Operational Innovations Director/Senior Manager

The UK Operations Director will assume full strategic and operational responsibility for the Company’s supply chain function, overseeing the end-to-end procurement and inventory management process across a complex, import-led product portfolio. Given that most of the company’s product range is sourced from Asian Manufacturing partners, the successful candidate must demonstrate extensive experience managing long lead time procurement cycles, typically spanning 12+ weeks and the commercial discipline required to balance forward-buying commitments against demand variability and working capital constraints.

The role carries direct line management responsibility for a small team of direct reports, and circa 100 indirect reports, comprising purchasing professionals and inventory control data specialists, with accountability for ensuring that stock availability targets, cover ratios, and replenishment schedules are consistently optimised. A strong analytical capability is essential, with the expectation that the UK Operations Director will drive data-led decision-making across inventory planning reducing excess and obsolete stock, improving stock turn, and delivering measurable improvements in working capital efficiency.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute the operational strategy aligned to business goals, growth plans, and customer service expectations.
• Use data, KPIs, and performance dashboards to drive improvements in productivity, inventory accuracy, fulfilment times, and cost-to-serve.
• Ensure operational scalability to support seasonal demand patterns, new product introductions, and business expansion.
• Oversee daily warehouse operations, including goods in, storage, pick/pack, dispatch, and returns.
• Ensure robust inventory management, stock accuracy, and root cause analysis of discrepancies.
• Manage relationships with key logistics partners, hauliers, and courier networks to maintain service levels.
• Act as the company’s senior Health & Safety lead and primary point of contact for compliance.
• Ensure full adherence to H&S legislation, regulations, and best practice across the warehouse, office, and field-based activities.
• Chair the Health & Safety Committee and maintain all risk assessments, method statements, and training plans.
• Lead emergency planning, first aid provision, fire safety processes, and safety audit programs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, empowerment, and high performance.
• Work closely with HR to support workforce planning, recruitment, succession, apprentices/trainees, and employee engagement.
• Own the operations budget, including labour, logistics, MHE, facilities, consumables, and utilities.
• Identify and deliver cost-saving initiatives without compromising service quality or safety.
• Support capital investment decisions, including warehouse equipment, systems, and facilities maintenance.
• Lead process improvement methodologies to increase throughput and reduce waste.
• Oversee operational compliance, including ISO standards (which the company is working towards), audits, and documentation.

Strong understanding of warehouse processes, inventory management, logistics, and fulfilment operations is required, along with excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, KPIs, and operational metrics. Experience in lighting, electrical wholesale, or related sectors is preferred, as well as NEBOSH General Certificate and ERP/WMS transformation or optimisation experience.

This is an excellent opportunity for a career-minded Operations professional looking to take ownership of a major operational function and play a key role in business growth and its transformation.