VAL Shift Manager
Location: NewCold Corby, Curver Way, NN17 5XN
Reporting to: Senior Stock Control Manager UK
Salary: £50,000
Working hours: Monday – Friday 42.5hrs per week (hours can be flexible, to be discussed at interview, 0800am – 1630pm / 0900am – 1730pm).
About the Role
We are looking for a highly motivated and customer-focused VAL Shift Manager to lead the Pick Floor, Mixing, Manual Detop and Auto Detop operations at our Corby site.
Reporting to the Senior Stock Control Manager UK, the VAL Shift Manager will be responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient and effective delivery of operational activities while maintaining exceptional service standards for our customers. The successful candidate will provide leadership to Team Leaders and operational colleagues, manage resources effectively, drive continuous improvement and build strong customer relationships to support business growth and operational excellence.
This is a key leadership role requiring a hands-on individual who can balance operational performance, people management and customer engagement within a fast-paced environment.
Main Tasks and Duties
Operational Leadership
- Lead the day-to-day operation across the Pick Floor, Mixing, Manual Detop and Auto Detop departments.
- Manage and support Team Leaders, ensuring clear direction, accountability and consistent operational standards.
- Ensure customer orders and operational priorities are delivered safely, efficiently and on time.
- Coordinate activities across departments to improve workflow, productivity and operational performance.
- Identify and manage operational risks, issues and opportunities.
- Monitor and achieve departmental KPIs relating to service, productivity, quality and cost.
Workforce Planning and People Management
- Plan and allocate labour to meet operational demand and production requirements.
- Manage holidays, absence and shift cover to minimise disruption.
- Support colleagues through coaching, training and development.
- Build a multi-skilled workforce to improve flexibility across departments.
- Support the development of Team Leaders and future operational talent.
- Conduct regular performance discussions and support effective people management.
- Create a positive and engaged team culture focused on accountability and high performance.
Customer Relationship Management and Communication
- Act as the operational lead for customer requirements, priorities and service delivery.
- Build, maintain and effectively manage customer relationships, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction and trust.
- Engage proactively with customers to understand their operational requirements, expectations and future needs.
- Ensure customer priorities are clearly communicated to operational teams and delivered in line with agreed service levels.
- Provide timely updates to customers and stakeholders regarding operational issues, delays, risks or service improvements.
- Support customer visits, audits and business reviews as required.
- Assist with the onboarding of new customers and ensure operational expectations and service commitments are clearly understood.
Continuous Improvement and Efficiency
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste and lower operational costs.
- Support continuous improvement projects across all operational areas.
- Review operational performance and implement actions to improve results.
- Work closely with Operations to maximise the use of equipment, resources and processes.
- Identify opportunities to increase revenue through improved operational performance and service delivery.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement through employee engagement and problem-solving initiatives.
Engineering and Equipment Support
- Work closely with Engineering and contractors to plan maintenance activities.
- Support preventative maintenance planning to reduce equipment downtime.
- Assist with investigations into equipment issues and operational problems.
- Support improvements to Pick Floor and Auto Detop equipment performance.
Health, Safety, Quality and Compliance
- Promote a positive health and safety culture across the operation.
- Ensure teams follow company procedures, quality standards and safety requirements.
- Maintain excellent housekeeping and operational standards.
- Support investigations into incidents, errors and operational issues.
- Ensure compliance with all company, legal and customer requirements.
Management Support
- Provide operational leadership outside normal working hours when required to support the 24/7 operation.
- Act as an escalation point for operational issues and support timely decision-making.
- Work closely with internal departments to achieve site objectives and customer commitments.
- Provide support and cover for other operational management functions when required.
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Good standard of education including English and Maths.
- Good understanding of health and safety responsibilities.
- Proven experience in an operational leadership or supervisory role within a warehouse, logistics, manufacturing or production environment.
- Experience managing teams and delivering operational performance.
- Experience engaging with customers and managing customer relationships effectively.
Desirable
- Leadership or Management qualification.
- Lean or Continuous Improvement qualification.
- Food Safety qualification.
- Experience working within a temperature-controlled or automated warehousing environment.
Skills and Competencies
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Proven ability to build, maintain and effectively manage customer relationships.
- Strong customer service and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to service excellence.
- Ability to collaborate with teams across all levels of the business.
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of customer expectations.
- Flexible approach to support operational requirements within a 24/7 operation.
What We Offer
At NewCold, we believe in rewarding our people with competitive pay and an excellent benefits package, including:
- Competitive salary.
- Overtime paid at Time and a Half.
- Enhanced company pension scheme.
- Enhanced holiday allowance.
- Death in Service benefit.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
- 24/7 GP appointments.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Career progression opportunities.
- Ongoing training and development through the NewCold Academy.
Pay: £50,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
