Depot Operations Manager

• Location:
  
  UK-Essex-Witham
• Contract type:
  Permanent (Full-Time)
• Closing date: 26th January 2026

You will be working along side the RSOM to deliver an outstanding service to our customers at Wiltshire Farm Foods, Witham depot. You will be responsible for the day to day running of the depot, ensuring we hit all of our financial and operational targets and being proactive through exceptional leadership to build plans for any KPI's that are off track.

The office manager will directly report to you and you will provide support to ensure the office team are delivering an exceptional customer experience. Additionally, you will manage the delivery team to ensure that all health and safety policies and delivery procedures are adhered to.

Salary circa £29,000 - £31,000 per annum + Bonus + Benefits

Wiltshire Farm Foods, part of the apetito group, is the UK’s largest ready‑meal supplier, cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK primarily to the elderly, their family members and healthcare professionals.

We're dedicated to making a real difference to our customers' lives, by bringing sunshine to their doors through our commitment to provide good old‑fashioned service.

Our intense pride drives us to continuously innovate and improve, ensuring our products and service exceed our customers' needs.

This is all whilst being an ethical and sustainable organisation that believes in doing the right thing.

• Ensure Health & Safety, Hygiene and Food Safety procedures & practices are adhered to and followed at all times
• Ensure adequate, cost effective resource levels are in place
• Maintain stock levels to meet our customer demands
• Work with and support staff on a day‑to‑day basis to deliver profitability and service standards
• Ensure all behaviours are in line with apetito’s Code of Conduct
• Maintain excellent operational standards throughout the contract
• Adhere to all apetito procedures and deadlines
• Ensure all company vehicles are maintained as appropriate
• Be a key link between the teams onsite
• Deputise for the RSOM in their absence
• Maintain route optimisation processes included routing
• Responsible for delivery of retail standards within the depot

• Support the RSOM to deliver company and client business objectives
• Agree contract KPIs, monitor performance against KPIs and drive/manage performance and profitability to ensure achievement
• Achieve budgeted sales and profitability, influence key P&L drivers and accurately forecast future financial performance

• Demonstrable leadership and coaching/support provided to employees on a day‑to‑day basis to increase engagement and motivation
• Recruit, induct, develop, appraise and review contracted employees as appropriate to ensure successful sign‑off probationary
• Develop training structures to ensure growth within the depot
• Identify and manage training and development needs of staff

• Champion and oversee excellent service standards
• Ensure all processes are communicated and followed by all personnel
• Promote and instil belief in customer service ensuring customer expectations are met and where opportunities arise, exceeded
• Ensure all new literature is delivered by the team to customers

• Maintain excellent communications with client employees ensuring quality information is exchanged when appropriate (e.g. feedback from Leadership Conference)
• Deliver all client and company administration and reporting requirements
• Abide by client, company and legislative policies and procedures ensuring consistent compliance
• Maintain quality and standards of overall presentation, ensuring adherence to company and agreed contract standards
• Champion Employee Forums – promote attendance/engagement by Employee Representatives
• Create excellent inter‑company relationships within departments (e.g. HR, Finance etc.) and divisions
• Build and maintain a relationship with the larger team across the UK and Ireland, sharing best practice

• Demonstrate a high standard of customer care
• Telephone skills: able to handle calls effectively and professionally
• Administration experience
• Proven experience in stock control
• Prov…