Head of Operations
Chelmsford Safety Supplies Ltd
Chelmsford, Essex | Permanent | Competitive salary dependent on experience
About Us
Chelmsford Safety Supplies Ltd is a specialist PPE and workwear distributor supplying UK manufacturing and industrial businesses. We run a multi-channel fulfilment operation from our Chelmsford warehouse combining direct PPE supply, in-house decorated garment production (embroidery and heat transfer), and direct import stock management across two sites. Our team of 20 covers all three streams under one roof.
We are growing. A major EMEA contract ramps from August 2026 and our Onsite Managed Service is expanding across UK industrial accounts. We have a clear three-year strategy and we are now building the team to deliver it. This hire is central to that.
Who We Are
Our culture is built around five values that are not words on a wall — they shape how we work every day. Pioneering: we challenge, innovate and elevate. Passionate: we safeguard our customers’ people with reliable, top-quality products and we care about doing it well. Customer Centric: every task, every challenge, every extra mile builds stronger customer relationships. Time Smart: on time, every time, every minute counts. Together: we row in one direction, we respect and care for everyone, and we look out for each other.
The right person for this role will not just understand these values — they will already be living them.
The Opportunity
This is not a steady-state ops role. We need someone who wants to come in, take ownership, and build something. In your first 90 days you will audit the operation across all three fulfilment streams, make the changes needed, and set the foundations for a department that performs under pressure and has the capacity to deliver the revenue growth we are targeting.
After that, you stay and run it. You will be part of the management team, involved in the three-year strategy, and growing with the business as we scale. You will have full backing from the MD to make real decisions, including people decisions. What we need in return is someone with the drive and follow-through to make the changes stick.
What You Will Do
- Own end-to-end operations across three streams: direct PPE supply, decorated garment production (embroidery and heat transfer), and direct import inventory management
- Build and implement a KPI and SLA framework tied directly to customer contract obligations across all channels
- Restructure team roles and shift patterns to maximise throughput and reduce waste
- Manage and optimise two warehouse locations, reviewing layout and flow for sustained peak performance
- Manage direct operational costs with clear P&L accountability
- Review the FTE vs temporary labour model and right-size for efficiency and flexibility as volume scales
- Work closely with the Procurement function day to day to align product ranges, import schedules and stock positioning with operational demand
- Streamline and document processes so the operation is repeatable, trainable and scalable
- Make people decisions where needed — hiring, performance managing, and building a team that reflects our values
What We Are Looking For
- Hands-on operations management experience in a mixed-mode or multi-channel fulfilment environment — PPE, workwear, decorated garments, uniform or similar strongly preferred
- Proven ability to manage concurrent operational streams — production and straight supply running simultaneously under one roof
- Experience managing multi-site warehouse operations and direct import stock
- Comfortable managing a team of 15 to 30 people across mixed functions and skill sets
- Confident reading a P&L and managing direct operational costs
- Strong people instincts — someone who hires for values as much as skills, manages performance with clarity, and builds teams that stick together
- The kind of person who gets on the floor, earns the team’s respect, and drives standards up
- Not looking for a role — looking for a business to grow with
- Based in or commutable to Chelmsford, Essex
- Available to start July or August 2026
The Acid Test
We are a commercial business with strong values. The right candidate will understand that those two things are not in tension — they reinforce each other. If you have hired people based on culture fit as well as capability, managed out underperformance without losing the respect of the team, and built a department that performs because people want to be there and not just because they have to be , we want to hear from you.
What This Is Not
This is not a corporate role in a large business. CSS is an ambitious, fast-moving SME and we need someone who thrives in that environment. If you want ownership, direct access to the MD, and the chance to shape an operation from the ground up as part of a genuine growth story, this could be exactly what you are looking for. If you need layers of approval before you can make a decision, it probably is not.
Package
- Competitive salary dependent on experience and culture fit
- Permanent role, full-time, on-site — Chelmsford, Essex
- Part of the management team with direct access to the MD
- A genuine stake in the journey as we scale toward our three-year targets
Pay: £45,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
