At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations to ensure efficient bike distribution and customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join Bike Club, a purpose-driven company revolutionising children's cycling.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26 days holiday, enhanced parental leave, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a fast-growing team focused on ease, care, progress, and joy.
- Why this job: Shape the future of bike distribution while making a positive impact on families.
- Qualifications: Experience in warehouse management and a passion for continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
We're customer obsessed. We put the customer at the heart of everything we do - and we're looking for people who feel the same way.
About Bike Club
Bike Club is the easiest way to keep kids on the right sized bike.
Through our subscription model, we remove the hassle of buying, outgrowing and reselling children's bikes, so families always have the right bike, right when they need it.
We are a purpose led, fast-growing business built on ease, care, progress and joy - with a relentless focus on customer growth, retention and building a more circular approach to children's cycling.
- Purpose of the Role
- The Head of Operations owns the system that runs
Rainham: the plan, the standard, the data and the forward view.
This is a new role, created as Rainham becomes both a refurb centre and a national distribution site from January 2027.
This is a planning, analytical and continuous improvement role first as well as a people management role.
The Head of Operations will build the system the warehouse team, mechanic team and distribution team deliver against and will be ultimately accountable for whether the site performs both efficiently and effectively.
- Tasks Key Responsibilities 1. Demand, capacity and forward planning
- Own capacity planning end to end: built stock cover, inbound space, returns and disposal flow, physical site capacity as the site takes on distribution volume.
- Build and stress test the peak plan well ahead of demand, including Christmas peak, modelling labour, space and carrier capacity against it.
- Run rigorous what-if scenario planning: model the impact of demand shifts, supply delays, absence and carrier disruption before they happen, not after.
- Set build volume targets from demand and the labour model that delivers them, and own whether the number lands.
- 2. Data, systems and reporting
- Own data integrity across the site: build, dispatch and inventory reporting must reconcile, and any variance is investigated, not repeated.
- Fluent in Salesforce (ideal) and confident evaluating or evolving a WMS suited to the site's needs as it scales.
- Own the design of scanning, location and inventory status processes/workflow that the Distribution Manager and Mechanic Team execute.
- Build the reporting the business needs to trust: no repeat of build numbers running on an unvalidated figure
- 3. Inventory and stock governance
- Own inventory accuracy, cycle count governance and disposal authorisation across the site
- Set the reorder points and supplier process for packaging and consumables for the Distribution Manager to own and execute upon.
- Reconcile stock movements regularly and investigate variance as standard daily practice - not as a reaction to a discovered problem.
- 4. Performance framework and quality
- Design and own the performance framework: what good output looks like, how it is measured, and when it is escalated
- Design the QC gates built into both the build and despatch process, so defects are caught by design and automation where applicable.
- Set the standard for order completeness and despatch accuracy, and firmly hold the site to it.
- Own the formal performance management framework, including how underperformance is identified, documented and addressed
- 5. Continuous improvement
- Continuous improvement is a default operating habit of this role, not a project or an initiative
- Bring a lean methodology to daily operations: identify waste, standardise process, remove friction, on an ongoing basis
- Apply automation and AI where it genuinely improves accuracy or throughput 6. Despatch performance
- Single point of accountability for on-time-in-full dispatch performance to all members. The Distribution Manager owns the execution but you are accountable.
- 6. Despatch performance
- Single point of accountability for on-time-in-full dispatch performance to all members. The Distribution Manager owns the execution but you are accountable.
- 7. Team leadership
- Lead all Site functions; the Distribution Manager, the warehouse (Goods In/Bike Wash teams), and the Mechanic Teams.
- Set clear objectives for each line, reviewed monthly, and hold each accountable for delivery against the plan
- Build the structure needed under each line as the site scales, including supervisory layers where a team requires one. (i. e. Mechanic supervisor)
- Maintain and continuously improve the company's safety management systems in alignment with OHSAS
- Performance Metrics
- OTIF despatch performance, site wide
- Inventory accuracy and cycle count variance
- 100% fulfilment guarantee. (if a SKU is available and not on site it must be built within 24hrs)
- Build output against target, and build quality against standard
- Packaging and consumables stock cover, zero stockouts.
- Data reconciliation accuracy, build to despatch to inventory
- Peak plan delivery against forecast
- Continuous improvement initiatives delivered and their measured impact
Requirements Skills and Experience Essential
- Proven experience running a modern, multi-function warehouse or distribution site at scale
- Background in D2C logistics and industrial manufacturing
- Strong quantitative and analytical ability: comfortable building and interrogating models, not just reading dashboards
- Genuine continuous improvement or lean background, applied as a default way of working to black belt standard.
- AI native - Fluency and experience is a must
- Commercially and technically fluent, including confidence with Salesforce, WMS systems and warehouse automation
- Track record of building control environments: inventory accuracy, reporting integrity, performance frameworks, where none existed before
- Experience managing carrier relationships
- Strong people leadership through both line managers and direct floor management Desirable
- Experience in a circular economy or refurbishment-led operating model
- Experience building a WMS from scratch or its continuous evolution
- Peak season planning experience in a high SKU count, seasonal demand environment
Our Values
We look for people who live our values every day
Ease: we make things simple for our members and for each other.
Care: we look after our customers, our colleagues and our bikes.
Progress: we keep improving, learning and raising the bar.
Joy: we help kids fall in love with cycling, and enjoy the work we do.
Benefits
- We offer 26 days per year + bank holidays
- Pension salary sacrifice
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
- Employee Discount on our bikes and Cycle to Work Scheme
Why Bike Club?
You'll be joining a business with a clear purpose, a genuinely different proposition and significant opportunity to grow.
This is a rare opportunity to build the operating system for our national refurbishment and distribution site from the ground up, shaping how Bike Club gets the right bike to every family, right when they need it.
Head of Operations employer: JOIN
At Hermès, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that celebrates creativity and excellence. Our Cadogan Place store provides a unique opportunity for professional growth in the luxury retail sector, with a strong emphasis on client experience and relationship building. Employees benefit from a supportive environment that encourages innovation and personal development, making it a truly rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations
✨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 JOIN 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 JOIN!
✨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 JOIN 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 Head of Operations
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 JOIN:This is your chance to really connect with the team at JOIN. 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 JOIN
✨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 JOIN.
✨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 JOIN 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 JOIN. Show them you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also have a strategic mindset!