Date: 17 Jul 2026
Location: Forest Gate, GB
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Company: Hovis
DESPATCH FRONT LINE MANAGER – Forest Gate, London
The Role
We're looking for a Despatch Front Line Manager to lead our despatch team at our Forest Gate site, ensuring products are picked, loaded and dispatched safely, accurately and on time.
This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll be responsible for managing the team day-to-day, driving team performance, maintaining high standards of safety and quality, and ensuring excellent customer service through efficient despatch operations.
What You'll Be Doing
Leading, motivating and developing a team of Despatch Operatives
Planning and coordinating daily despatch activities to meet customer delivery requirements
Monitoring productivity and performance, providing coaching and support where needed
Ensuring orders are picked, checked and loaded accurately and on time
Maintaining high standards of health, safety and housekeeping across the despatch area
Managing staffing levels, breaks and shift priorities to meet operational demands
Investigating and resolving operational issues, stock discrepancies and delivery concerns
Working closely with Warehouse, Transport and Customer Service teams to ensure smooth operations
Monitoring KPIs and driving continuous improvement across the department
Ensuring company policies, procedures and compliance standards are followed
What We're Looking For
Previous experience in a warehouse or despatch leadership role
Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team
Strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise effectively
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
A proactive approach with the confidence to make decisions in a fast-paced environment
Good attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
Knowledge of warehouse health and safety practices
Experience using warehouse management systems would be advantageous
The Role Involves
Leading a busy team in a fast-paced environment
Meeting customer service and operational deadlines
Manual handling and occasional physical duties
Being on your feet for much of the shift
Supporting operational requirements when needed
Why work for us and our benefits:
At Hovis, we understand the importance of looking after our colleagues, so we provide a variety of benefits in addition to their salaries. The benefits we provide at Hovis are as varied as the people who receive them but they are offered with the intention of creating value to them personally over and above their salaries
There is a range of colleague benefits available, which individuals can select based on their needs.
Our benefits scheme is called Hovis Choice, which offers a variety of savings and cashback offers on day to day living and much more including eyecare vouchers, and a healthcare scheme to suit everyone. It also includes our Cycle to Work scheme where you can obtain a brand new bike at a significant saving
We offer competitive annual leave entitlement and flexibility where possible in order to create a healthy work-life balance
We celebrate loyalty with our generous long service and colleague recognition schemes
We offer three levels of pensions
Hovis values diversity and is committed to promoting equal opportunities in the workplace. Every job applicant, employee or worker will be treated fairly and equally with dignity and respect regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, social class, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, union membership, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.
