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- Tasks: Lead operational excellence initiatives to enhance efficiency and drive sustainable improvements.
- Company: Join the UK's largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, health cash plan, and generous holiday.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming operations and mentoring future leaders.
- Qualifications: Extensive OE experience, strong leadership skills, and expertise in process improvement.
- Other info: Flexible working with travel across England and Wales; excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 £ per year.
£65,000 to £75,000 per annum plus £5,688 per annum car allowance, bonus and benefits. Field based - visiting SN operations across England and Wales.
Our reputation as the UK’s largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler speaks for itself. Every day, we serve more than 22,000 customers from 34 distribution centres across the country. Behind every nightly miracle is a team of dedicated people carrying out more roles than you realise - we’re the unseen force that delivers. So when we say we’re excited for what the future holds for our customers and colleagues, you can trust we’re as good as our word.
The Head of Operational Excellence for Smiths News is accountable for designing and driving the OE architecture and methodology across the business, leading the transformational journey towards sustainable operational excellence. The outputs are to improve efficiency, remove waste, increase capacity and value to our customers.
Reporting to the Director of Strategy and Change and leading all central OE resources and activities whilst coaching and advising all leaders across the business in the adoption of OE principles, tools, skills, methods and approaches to driving consistency and sustainable operational improvement. Bringing new resources, materials, thinking and approaches to SN to help with the OE objectives supported by coaching and development to drive the OE capability across the business.
About the role
- Driving the OE principles, focusing on the initial prioritised 6 (Committed Leadership, Right First Time, Standardisation, Visual Management, Go, See, Do & Customer).
- Designing OE activities and interventions to improve operational performance and enhance colleague capability in the use of 'Think Work Behave' model and supporting tools and techniques.
- Responsible for the quality of OE design, supporting establishment of standard training materials, templates and the governance framework.
- Identifying scale opportunity and applying OE to support interventions to deliver measurable business benefit.
- Preparing reports and materials to support the understanding, approach, outcomes, recommendations of all centrally led OE activity.
- Acting as mentor and coach to key leaders within the business who are developing their OE competencies.
- Being subject matter expert to the organisation on operational excellence.
Flexibility and Travel
- Requires ability and willingness to work at any SN operating location as required, and flexibility to travel as the role requires.
- On occasion requires working early hours to review, support night operations (e.g. 02:00 - 10:00).
What we can offer you
- Free onsite parking.
- 4x salary life assurance.
- 5% match pension.
- £5,688 per annum car allowance.
- Company bonus.
- Company funded Health Cash Plan - providing cash back for everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy.
- 25 days holiday plus holiday buy scheme.
- 24/7 E-Learning modules, Training and Development opportunities.
- Sharesave Scheme, Cycle to work schemes, Health cash plan.
- Private medical insurance.
- Colleague Assistance Programme & Colleague referral scheme.
About you
- Extensive experience in implementing OE across a range of sectors and functions.
- Ability to lead operational interventions, working with site teams to test, trial and implement process efficiency changes.
- Experience with implementing and leading OE in non-operational / transactional areas.
- Extensive experience in designing and leading focused improvement events resulting in validated step change in efficiency, key performance indicators and enhancing colleague knowledge and capability.
- Expertise in material flow design and layout optimisation.
- Highly skilled in influencing stakeholders and effectively engaging with all levels of business.
- Excellent communication skills; verbal, written, presenting.
- Certification in Lean, 6 Sigma, CI preferred.
- Experience of leading and inspiring and knowledge transfer.
Please note: you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position. A career with us is a career filled with people, pride, and passion. We rely on each other to get the job done, and we deliver what we say we will. Let’s see if we can rely on you, too. Apply now.
Head of Operational Excellence in Swindon employer: Instore
Contact Detail:
Instore Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operational Excellence in Swindon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for the Head of Operational Excellence role. A personal recommendation can go a long way in getting your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their operational challenges and think about how you can bring your OE expertise to the table. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but the solution they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating your experience in implementing OE principles and how you've driven efficiency in past roles. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our mission of operational excellence.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operational Excellence in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Operational Excellence role. Highlight your experience in implementing operational excellence and any relevant certifications like Lean or Six Sigma. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about operational excellence and how you can contribute to our mission at Smiths News. Keep it engaging and personal – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive efficiency and improve processes. Numbers speak volumes, so if you’ve led initiatives that resulted in measurable improvements, let us know!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at Smiths News!
How to prepare for a job interview at Instore
✨Know Your OE Principles
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the operational excellence principles mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in your previous roles, especially focusing on Committed Leadership and Right First Time.
✨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
As a Head of Operational Excellence, you'll be mentoring others. Prepare examples of how you've successfully coached teams or individuals in the past. Highlight specific outcomes that resulted from your guidance.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about challenges you've faced in implementing OE and how you overcame them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels. Prepare anecdotes that illustrate your communication skills and how you've built relationships to drive operational improvements.
