Depot Operations Manager in Salfords

You will be working alongside the RSOM to deliver outstanding service to customers at Wiltshire Farm Foods, Redhill depot. Your responsibilities include managing day‑to‑day depot operations, ensuring financial and operational targets are met, and providing proactive leadership to keep KPIs on track. The office manager reports to you and you support them to deliver exceptional customer experience. You will also manage the delivery team, ensuring compliance with all health and safety policies and delivery procedures.

Responsibilities

• Operations: Ensure Health & Safety, Hygiene and Food Safety procedures & practices are followed at all times. Maintain adequate, cost‑effective resource levels. Maintain stock levels to meet customer demand. Work with staff to deliver profitability and service standards. Ensure all behaviours align with apetito's Code of Conduct. Maintain excellent operational standards throughout the contract. Adhere to all apetito procedures and deadlines. Ensure all company vehicles are maintained appropriately. Be a key link between onsite teams and deputise for the RSOM in their absence. Maintain route optimisation processes and ensure delivery of retail standards within the depot.
• Financials: Support the RSOM to deliver company and client business objectives. Agree contract KPIs, monitor performance against them, and drive/manage performance and profitability. Achieve budgeted sales and profitability, influence key P&L drivers and accurately forecast future financial performance.
• People: Demonstrate leadership and provide coaching/support to employees daily to increase engagement and motivation. Recruit, induct, develop, appraise and review contracted employees to ensure successful sign‑off of probation. 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 a belief in customer service, ensuring expectations are met and, where possible, exceeded. Ensure all new literature is delivered by the team to customers.
• Communications: Maintain excellent communications with client employees and ensure quality information is exchanged. 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 contract standards. Champion employee forums and promote attendance/engagement among Employee Representatives. Create excellent inter‑company relationships within departments (e.g., HR, Finance). Build and maintain relationships with the larger UK and Ireland team, sharing best practice.

Qualifications & Experience

• Telephone skills: able to handle calls effectively and professionally.
• Administration experience.
• Proven experience in stock control.
• Proven ability to manage and develop a team.
• Confident in people‑management activities (recruitment, sickness absence, performance management and disciplinary procedures).
• Ability to understand and translate P&L accounts.
• Experienced in prioritising workload.
• Computer skills: confident users of 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.
• Effective engagement skills both on a 1‑2‑1 basis and within a team.
• Calm under pressure, resilient and flexible.
• Excellent communicator with a passion for customer care.
• Motivated to achieve, with 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 may be required to visit our Trowbridge Factory and other depots & locations for meetings, training and other depots which may require overnight stays.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (£32,000 – £33,000 per annum) plus bonus.
• Accredited Living Wage employer.
• 33 days holiday per year, including bank holidays; option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme.
• Pension scheme with 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.
• Ethical and sustainable food sourcing; commitment to Net Zero by 2040.

Additional Information

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the skilled worker route as it does not meet the minimum requirements set out under the UK Immigration Rules.