Senior Operations Manager

Location: Sheffield

Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 (DOE)

Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Industry: Food Manufacturing & Wholesale Distribution

A leading food wholesale and distribution business is seeking an experienced, commercial, and hands‑on Senior Operations Manager to take end‑to‑end operational ownership of a 30,000 sq ft cold storage facility in Sheffield
.

Leading a team of 15 staff (including Warehouse Managers and Team Leaders), you will drive depot performance, compliance, and service excellence. This is a critical leadership role responsible for achieving BRC standards
, managing 3PL distribution networks
, maintaining cold chain integrity
, and optimising day‑to‑day warehouse operations.

• Operational & Site Leadership: Oversee daily warehouse and cold storage operations, managing team leaders and warehouse managers to achieve site KPIs and maintain high service levels.

• 3PL & Logistics Management: Partner with and manage third‑party logistics (3PL) providers to ensure efficient, timely, and cost‑effective distribution across the region.

• Compliance & Quality Assurance: Lead BRC targets, Quality Standard Management (QSM) systems, and strict food safety and frozen temperature control protocols.

• Health & Safety Governance: Implement and oversee robust H&S systems, Risk Assessments, and Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) to guarantee full regulatory compliance across the facility.

• Commercial & P&L Control: Manage site budgeting, P&L, and procurement—driving cost efficiencies, improving stock accuracy, and optimising supply chain performance.

• Continuous Improvement: Spearhead change management initiatives, process improvements, and operational standardisation to elevate site efficiency.

• Frozen Food & Cold Storage Expertise: Essential background in frozen food retail, temperature‑controlled distribution, or high‑volume food wholesale environments.

• BRC Accreditation & Compliance: Proven track record of driving and maintaining BRC standards and food safety protocols.

• 3PL Logistics
  
  Experience:
  
  Solid experience utilising and managing 3PL networks for food delivery operations.

• H&S
  
  Qualifications:
  
  NEBOSH or IOSH certification, with hands‑on experience implementing H&S systems, SSOW, and risk management framework from the ground up.

• Proven Leadership: Strong record of managing multi‑tier warehouse teams, developing high‑performing personnel, and driving operational turnarounds or site transformations.

• Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated expertise in full P&L management, budgeting, supply chain optimisation, and cost‑reduction strategies.

• Competitive salary of £50,000 – £60,000 depending on experience.

• Standard daytime working hours (
  Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  ).

• Key leadership role shaping site operations for a well‑established national food business.