UK Operations Director

NET-A-PORTER; Charlton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

NET-A-PORTER is seeking a Director of Distribution & Logistics to set the vision and lead the centre’s operations in a hybrid UK-based environment. The role demands senior leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to drive efficiency across processes, people and technology to meet service levels.

You will manage budgets, lead large teams, and oversee supplier contracts while ensuring compliance with global policies and labour relations within a unionised setting.

Qualifications

• Senior‑level experience in distribution and logistics at a multinational, direct-to-consumer operation.
• Proven ability to lead transformational change programs improving efficiency.
• Experience managing multiple managers and large cross‑functional teams.
• Strong communication skills in English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Set and deliver the distribution centre’s vision, strategy and long‑term operational plans.
• Lead high‑performing teams and drive performance against SLAs while controlling costs.
• Identify and implement initiatives to improve distribution capabilities (processes, structures, planning, teams, technology).
• Oversee supplier contracts, procurement and compliance with global policies.
• Own and manage the budget, monitor targets, variances and action any remedial steps.
• Ensure expert use of WMS/ASRS systems and related software to maintain stock availability and service levels.
• Maintain strategic labour relations with trade union delegates within the facility.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

People management

English fluency

Budgeting

Job description

Here is a breakdown of what you’ll be doing:

• Set and deliver the distribution centre’s vision, strategy, and long-term operational plans to navigate seasonal peaks, new initiatives and business launches
• Lead high performing operational teams and drive performance against SLA’s whilst controlling costs. Develop and execute strategies to increase the team's performance while delivering the highest quality standards to our valuable customers.
• Identify initiatives for improving distribution capabilities (i.e. processes, organisational structures and planning, teams, technology, etc.) Develop and implement operational improvement strategies and plans which directly improve the efficiency and performance of the overall distribution and logistics functions
• Manage supplier contracts, procurement activities and compliance requirements and ensure procurement processes and contract negotiations with key external vendors and service providers, as well as all new business and supplier onboarding compliance with global policies
• Own and manage the budget, ensuring via all available management information and tools the close monitoring of the budget and hourly/daily/weekly targets, identify variances and take the necessary remedial action, keeping the relevant internal key stakeholders informed of key operational data and updates
• Ensure proficient management and expertise of WMS, ASRS systems, MHE and related software, ensure optimal management, achieving stock availability and service level commitments
• Maintain effective and strategic labour relations with trade union delegates throughout the facility

The Type Of Person We Are Looking For

• Considerable commercial experience in distribution and logistics at a senior level in a fast paced, multi-national, direct-to-consumer automated operations environment or similar environment that has been recognised for superior operational performance
• Experience in leading transformational change programs that improve efficiency across a warehouse/distribution environment
• Extensive experience managing managers and leading large and complex teams across multiple disciplines and effectively dealing with all manner of people related topics
• Passionate about managing operational teams through being in the known, strong shopfloor presence, routines to manage daily, weekly and monthly performance and creating high levels of motivation and accountability within all teams
• Experience managing and working in a unionised environment
• Clear communicator, with fluency in written and spoken English

LuxExperience is an equal opportunities employer, we encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We recognize and celebrate the benefits that diversity brings to our workplace, our business and our customers. We welcome and will consider all applications regardless of race and nationality, religion, color, sex, pregnancy or related medical conditions, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Experience Level: DirectorWorkplace Type: Hybrid