Night Operations Manager

As Night Operations Manager, you will provide leadership and direction for all warehouse operations operating during nights at the Wardle site. You will oversee multiple operational areas, ensuring productivity, customer service, compliance, and colleague engagement targets are achieved.

You will be responsible for leading a substantial night-shift workforce and ensuring operational standards, service levels, and safety requirements are maintained across all warehouse activities.

The role requires independent decision-making and ownership of operational issues occurring outside standard business hours, acting as the senior site representative overnight and ensuring effective communication with the wider leadership team. Take overall responsibility for the site during night shifts, making key decisions to maintain operational performance, customer service and colleague wellbeing.

• Champion operational excellence, delivering exceptional service through accuracy, efficiency and a right-first-time approach.
• Ensure warehouse operations run safely, efficiently and in line with company procedures, customer expectations and industry standards.
• Inspire, develop and engage Shift Managers and Shift Coordinators, fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture.
• Manage labour resources effectively, optimising productivity while maintaining cost control and budgeted performance.
• Identify and resolve operational challenges quickly, implementing proactive solutions to minimise disruption and maintain service levels.
• Maintain high standards of stock integrity, inventory accuracy and operational compliance.
• Ensure effective communication and seamless handovers between night and day teams to support business continuity.
• Lead investigations into accidents, incidents and near misses, implementing corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence.
• Manage customer issues and escalations outside of normal business hours, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Take ownership of emergency situations and site incidents, following escalation procedures and business continuity plans where required.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives, utilising structured problem solving techniques and operational data to identify root causes, eliminate waste and enhance operational performance.
• Support the implementation of operational change programmes, new customer requirements and business improvement projects.
• Ensure full compliance with all legal, regulatory, customer and quality standards, including Health & Safety, Food Safety, Security and BRCGS requirements.
• Monitor and report on operational performance, using KPI data and management information to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support recruitment, succession planning and talent development to build a strong and sustainable night operations team.
• Work collaboratively with site and senior leadership teams to achieve operational objectives and deliver outstanding customer service.

Significant operational leadership experience within a warehousing, logistics, FMCG environment.

• Proven success leading large, diverse teams within a multi-shift, 24/7 operation.
• Experience managing complex operational challenges and making sound decisions in a dynamic, time-critical environment.
• Strong working knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and operational performance reporting tools.
• A track record of using KPIs and performance data to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Sound understanding of Health & Safety legislation, risk management practices, and safe systems of work.
• Demonstrable people leadership skills, including coaching, performance management, employee engagement, and talent development.
• Confident decision-maker with the ability to work autonomously and take ownership of operational outcomes.
• Resilient and composed under pressure, with the ability to respond effectively during incidents and periods of high operational demand.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the business.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of the impact operational decisions have on cost, service delivery and profitability.
• Analytical and data-driven approach to problem solving, with the ability to interpret trends and translate insights into actions.
• Proven experience identifying and implementing operational improvements though structure problem solving, continuous improvement methodologies or…