Warehouse Team Leader (Despatch)

Hachette UK Distribution Limited; East Hagbourne; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual holiday including Bank

Pension Plan

Life Assurance

Employee discounts on books

Cycle to Work

Eye care vouchers

Training & development programmes

Staff events

Free onsite parking

Free tea and coffee

Job summary

Hachette UK Distribution Limited is seeking a Team Leader in Despatch to oversee outbound operations across multiple warehouse functions. You will lead, develop and motivate a team to meet performance, safety and customer satisfaction targets.

The role requires experience in a fast-paced warehouse, strong planning and communication skills, and proficiency with WMS and office systems. A focus on change and continuous improvement is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced warehouse or logistics environment.
• Strong organisational, planning and communication skills.
• Ability to lead by example and drive a high-performance culture.
• Proficiency in using WMS (preferably BY WMS) and standard office systems.
• Understanding of Health & Safety and warehouse compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee outbound operations across multiple warehouse functions.
• Lead, develop and motivate a team to high performance.
• Plan outbound workflow and loads, ensuring safety and accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with warehouse standards and systems.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to improve processes.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

Organisational skills

Communication

Change management

Health & safety

Warehouse compliance

WMS usage

Office systems

Tools

WMS BY WMS

BY Office systems

Job description

Who we are and what we do

We, Hachette UK Distribution, are the leading book distribution company in the UK. We are one of the most advanced distribution centres in Europe, with leading-edge automation and modern systems which will ensure world-class service to customers and publisher clients. We ship in excess of 60 million books globally each year and supply one out of every four books to the UK trade.

Our mission is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment and opportunity.

Hachette UK Distribution is part of the Hachette UK publishing group.

What you'll be doing

As a Team Leader in Despatch at Hachette UK Distribution, you will be responsible for overseeing the outbound operations across multiple warehouse functions. You will play a pivotal role in leading, developing, and motivating a team to ensure high levels of performance, safety, and customer satisfaction. This includes day-to-day management of workflow, strategic planning of outbound loads, and ensuring compliance with warehouse standards and systems.

This role demands strong leadership skills, the ability to manage change and continuous improvement initiatives, and effective collaboration with both internal stakeholders and external partners.

Who we are looking for

Experience in a fast-paced warehouse or logistics environment is a must.

• Strong organisational, planning, and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to lead by example and drive a high-performance culture.
• Proficiency in using WMS (preferably BY WMS) and standard office systems.
• Proven ability to manage change and improve processes.
• Understanding of Health & Safety and warehouse compliance.

Desirable:

• FLT licence or willingness to undergo training.
• Experience working with third-party logistics (3PL) or client liaison.
• Understanding of MHE operations, licences, and maintenance processes.

What we offer

Our people are our greatest asset and our benefits reflect this. Therefore, we offer an extensive list of benefits that include:

• 35 days annual holiday including Bank Holidays
• Pension Plan and Life Assurance schemes
• Company enhanced family policy including maternity, paternity and shared parental
• Reward programme giving discounts, savings and cash back at numerous retailers
• 2 Community Days per year
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Generous discounts on books we publish
• Mental Health First Aiders / Champions and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development Programmes including Mentoring
• Staff Events
• Many employee networks to join
• Free onsite parking
• Free tea and coffee

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend your interview, please let us know.

We will notify all candidates of the outcome of their application.