Depot Operation Manager

Depot Operation Manager

Leicester Full-Time 24000 - 28800 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead daily operations at our Chesterfield depot, ensuring exceptional service and financial targets are met.
  • Company: Join Wiltshire Farm Foods, the UK's largest ready-meal supplier, dedicated to making a difference in customers' lives.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus scheme, 33 days holiday, and discounts through our apetito perks scheme.
  • Why this job: Be part of a passionate team focused on innovation, customer care, and sustainability in food service.
  • Qualifications: Experience in management, stock control, and customer service is essential; a driving licence is required.
  • Other info: Opportunity for career growth and development within a family-owned, ethical organisation.

The predicted salary is between 24000 - 28800 £ per year.

You will be working alongside the RSOM to deliver an outstanding service to our customers at Wiltshire Farm Foods, Chesterfield 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 KPIs 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 £28,000 - £32,000 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.

Operations

  • 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.
  • Adherence 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.

Financials

  • 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.

People

  • 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.

Customer

  • 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.

Communications

  • Maintain excellent communications with client employees ensuring quality information is exchanged when appropriate.
  • 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 (ie HR, Finance etc.) and divisions.
  • Build and maintain a relationship with the larger team across the UK and Ireland, sharing best practice.

Essential

  • Demonstrate a high standard of customer care.
  • Telephone skills able to handle calls effectively and professionally.
  • Administration experience.
  • Proven experience in stock control.
  • Proven ability in managing and developing a team.
  • Confident in people management activities e.g. recruitment, sickness absence, performance management and disciplinary procedures.
  • Able to understand and translate P&L accounts.
  • Experienced in prioritising workload.
  • Computer skills confident users of all Microsoft Office Suite (Intermediate level or above).
  • Full driving licence.

Desirable

  • Transport & Logistics background.
  • eMeal (Navision) knowledge.
  • Contract Catering experience.
  • Fleet management experience.
  • Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate.

Personal Qualities

  • Effective engagement skills, both on a 1-2-1 basis and within a team.
  • Calm under pressure - resilient.
  • Flexible.
  • Able to work to tight deadlines.
  • Able to work self-sufficiently.
  • Excellent communicator.
  • Demonstrates a passion for customer care.
  • Motivated to achieve, has a “can do” attitude.
  • Pro-active self-starter who can prioritise effectively, balancing a commercial focus with an understanding of our business.
  • Strong team working skills at all levels, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in delivery.
  • Results focused, persistent in pursuit of achievement.

From time to time, you will be required to visit our Trowbridge Factory and other depots & locations for meetings, training etc. Competitive salary - accredited Living Wage employer. 33 days holiday per year, including bank holidays (which are considered a normal working day). Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year. Discretionary annual bonus scheme. Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%. Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary. Free turkey or voucher at Christmas. apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts. As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of. We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers. We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040. Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we’re on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.

Depot Operation Manager employer: apetito UK

At Wiltshire Farm Foods, part of the apetito group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our customers' lives. Our supportive work culture fosters employee growth through comprehensive training and development opportunities, while our commitment to ethical practices and sustainability ensures that you can take pride in your contributions. With competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a focus on work-life balance, joining our Chesterfield depot means becoming part of a family-oriented team that values your well-being and professional success.
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Contact Detail:

apetito UK Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Depot Operation Manager

Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to depot operations. Understanding how these metrics impact the business will help you demonstrate your ability to drive performance and profitability during interviews.

Tip Number 2

Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Be ready to discuss specific situations where you motivated staff or improved team performance, as this is crucial for the Depot Operation Manager role.

Tip Number 3

Research Wiltshire Farm Foods and their commitment to customer service and sustainability. Being able to articulate how your values align with theirs can set you apart from other candidates and show that you're genuinely interested in the company.

Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your experience with health and safety regulations, especially in a food-related environment. Highlight any relevant certifications or training you have, as compliance is a significant aspect of the Depot Operation Manager's responsibilities.

We think you need these skills to ace Depot Operation Manager

Leadership Skills
Operational Management
Financial Acumen
Stock Control
Health and Safety Compliance
Customer Service Excellence
Team Development
Performance Management
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Time Management
Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
Route Optimisation
Training and Development
Resilience Under Pressure

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in depot operations, team management, and customer service. Use specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to meet financial and operational targets.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for customer care and your commitment to health and safety standards. Mention how your previous experiences align with the responsibilities of the Depot Operation Manager role.

Highlight Key Skills: Emphasise your skills in stock control, people management, and financial forecasting. Make sure to include any relevant qualifications, such as a Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate, to strengthen your application.

Showcase Your Achievements: Include quantifiable achievements in your application, such as improvements in KPIs or successful team projects. This will help demonstrate your results-focused approach and ability to drive performance.

How to prepare for a job interview at apetito UK

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Depot Operation Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on your coaching and support strategies that increased engagement and motivation.

Understand Financial Performance

Be ready to discuss your experience with P&L accounts and how you've influenced key financial drivers in previous roles. Highlight any specific achievements related to budget management and profitability to show your capability in meeting financial targets.

Emphasise Customer Service Excellence

Since customer care is a priority for the company, prepare to share instances where you've gone above and beyond to meet customer expectations. Discuss how you instil a customer-focused culture within your team and ensure service standards are consistently met.

Familiarise Yourself with Health & Safety Standards

Given the importance of health and safety in this role, brush up on relevant policies and procedures. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous positions and how you would maintain high operational standards at the depot.

Depot Operation Manager
apetito UK
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  • Depot Operation Manager

    Leicester
    Full-Time
    24000 - 28800 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-07-09

  • A

    apetito UK

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