Operations Manager – Northern Ireland
Salary: Up to £55,000
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Operations Manager to take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation of our newly developed warehouse site for Druids in Northern Ireland.
Working closely with senior management, you will take ownership of the warehouse operation, leading supervisors, team leaders and warehouse staff to deliver consistently high operational standards. You will be responsible for driving productivity, maintaining inventory accuracy, developing the team and ensuring the site operates safely and efficiently.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience within a high-volume e-commerce fulfilment environment, be confident managing people and warehouse systems, and have the practical leadership skills required to establish and develop a new operation from the ground up.
Key ResponsibilitiesDaily Operations & Performance
- Take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the warehouse operation.
- Oversee all areas of the operation, including Goods In, picking, packing, replenishment, dispatch and returns.
- Set, monitor and deliver operational KPIs, including pick rates, dispatch accuracy, order turnaround and overall productivity.
- Plan and allocate labour effectively to meet changing volumes and operational requirements.
- Identify operational bottlenecks and implement practical solutions to maintain service levels.
- Ensure the warehouse operates efficiently, professionally and to agreed company standards.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, manage and develop supervisors, team leaders and warehouse operatives.
- Establish clear expectations, accountability and performance standards across the site.
- Recruit, onboard and develop warehouse employees in conjunction with HR and senior management.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and support ongoing employee development.
- Manage attendance, return-to-work processes, performance concerns and disciplinary matters in line with company procedures.
- Build a positive, accountable and high-performing warehouse culture.
WMS & Inventory Management
- Take ownership of the Warehouse Management System (WMS) and ensure it is used effectively across the operation.
- Act as the key operational contact for WMS-related issues and troubleshooting.
- Ensure inventory accuracy through effective stock control processes, cycle counting and discrepancy investigations.
- Monitor and minimise stock loss, errors and operational waste.
- Maintain efficient warehouse locations and optimise product placement to improve picking performance.
- Work with relevant teams to ensure system and physical stock remain fully aligned.
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Take responsibility for maintaining high standards of Health & Safety across the warehouse.
- Conduct regular warehouse inspections, safety checks and floor walk-throughs.
- Ensure all employees are appropriately trained and competent to operate warehouse equipment, including forklifts and PPTs.
- Maintain accurate training and competency records.
- Ensure safe systems of work are followed consistently.
- Lead or support incident investigations, risk assessments and safety audits as required.
- Promote a strong safety-first culture across the site.
Continuous Improvement & Operational Projects
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including 5S, Lean principles, process optimisation and workspace improvements.
- Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve productivity and increase operational efficiency.
- Lead the implementation of new warehouse technology, WMS developments and operational processes.
- Manage operational rollouts and process changes with minimal disruption to service.
- Develop and implement plans for peak trading periods, including Black Friday, Christmas and other high-volume events.
- Plan temporary labour requirements, onboarding and warehouse capacity to support peak demand.
- Review and optimise warehouse layouts, picking zones and bulk storage areas to maximise available space and efficiency.
- Establish effective processes and standards as the new Northern Ireland site develops and grows.
Requirements & Qualifications
- Minimum 3 years' experience in warehouse or operational management within a high-volume distribution environment.
- Minimum 2 years' direct experience within a fast-paced e-commerce fulfilment environment is required.
- Proven experience managing warehouse teams, supervisors and team leaders.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
- Experience with advanced e-commerce WMS platforms such as Peoplevox would be highly advantageous.
- Strong understanding of UK Health & Safety requirements and warehouse compliance.
- IOSH Managing Safely or a similar formal qualification is preferred, or willingness to work towards one.
- Excellent people-management and communication skills.
- Confident handling employee relations, performance management and workplace conflict.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to interpret operational data and identify performance issues.
- Proven experience delivering process improvements and operational projects.
- Highly organised, proactive and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
- Flexible approach to working hours, including occasional weekends or extended hours during peak trading periods.
Experience
- E-commerce: 2 years (required)
- Operational Management: 3 years (required)
What We're Looking For
This is a key role within a newly developed Northern Ireland operation, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to establish and shape the warehouse operation from the outset.
We are looking for someone who is hands-on, commercially aware and operationally driven, with the leadership ability to build a strong team, establish robust processes and deliver a high-performing warehouse operation as the site grows.
Pay: Up to £55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
