Operations Support Manager

Great Bear; Haverhill; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days

Company bonus

Private medical cover

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Wellness programme

Eye care vouchers

Reward & recognition

Employee discounts

Job summary

Culina Logistics is seeking an experienced Operations Support Manager to optimise resource planning, workforce performance and training across our warehouse operations. You will drive productivity, maintain headcount accuracy, and ensure health, safety and food standards are met.

In this full-time role, you will lead shift planning, monitor demand changes, report insights, and collaborate with site leadership to deliver cost-efficient service and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in warehouse operations, planning, or productivity management within an FMCG environment.
• Health & Safety, food safety, and compliance awareness.
• Working knowledge of lean principles, cost control, and WMS systems.
• Proven leadership and team development skills.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, WMS, and reporting tools.
• Effective communicator with influencing skills across all levels.
• Skilled in change management and process improvement.
• Track record of operating in large and complex warehouses.
• Experience leading multi-level teams to deliver service and cost improvements.
• Demonstrated success in driving KPIs, audits, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain accurate resource plans based on volume forecasts and operational requirements.
• Optimise shift patterns and resource allocation to achieve a timely operation and to meet KPI targets.
• Monitor and adjust plans in real-time to respond to changes in demand or constraints.
• Maintain accurate headcount records and ensure staffing levels align with operational needs.
• Collaborate with shift management to deploy colleagues across functions and align plan vs. actual.
• Provide data-driven insights and reports to support decision making.
• Lead or support projects related to layout optimisation, equipment utilisation, and workflow design.

Skills

Warehouse operations

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Change management

Continuous improvement

KPI driving

Lean principles

Cost control

Stakeholder influence

Tools

Excel

WMS

Reporting tools

Job description

Culina Logistics provides integrated supply chain services and expertise for food & drink products that require strict refrigerated temperatures.

At Culina we have a winning culture, we believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive... A place where you're valued, challenged, and inspired!

The Operations Support Manager is responsible for ensuring efficient resource planning, managing workforce performance, maintaining optimal headcount, and overseeing training skills requirement for the warehouse. This role supports operational excellence by aligning resources with business needs, driving productivity, and ensuring compliance with health, safety, and food standards

This is a full time, permanent role. Working Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

Key Duties of a Operations Support Manager:

• Develop and maintain accurate resource plans based on volume forecasts and operational requirements.
• Optimise shift patterns and resource allocation to achieve a timely operation and to meet the KPI’s
• Monitor and adjust plans in real-time to respond to changes in demand or operational constraints.
• Maintain accurate headcount records and ensure staffing levels align with operational needs.
• Working with shift management team to ensure effective deployment of colleagues across functions and challenge the difference in the plan versus actual.
• Provide data driven insights and reports to support decision making across warehouse operations.
• Lead or support projects related to layout optimisation, equipment utilization, and workflow design.

Training & Development

• Identify skill gaps, then plan and delivery the required training for new and existing staff.
• Ensure induction process is effective and consistent across the shifts.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, health & safety, and operational standards.
• Track training completion and evaluate effectiveness.

Safety & Quality

• Maintains a proactive health and safety culture, ensuring all activities are carried out safely and within legislation.
• Lead incident investigations and ensure robust corrective and preventative actions are delivered.Supports compliance with food safety, legality, quality, and site audit requirements.

Cost & Resource Efficiency

• Responsible for labour budgets, agency and overtime requirements effectively, ensuring cost efficiency.
• Develop labour and resource optimisation strategies that balance service performance with cost efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste (labour, energy, MHE usage, consumables) while maintaining service standards.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Delivers continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve service.
• Translate operational performance into clear, measurable actions through KPI dashboards and root cause analysis.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects (lean initiatives, automation, digitalisation) to future-proof warehouse operations.

Collaboration & Site Leadership

• Work closely with the Warehouse Operations Manager and wider site leadership team to deliver business objectives.
• Collaborate with transport, systems, and SHEQ teams to ensure end-to-end operational effectiveness.
• Contribute to site strategic projects, sharing best practices and supporting future growth plans.

• Proven experience in warehouse operations, planning, or productivity management within a FMCG environment.
• Health & Safety, food safety, and compliance awareness.
• Working knowledge of lean principles, cost control, and WMS systems.
• Proven leadership and team development skills.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, WMS, and reporting tools.
• Effective communicator with influencing skills across all levels.
• Skilled in change management and process improvement.
• Track record of operating in large and complex warehouses.
• Experience leading multi-level teams to deliver service and cost improvements.
• Demonstrated success in driving KPIs, audits, and continuous improvement.

As part of our drive to make Culina Logistics a great place to work. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation where we are committed to employee development and recognising success for hard working performers.

Our dedicated learning and development programmes are open to every employee to give you the opportunity to shape your own future within logistics and continue to work in an environment where team culture thrives.

Our People are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits which include:

• Annual Leave - Holiday entitlement of 25days plus the bank holidays.
• CompanyBonus - We do our best work to succeed together. When we achieve our goals you'll be rewarded through our bonus scheme.
• Private Medical Cover - This gives you peace of mind, you have choice, flexibility and speed of access to the most clinically appropriate care via Bupa.
• Pension scheme - we want colleagues to enjoy a comfortable retirements so we offer agreat contribution of 5% employee and 8% employer.
• Life Assurance - 4x your annual salary.
• Wellness - Via our Employee Assistance Programme we offer immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service that operates 24 hours a days, 365 days a year.
• Eye Care Vouchers - We can provide you with substantial savings with free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses.
• Reward & Recognition - We recognise that employees have gone the extra mile via Employee of the month and year, special recognition and long service awards.
• Everyday discounts - via our benefit platform you will have access to over 50 retailer discounts for everyday savings!