parcel, warehouse, distribution or sortation environment.
• Experience managing large operational teams, including permanent and agency workforces.
• Strong ownership of shift performance, productivity, service levels and operational results.
• Experience working with high parcel volumes, time-critical operations and fast-paced shift environments.
• A track record of managing peak periods and significant changes in operational demand.
• Proven ability to identify performance issues, investigate root causes and deliver measurable improvements.
• Confidence managing underperformance and having difficult performance conversations.
• Strong workforce planning, labour allocation and resource management skills.
• A data-driven approach, with experience using operational metrics and dashboards to make informed decisions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions under pressure.
• A hands‑on leadership style, comfortable balancing floor-level management with performance analysis and team leadership.
• Full right to work in the UK without sponsorship, now or in the future.

We’re particularly interested in candidates from high-volume logistics and distribution businesses such as Amazon, DHL, DPD, UPS, Evri, FedEx, Royal Mail, Yodel, GXO, Wincanton, Ocado or similar organizations.

Experience across the following environments would be particularly relevant:

• Parcel sortation, hubs and depot operations.
• High-volume warehouse and distribution centres.
• Inbound and outbound operations.
• Last-mile delivery and courier networks.
• Time-critical, high-throughput operations with demanding service targets.

Experience at a comparable operation will also be considered, regardless of the employer.

What’s in It for You?

• Join a rapidly growing logistics technology business backed by $35M in Series A funding.
• Play a key role in building and scaling a growing operation.
• Work in a technology- and data-driven environment rather than a traditional logistics operation.
• Gain exposure to data, AI, automation, Engineering and Product teams.
• Have a genuine opportunity to influence operational processes and performance.
• Access career progression opportunities as the business continues to grow.
• Benefit from equity and additional employee benefits.