Senior Manager Distribution Centre - Operations & Lean in London

At the European Central Distribution Centre in Trafford Park, you will drive performance that helps move adidas products across Europe through wholesale and retail channels. This is a senior operations role with ownership for service, productivity, people development, safety and continuous improvement across a highly automated distribution environment.

You will lead colleagues in a multi-functional warehouse operation spanning inbound, picking and packing, value-added services, outbound, returns, samples and Gift of Kit. Working across Trafford Distribution Centre, Hazel Grove and third-party locations where required, you will bring together people, systems, suppliers and LEAN ways of working to deliver against customer expectations and strengthen operational performance.

What you will do

• Lead and manage warehouse teams across LEAN, Inbound, Picking and Packing, VAS application, Outbound, Returns, Samples and Gift of Kit activities, including teams operating across fixed locations such as TDC and Hazel Grove and variable third-party locations.
• Embed LEAN philosophies at every level of the operation.
• Optimise Labour Management reporting to improve productivity and efficiency, identify waste and create an environment of continuous improvement.
• Own operational labour planning and performance, including the on-site third-party labour force. Adjust shift patterns and temporary staffing in a timely way to balance customer service, productivity and cost targets.
• Work closely with the Operations Support Senior Manager and other DC leaders to understand forecast volumes and priorities, organise and motivate teams, optimise the wave plan and deliver customer orders on time while improving throughput.
• Own core DC supplier contracts, including packaging, temporary labour and service agreements. Develop clear business cases and implement new methods, projects and procedures that improve compliance, operating cost, efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Build a strong performance and development culture through clear productivity measures, communication, induction and ongoing training, multi-skilling, secondments, role rotations, succession planning and development plans across Operations.
• Ensure robust health and safety controls and suitable training are in place, working closely with the site Health and Safety Specialist and designated DC colleagues to maintain a healthy and safe place of work.
• Use knowledge of SAP, warehouse management systems and warehouse control systems to influence global and local IT teams and deliver system-led operational improvements, control and continuity.
• Maintain strong housekeeping to optimise capacity and operational flow, while balancing local priorities with the wider Western Europe DC network to support a consistent customer experience.

Key relationships

• All Trafford Distribution Centre management and teams.
• adidas Golf management and other non-Group brands serviced from the TDC.
• Key internal partners across Operations, IT and Sales for the business units supported by the European TDC.
• Relevant management contacts at key customers.
• Best-practice contacts across the adidas distribution centre network and the Western Europe Management Team.

What you will bring

• A strong track record in people leadership, including people development, succession planning, engagement and building effective networks.
• Experience in a key management position within a highly automated, major distribution centre with substantial flows across multiple markets, delivering high standards of service and efficiency.
• Experience managing third-party contracts and working with business management across European markets and important customer relationships.
• 5+ years of relevant management experience, including leadership of a large team, ideally in a distribution centre environment or a similarly challenging operational setting.
• 5+ years of related role or industry experience.
• Project management skills and a good understanding of customer needs, including retail stores and e-commerce.
• An understanding of the interfaces between business systems and warehouse management systems.

Desirable experience

• Understanding of Manhattan Warehouse Management System (WMS).
• Understanding of SAP.
• Understanding of warehouse control systems (WCS).
• A relevant logistics qualification, or working towards one.

The adidas experience

For this role, the package includes:

• Opportunity to earn an annual bonus.
• On-site gym.
• Private medical insurance.
• Health cash plan.
• adidas employee discount.

What happens after you apply?

Once you've submitted your application, one of our Recruitment Partners will review it against the requirements of the role. If your experience looks like a strong match for what we're looking for, a member of our recruitment team will be in touch to talk about the next steps. We receive a high level of interest in our opportunities, so while we carefully consider applications, we may not be able to contact everyone individually.

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