Interim Northern Warehouse Operations Manager

Job Description

Northern Warehouse Operations Manager (Interim Contract)Day Rate: £400-500 per day (outside IR35)North WestCommutable locations Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Bolton, Ramsbottom, Manchester, Failsworth, Salford, Oldham, Blackburn, Preston, Burnley, Wigan., Halifax, Bradford, Warrington, Keighley, Huddersfield,Are you an experienced Warehouse Operations Manager Can you assess and create the framework for a modernised warehousing operation Are you looking for a interim/contract position for around six monthsIf so, you have the skills our client is looking for in this role.Our client, a wholesale distributor, is at the cutting edge of the renewable and alternative energy sector and has significant and growing market share through its unrivalled product quality and service value proposition. Its customer base includes B2C andB2B. There has never been a better time to join them and to play a key role in the expansion of its warehousing and distribution capacity, initially across the UK and then Europe.The first stage of this is an overhaul of the facility in North West, followed by an investment in a new facility in the North West.Their existing warehousing operation has become outdated and needs expansion and modernisation. The project of sourcing additional warehousing capacity is underway, but they need someone to take control of the current warehousing operations until a new stateof the art facility is available.This is an ideal opportunity to take a lead role in defining operational processes and layouts from goods in to put away to picking and outbound despatch ensuring that productivity, health and safety, commercial and customer service targets are met and continuouslyimproved in line with increasing order volumes. This will include management of the operations team, training, and development. You will be experienced in budgetary management and resource planning.The Role: Effective leadership, management, motivation, and development of the warehouse team to ensure that the service provided meets the high levels of performance required by customers. Ensure a Positive Customer Experience is embraced by the entire team and is delivered for each customer. Manage all aspects of the warehouse operation to include goods in, replenishment, putaway, order picking, palletisation and order despatch in line with agreed SLAs. Lead, motivate, train, and develop the Warehouse team creating and maintaining a high-performance culture focused on working together, openness and continuous improvement. You will lead a large team by setting direction, monitoring, and motivating individuals to exceed objectives whilst ensuring that security, inventory management and safety standards are maintained. Ensure all health and safety, and operating procedures are adhered to and that colleagues are fully trained and competent. Effectively manage resources to maximise productivity and improve cost performance (including recruitment, core and agency resource, equipment uses and pick times Delivery against HSSE metrics. Ensure safety standards are always of high priority. To be accountable for all commercial/internal KPIs and SLAs, setting stretching goals, driving continuous improvement, and maximising performance Effectively communicate operational plans and priorities to colleagues Work in partnership with cross functional colleagues to maximise productivity, accuracy, efficiency, and the customer experience. Manage stock control and inventory checks and be responsible for entire stock flow within the operation. Utilise Excel ensuring accurate and useful data collection and reports for warehouse activity /productivity. Develop warehouse operation systems by determining product handling and storage requirements. Developing, implementing, and enforcing policies and procedures such as receiving products, equipment, utilisation, inventory management and shipping. Accuracy of stock holding, excellent cost control and budgetary management will be critical to success so you must already be very familiar with compiling and managing budgets and forecasts.The Ideal Candidate:* To succeed in this role, you will have a good standard of education with previous experience of managing an inhouse or third-party contract logistics distribution centre/warehouse operations team including significant experience of managing first line managers/supervisors/teamleaders.* This must include proven people management skills including recruitment of core and agency staff, training, team development, maximising performance, improving motivation and productivity. * Your leadership and planning skills will ensure that you are able to coach and develop your distribution centre/warehouse operations team to deliver results - ensuring all stock is managed and moved efficiently.* We are looking for strategic individuals who can drive continuous improvement in productivity, operating costs, and customer satisfaction. * The ideal candidates will be experienced leaders and people managers with the ability to motivate and drive performance. * Proven experience of forecasting and capacity planning in line with budgetary constraints and within a growing shared/multiuser warehousing and distribution environment. * You will be mature, credible, and comfortable interacting with senior internal and external stakeholders. * Excellent analytical skills, able to resolve complex problems through the identification of long-term solutions covering IT/process change. * An influential change agent with the capability to facilitate and drive warehouse operations continuous improvement initiatives.Our client anticipates this requirement to last until at least next year when they expect to have a large, permanent warehousing facility in place. There may then be an opportunity to become permanent.