Head of UK Operations

Location: V2 Tattenhoe St, Milton Keynes MK4 4DA, UK

Salary: 58,209 - 60,810 per year

Employment: Full time

Category: Transport

Posted: Valid to: Employer: FCDO Services

At FCDO Services, we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

The success of a government project can depend on secure, timely shipments and our Logistics team always deliver the goods. From dedicated drivers to King's Messengers, they've delivered to over 250 destinations worldwide, moving over a million kilograms of freight annually across land, air, and sea. Now, you've got the opportunity to join them. Delivering globally. Dispatching each shipment with care. Seeing your impact go further. It all matters.

Drive operational excellence locally and globally. This isn’t an ordinary logistics role. It’s a creative one, set in an environment that is nuanced and complex. That’s why we need you. You’ll be the operational lead for all logistics operations for the end-to-end supply chain, striving towards becoming a best-in-class warehouse operation. You’ll bring your strategic mindset to deliver a resilient, cost-effective solution. You’ll manage supplier delivery activity and financial performance for over 35m of critical services for the FCDO and FCDO Services. In short? It’s a job that challenges, yet leaves you feeling fulfilled.

You’ll also see yourself managing a team of 62 people, while ensuring effective operations across Hanslope Park, King Charles Street, Frankfurt and British Force Post Office. Placing Health and Safety issues at the heart of your solution, you will report back to the Head of Global Logistics to advise on key metrics and changes to the operation. And as a trusted leader, you’ll be the one your team turns to – offering expert guidance, driving local action plans and keeping staff engagement high every step of the way.

Use your leadership skills to deliver with confidence. Of course, you’ll need a professional qualification or relevant experience in management logistics, from supply chain to distribution. But there’s more to it than that. A natural-born leader, you’ll have experience leading large teams, both in the UK and overseas. And your people management skills will not only foster a culture of service excellence, but also allow you to drive operational change, manage risk and plan strategically when needed. Your communication skills are one of your strong points – and it lets you manage relationships, negotiate and influence at a senior level. Pressure rarely gets to you. And your commitment to achieving objectives and delivering service excellence remains unwavering.

Grow your career in a supportive environment. Working with us, you’ll help keep people, information, and assets safe around the world. It’s a role you can feel proud of; and we aim to make every part of your career just as rewarding. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website.

We are looking for people with:

• Excellent relationship management skills with an inclusive communication style at all levels.
• Deep knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation.
• Ability to negotiate, and influence at a senior level.
• Track record in achieving objectives, performance targets and service delivery excellence through teams.
• Experience in strategic planning and risk management.
• Integrating initiative to delivery customers net zero environmental and sustainability agenda.
• Demonstrable delivery via a continuous improvement approach to achieve a consistently high level on cost and quality, with a clear understanding budgeting and lifetime costs.
• Resilient under pressure.

Qualifications:

• A relevant professional, business qualification, e.g. degree and membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport or relevant experience in logistics management.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills:

• A relevant professional, business qualification, e.g. degree and membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport or relevant experience in logistics management.
• Proven track record of managing Supply Chain, Logistics, Production and Distribution Operations in a global environment.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, including a proven track record in delivering a culture of service excellence.
• A proven change agent able to drive strategic and operational change through others.
• Track record in achieving objectives, performance targets and service delivery excellence through teams.
• Demonstrable delivery via a continuous improvement approach to achieve a consistently high level on cost and quality, with a clear understanding of budgeting and life time costs.

Benefits:

• Alongside your salary of 58,209, FCDO Services contributes 16,863 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service pension.
• Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting.

Open to UK nationals only.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.