Yard Manager - Desford

We are currently looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our Desford team in the position of Yard Manager.

This role is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of yard from gate entry to gate exit, including safety, inventory and out the gate performance. It involves strategic planning and operational management, including day-to-day team leadership to ensure efficient, safe, and customer-focused operations. The successful candidate will be proactive, safety-conscious, and committed to continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

• Champion a strong health and safety culture across all yard and stockyard operations.
• Lead by example, demonstrating a proactive approach to SHE policies, including the company’s Golden Rules.
• Conduct risk assessments, implement and maintain Safe Systems of Work (SSOW), and ensure these are communicated and followed.
• Complete safety observations and task audits, ensuring all incidents and dangerous occurrences are reported appropriately.
• Maintain compliance with COSHH regulations and ensure team understanding of relevant safety procedures, including lone working and out-of-hours site supervision.

• Oversee the daily operations of the yard and associated logistics areas.
• Lead, motivate, and support yard operatives and stockyard teams to deliver high-performance outcomes.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and operational discipline across all yard areas.
• Coordinate the movement of finished goods from production through storage to dispatch.
• Manage pre-delivery finishing activities, ensuring all customer requirements are met.
• Develop and implement a site-wide plan to drive yard efficiency while ensuring material availability, inventory accuracy, and high levels of customer service.
• Prevent production downtime by ensuring the timely availability of raw materials and functional mobile plant equipment.
• Sustain optimal inventory turnover and stock rotation to support uninterrupted production.
• Maintain a forward plan for stockyard utilisation and oversee product organisation within families.

• Build a collaborative and high-performing team culture through strong leadership, coaching, and communication.
• Communicate company and departmental objectives clearly and regularly via toolbox talks and team briefings.
• Conduct performance appraisals and identify training needs to support continuous team development.
• Manage recruitment, selection, and induction processes for yard and stockyard staff.
• Ensure compliance with disciplinary procedures, timekeeping, and attendance expectations.

• Continually monitor and review the vehicle loading cycle from gate entry to gate exit ensuring optimum times are achieved.

• Responsible for ensuring the Consignor is loading the products to the vehicle ensuring it is in a suitable condition for transport and packaged in a way that ensures it is secure.

• Be satisfied all vehicle exiting site comply with Section 40A Road Traffic Act 1898 and H&S at Work Act (to meet consignor responsibility)
• To ensure that physical yard conditions are suitable to allow safe passage from point of entry through to exit including ground and signage conditions, to include on site traffic such as FLT’S and Yellow Plant

• Ensure all documentation complies with UK legal requirements, including loading and dispatch documentation weights, load configuration, waste transfer etc.

• Manage and monitor entry and controls on site of all, employees, contractors, and visitors.