Control Room Specialist in Birmingham

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This high impact role provides core shift cover for our Central Logistics Centre, acting as the central nervous system for the automated warehouse. You will be the primary link between software performance and physical operations, ensuring maximum throughput and uptime in a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.

Your Core Responsibilities:

• System Mastery & Uptime: Provide core shift cover of KNAPP and Manhattan WMS, meticulously tracking system status, ensuring prompt resolution and conducting root cause analysis for complex control issues.
• Capacity Optimization: Identify and actively mitigate systematic bottlenecks to guarantee maximum system capacity, throughput, and availability.
• Operational Command: Strategically prioritise tactical workload and manage outbound flow to maintain store service, adjusting weekly pick strategies and A frame slotting as needed.
• Leadership Support: Act as the on shift technical point of contact, providing insights, answering system queries for managers and leveraging influencing skills to drive timely resolution across teams.
• Data & Efficiency: Continuously monitor and improve system performance, supplying KPI data to leadership for planning and tactical decision making.

The Control Room Specialist will provide core shift cover and ensure the efficient operation of the warehouse control system (KNAPP) and Manhattan warehouse management systems (WMS). The Control Room Specialist will be responsible for planning and virtually monitoring system performance within the Central Logistics Centre (CLC). Troubleshoot defective equipment/systems and partner with the appropriate department for resolution, addressing issues promptly, releasing and monitoring workflows. Supporting team leaders and department managers to maintain optimal warehouse operations, while following all regulatory and company safety standards, policies and procedures.

Principal Accountabilities:

• System Monitoring and Issue Resolution: Provide core shift cover of the Knapp and Manhattan warehouse management system, meticulously tracking and documenting the operational system’s status ensuring prompt resolution of any issues.
• Ensure maximum use of system capacity, including identifying and mitigating systematic bottlenecks.
• Monitor the system performance to ensure optimum throughput and system availability.
• Participate in troubleshooting and conducting root cause analysis for complex control system related issues.
• Identify when performance is dropping below accepted levels and promptly seek solutions to resolve system issues to minimise downtime and ensure continuous operations.
• Partner with technical team to develop best practices for the WMS.

Operational Support:

• Ensure that the warehouse systems utilise workload information daily to optimise service and efficiency.
• Continuously monitor and improve system performance to enhance operational productivity.
• Provide KPI data to the warehouse leadership and operations teams to support their planning and tactical processes.
• Oversight of technical resource development will involve creating long-term strategic plans to guarantee efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Support and Coordination:

• Assist team leaders and department managers by providing technical support and insights into system performance.
• Use influencing skills to ensure issues and challenges are overcome within a timely manner.

Health and Safety and ESG:

• Ensure all systems comply with safety standards and company policies.
• Promote a health and safety culture which ensures safe processes, procedures and behaviours as well as continuous improvement through best practice activities.
• Ensure all work adheres to regulatory compliance standards, including EU Good Distribution Practice (EUGDP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Operational Efficiency:

• Maintain high standards of quality and accuracy in all warehouse operations, ensuring that pharmaceutical products are handled correctly.
• Support the Knapp team, ensuring they respond quickly to issues to minimise operational impact.
• Coordinate efforts to address system faults and operational disruptions promptly.
• Support weekly pick strategy changes to ensure the warehouse is set up for the coming week.
• Ensure A-frame channel set-up is optimised and action any slotting changes that may be needed.
• Manage the outbound flow, including tactical workload prioritisation, to ensure store service is not affected by operational issues.
• Continuously monitor system performance to ensure it meets expected levels.
• Identify trends and patterns in system performance to improve throughput and availability.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience Required:

• Any prior knowledge of the following would be highly advantageous:
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Strong knowledge of KNAPP and warehouse management systems (WMS) and automated technologies.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced working environment.
• Experience in a high-volume warehouse.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Comfortable working in varying temperatures within the warehouse environment.
• Proficiency in data analysis and performance metrics.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively across multiple functional departments.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and quality standards in pharmaceutical distribution.

Essential Requirements:

• Demonstrated ability to apply technical knowledge to diagnose, troubleshoot, resolve or help others resolve equipment and process issues.
• Excellent analytical, attention to detail and problem-solving skills, including the ability to deal with ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritise and multi-task various and conflicting responsibilities.
• Ability to work in a warehouse environment, including standing and walking for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and move materials as needed.
• Ability to work with multiple platforms utilising desktop computers, PCs, handheld devices and material handling equipment.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including shifts, to meet operational needs.
• Strong organisational skills to manage time, tasks, and resources effectively, ensuring deadlines and targets are met.
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office 365 applications.

Manual Handling:

• Manual handling tasks, such as lifting and bending, are key parts of this role.

Cencora Alliance Healthcare is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and ensuring the safety and well-being of all team members. If a team member’s ability to carry out manual handling tasks changes due to health or other reasons, they should inform their people leader. This ensures that everyone can work safely and effectively.

What Cencora offers:

• Benefit offerings outside the US may vary by country and will be aligned to local market practice. The eligibility and effective date may differ for some benefits and for team members covered under collective bargaining agreements.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Cencora is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or membership in any other class protected by federal, state or local law. The company’s continued success depends on the full and effective utilization of qualified individuals. Therefore, harassment is prohibited and all matters related to recruiting, training, compensation, benefits, promotions and transfers comply with equal opportunity principles and are non-discriminatory.

Cencora is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the employment process which are consistent with legal requirements. If you wish to request an accommodation while seeking employment, please call 888.692.2272 or email hrsc@cencora.com. We will make accommodation determinations on a request-by-request basis.