At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the outbound warehouse operation, ensuring efficient order fulfilment for major retail customers.
- Company: Deta Electrical, a leading manufacturer and distributor in the electrical industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to drive continuous improvement and enhance team performance.
- Why this job: Join a market leader and make a real impact on customer satisfaction and operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in warehouse operations and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Department: Warehouse
Location: Chalton, Luton
Reports To: Head of Warehouse & Distribution Operations
The Company
Deta Electrical is a market leading manufacturer and distributor of wiring, lighting and electrical installation accessories. With a reputation for quality, reliability and value for money, Deta’s extensive brand and product portfolio is distributed through the electrical wholesale and retail DIY channels.
The Role
Responsible for leading the outbound warehouse operation, with direct management responsibility for the pick, pack and despatch team supporting major retail DIY customers. The role has end-to-end accountability for the safe, accurate and efficient fulfilment of retail customer orders, ensuring customer specific requirements, carrier cut off times and agreed service levels (OTIF) are consistently achieved. As a key operational leader, the role is responsible for maintaining high safety and quality standards, developing team capability and driving performance against agreed KPIs. The postholder will embed continuous improvement initiatives across outbound processes to maximise efficiency, productivity and long term operational performance.
Responsibilities
- Retail Customer Service - own outbound fulfilment performance for major retail DIY customers, ensuring orders are completed accurately, on time and in line with agreed service levels, customer specific requirements and delivery windows.
- Outbound Operations - lead the end-to-end pick, pack and despatch operation, coordinating labour, workflow and priorities to achieve daily volume, quality and service targets.
- Order Picking - ensure efficient and accurate picking and prompt resolution of stock or system exceptions that could affect customer service.
- Packing and Customer Compliance - ensure orders are packed, labelled, palletised and presented in accordance with customer specifications, routing requirements and quality standards.
- Despatch and Carrier Management - manage staging, loading, trailer utilisation, despatch documentation and carrier handovers to meet collection schedules and cut-off times.
- Team Leadership and Performance - lead, coach and performance manage the outbound team, setting clear expectations, allocating resources, managing attendance and capability, and creating a visible, accountable and high performing culture.
- Health, Safety and Standards - maintain a safe working environment through effective controls, risk awareness, housekeeping, safe systems of work and prompt escalation and investigation of incidents or near misses.
- KPI Ownership - monitor and improve performance against agreed measures, including pick and pack productivity, order accuracy, OTIF, despatch adherence, damages, labour utilisation and customer service failures.
- Continuous Improvement - identify, lead and embed improvements to outbound processes, layout, workflow, standard work and use of systems to eliminate waste and increase sustainable efficiency, productivity and operational resilience.
- Cross-functional Coordination - work closely with inventory, sales office, customer services and other warehouse teams to resolve constraints, protect customer service and ensure a controlled end-to-end flow of orders.
- Operational Control and Reporting - maintain accurate shift reporting, complete effective handovers, upscale risks promptly and implement recovery plans where performance is below target.
Skills Required
- Significant experience in warehouse and distribution operations, with at least three years’ leadership experience managing pick, pack and despatch activities within high volume retail, DIY or similarly demanding customer environments, supported by a strong understanding of customer service, compliance and fulfilment requirements.
- A successful track record of leading, coaching and developing operational teams in a fast paced, KPI driven environment.
- Strong working knowledge of WMS/ERP systems supporting order allocation, replenishment, picking, packing, despatch and performance reporting.
- Sound understanding of outbound planning, carrier cut off management, labour deployment, order accuracy and OTIF performance.
- Practical knowledge of warehouse health and safety requirements, safe systems of work and effective shift controls.
- Experience of applying continuous improvement techniques to remove waste, standardise processes and deliver measurable gains in productivity, quality and service.
- Confident user of MS Office, including Excel, for KPI reporting, trend analysis and operational decision making.
- Strong communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to remain calm, visible and effective under pressure.
- A hands on, floor first leadership style, with the confidence to intervene directly in operational issues and hold teams accountable for standards and results.
Warehouse Operations Manager - Retail in Luton employer: Deta Electrical
Deta Electrical is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Chalton, Luton, where employees are empowered to lead and innovate within the warehouse operations. With a strong focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement, team members benefit from comprehensive training and development opportunities that foster personal and professional growth. The collaborative culture encourages open communication and accountability, making it a rewarding place for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in the retail sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Warehouse Operations Manager - Retail in Luton
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Logistics and supply chain are all about networking, so hit up those trade shows and local meetups. Places like the UK's Logistics and Supply Chain conference can be goldmines for connecting with potential employers like Deta Electrical and learning about the latest trends in the industry.
✨Leverage Online Communities
Join forums and LinkedIn groups specifically for logistics professionals. Share your insights and ask questions to get noticed. Being active in these spaces can help you establish credibility and might just lead to an opportunity at Deta Electrical!
✨Showcase Your Skills with a Portfolio
Even if it’s a full-time gig, having a portfolio can really set you apart. Include case studies or projects that demonstrate your understanding of supply chain management, logistics software, or solving operational challenges. You’d be surprised at how much this can impress hiring managers.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don't forget the power of applying directly through our website! A lot of companies like Deta Electrical keep job postings exclusive to their sites. This way, you can easily keep track of your applications and ensure your profile is in front of the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Warehouse Operations Manager - Retail in Luton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:In your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight your understanding of logistics and supply chain management principles. Mention any relevant courses you've taken or tools you've used, like inventory management software or data analysis platforms, to showcase your skills and keep up with best practices in the industry.
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your previous work experience, remember to use numbers wherever possible. Did you improve delivery times by a specific percentage? Did you help reduce costs? These kinds of quantified achievements not only catch the eye but also demonstrate your capability in the logistics sector.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Deta Electrical:This is your chance to really connect with the team at Deta Electrical. In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about supply chain logistics and how your goals align with the company’s mission. A little personalisation goes a long way!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you've got any certifications related to logistics or supply chain management—like APICS or Six Sigma—make sure you flaunt them! These show that you're committed to your professional development and can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Deta Electrical
✨Know Your Logistics Tools
Make sure you're familiar with key logistics software and tools like SAP or Oracle ERP. These are often used in the industry, and being able to demonstrate your knowledge or experience with them can really set you apart during your interview with Deta Electrical.
✨Perfect Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to tackle scenarios that showcase your problem-solving skills. Think about past experiences where you've had to optimise supply chains or handle logistics challenges. Have a few examples ready to discuss how you made decisions that led to improvements.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Supply chain roles heavily rely on teamwork and communication. Be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with others in previous roles. Maybe share a time when you coordinated with a team to resolve a logistical hiccup. This can show Deta Electrical that you're a team player!
✨Understand the Big Picture
Be ready to talk about the broader logistics and supply chain trends. Having insights into current challenges in the industry, like sustainability or lead times, can impress the interviewers at Deta Electrical. Show them you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also have a strategic mindset!
