UK Operations Director ( Distribution & Supply Chain ) £90-110k Basic plus 25% OTE + Exec Benefits (Electrical Products)
Location: Northern Home Counties / Hybrid
The Role
The UK Operations Director will assume full strategic and operational responsibility for the Company’s supply chain function, overseeing the end-to-end procurement and inventory management process across a complex, import-led product portfolio. Given that most of the company’s product range is sourced from Asian Manufacturing partners, the successful candidate must demonstrate extensive experience managing long lead time procurement cycles, typically spanning 12+ weeks and the commercial discipline required to balance forward-buying commitments against demand variability and working capital constraints. The role carries direct line management responsibility for a team of with a small team of direct reports, and circa 100 In-direct, comprising purchasing professionals and inventory control data specialists, with accountability for ensuring that stock availability targets, cover ratios, and replenishment schedules are consistently optimised. A strong analytical capability is essential, with the expectation that the UK Operations Director will drive data-led decision-making across inventory planning reducing excess and obsolete stock, improving stock turn, and delivering measurable improvements in working capital efficiency. Candidates must be comfortable operating at both a strategic level shaping sourcing strategy and supplier relationships operating with a hands-on level when required, ensuring the team executes with precision in a fast-moving distribution environment.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Strategy
- Develop and execute the operational strategy aligned to business goals, growth plans, and customer service expectations.
- Lead warehouse, logistics, and operational teams to deliver excellent service, high accuracy, and efficient throughput.
- Use data, KPIs, and performance dashboards to drive improvements in productivity, inventory accuracy, fulfillment times, and cost-to-serve.
- Ensure operational scalability to support seasonal demand patterns, new product introductions, and business expansion.
Warehouse & Distribution Management
- Oversee daily warehouse operations, including goods in, storage, pick/pack, dispatch, and returns.
- Drive continuous improvement across layout, workflow design, material handling equipment, stock control, and WMS utilisation.
- Ensure robust inventory management, stock accuracy, and root cause analysis of discrepancies.
- Manage relationships with key logistics partners, hauliers, and courier networks to maintain service levels.
Health & Safety Leadership
- Act as the company’s senior Health & Safety lead and primary point of contact for compliance.
- Ensure full adherence to H&S legislation, regulations, and best practice across the warehouse, office, and field-based activities.
- Chair the Health & Safety Committee and maintain all risk assessments, method statements, and training plans.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement in safety, ensuring proactive hazard identification, incident investigation, and corrective action.
- Lead emergency planning, first aid provision, fire safety processes, and safety audit programs.
People Leadership
- Provide strong leadership to operational teams, setting clear expectations, objectives, and development plans.
- Foster a culture of accountability, empowerment, and high performance.
- Work closely with HR to support workforce planning, recruitment, succession, apprentices/trainees, and employee engagement.
Budgeting & Cost Control
- Own the operations budget, including labour, logistics, MHE, facilities, consumables, and utilities.
- Identify and deliver cost-saving initiatives without compromising service quality or safety.
- Support capital investment decisions, including warehouse equipment, systems, and facilities maintenance.
Systems, Processes & Continuous Improvement
- Drive adoption and optimisation of operational systems (e.g., WMS, ERP, scanning solutions).
- Lead process improvement methodologies to increase throughput and reduce waste.
- Oversee operational compliance, including ISO standards (which the company is working towards), audits, and documentation.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
Essential
- Proven senior operations leadership experience within a distribution, warehousing, or supply chain environment.
- Strong understanding of warehouse processes, inventory management, logistics, and fulfillment operations.
- Demonstrated experience leading Health & Safety at an organisational level.
- Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, KPIs, and operational metrics.
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capability.
- Experience implementing process improvements (Lean/Kaizen/5S or similar).
- IOSH Leading Safely
Desirable
- Lighting, electrical wholesale, or related sector experience.
- NEBOSH General Certificate
- Experience scaling operations in a fast growth environment.
- ERP/WMS transformation or optimisation experience.
Key Behaviours
- Highly organised and operationally disciplined.
- Decisive, resilient, and comfortable in a fast-paced, high-change environment.
- Hands on leadership style with strong visibility in the warehouse operation.
- Committed to safety, continuous improvement, and excellent customer service.
An excellent opportunity for a career-minded Operations professional looking to take ownership of a major operational function and play a key role in business growth and its transformation.
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