Depot Manager

An established fresh produce distribution business in West London is seeking a Depot Manager to lead its Hayes operation, overseeing warehouse, transport, and team performance to deliver excellent service and efficiency. The role requires a hands-on operations leader with FMCG or logistics experience, strong people management skills, and the ability to drive safety, cost control, and continuous improvement.

Client Details

Our client is a well-established and growing distribution-led organisation operating within the fresh produce sector. With a strong reputation for quality, service, and operational excellence, the business is undergoing continued expansion and is seeking an experienced Depot Manager to lead its Hayes-based operation.

Description

As Depot Manager, you will take full ownership of the site's operational performance, ensuring efficient, compliant, and customer-focused delivery across warehousing, transport, and team leadership functions.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading day-to-day depot operations, ensuring service levels, cost control, and productivity targets are consistently achieved
Managing warehouse and transport teams, fostering a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement
Overseeing stock management, inventory accuracy, and waste reduction within a fresh/temperature-controlled environment
Driving health & safety compliance, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards
Optimising fleet utilisation and route planning in coordination with logistics teams
Managing budgets, P&L responsibility, and identifying cost-saving opportunities
Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and customers
Leading, coaching, and developing a team of supervisors and operatives to support succession planning
Profile

The ideal candidate will bring strong operational leadership experience from a fast-paced distribution or FMCG environment.

You will demonstrate:

Proven operational or depot management experience, ideally in multi-drop logistics, food distribution or chilled supply chain
Background in food, fresh produce, FMCG, or temperature-controlled logistics (highly desirable)
Full UK driving licence (3.5 tonne van experience preferred)
Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop large teams
Solid understanding of transport and warehouse operations
Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and KPIs
Knowledge of health & safety and compliance regulations
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills
A hands-on approach with the ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment

Job Offer

Competitive base salary - £40k-£45k
Performance-related bonus
Pension and benefits package
Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation
The opportunity to play a key leadership role in a critical operational site Logistics Distribution and Supply Chain