At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and drive continuous improvement initiatives in a fast-paced fulfilment centre.
- Company: Join Pets at Home, a leading pet care business passionate about pets and their people.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, annual bonus, pension scheme, and colleague discounts.
- Other info: Great career development opportunities in a dynamic and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing productivity and creating a positive workplace culture.
- Qualifications: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and experience in continuous improvement roles required.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 72000 £ per year.
- Continuous Improvement Manager
- Stafford Fulfilment Centre
- Salary - £65,000 - £72,000 dependent on experience
- Hours – 39hrs per week, Mon-Fri office hours but flexibility required to support 24/7 site
Who are we?
We're Pets at Home, and we're passionate about pets and the people who love them.
Our Stafford Fulfilment Centre is at the heart of our operation, supplying products to stores, customers and veterinary practices across the UK.
With around 1,500 colleagues on site, it's a fast-paced, high-volume environment where continuous improvement plays a critical role in helping us deliver exceptional service whilst creating a great place to work.
We're now looking for a passionate and experienced
Continuous Improvement Manager to lead and embed our lean and continuous improvement culture across the site.
About the Role
As our Continuous Improvement Manager, you'll own and drive the Lean and Continuous Improvement agenda across the Stafford Fulfilment Centre.
This is a highly visible leadership role, responsible for developing a structured CI capability that delivers measurable improvements in productivity, cost, quality and colleague experience.
This is not a desk-based role.
You'll be highly visible across the operation, working closely with operational leaders and front-line colleagues to translate lean principles into practical, sustainable improvements that drive real business results.
You'll create and deliver the site's continuous improvement strategy and roadmap, ensuring improvement activity is aligned to key operational and business objectives.
Through coaching, challenge and collaboration, you'll help develop a culture where teams identify opportunities, solve problems and continuously improve the way we work.
Key Responsibilities
As Continuous Improvement Manager, you will
- Develop and own the site's Continuous Improvement strategy, ensuring alignment to key operational and business KPIs including productivity, cost per unit, quality and safety.
- Lead the deployment of Lean methodologies across the fulfilment centre, including Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kaizen and structured problem-solving techniques such as A3 and DMAIC.
- Identify, prioritise and deliver a pipeline of improvement initiatives, tracking and reporting measurable productivity and cost-saving benefits.
- Build continuous improvement capability across operational leadership teams through coaching, training and structured problem-solving routines.
- Lead and embed effective daily management disciplines, including tiered meetings and shift brief processes.
- Own site performance reporting and data analysis, using operational data to identify waste, bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.
- Benchmark site performance against internal and external best practice, bringing new ideas and proven methodologies into the operation.
- Partner with Operations, Engineering, Health & Safety and IT/WMS teams to develop and implement process, system and layout improvements.
- Support change management activities, ensuring colleague engagement remains at the heart of any operational change.
- Report progress, project benefits and future improvement opportunities to the Site Leadership Team and wider business stakeholders.
- Contribute to creating a positive, inclusive and engaging culture across the fulfilment centre.
- Support the development of highly engaged teams, helping drive colleague retention, attendance and engagement.
About You
We're looking for a passionate improvement professional who can combine strong technical Lean expertise with excellent leadership and influencing skills.
You'll have
Essential
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Level 7 Certificate in Managing Continuous Organisational Improvement, or Level 6/7 Improvement Leader qualification.
- Proven experience within a Continuous Improvement, Lean, Operational Excellence or Industrial Engineering role in a warehouse, logistics, distribution or manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrable experience applying Lean methodologies in operational environments, including 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Kaizen and Root Cause Analysis.
- A track record of delivering measurable productivity improvements and cost savings within high-volume operations.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to challenge and engage leaders at all levels.
- Experience coaching and developing operational leaders and front-line teams in structured problem-solving techniques.
- Strong analytical capability, with experience using operational data, KPI reporting and warehouse management system information to drive decision making.
- Full UK Driving Licence, with willingness to travel to Support Office and other sites as required.
Desirable
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt accreditation.
- Experience within retail distribution, e-commerce fulfilment or FMCG supply chain environments.
- Experience working in a unionised or employee representative environment.
- Exposure to warehouse automation, material handling equipment (MHE) and process redesign projects.
- What You'll Bring
- A passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Strong leadership skills and the ability to inspire change.
- Excellent coaching, communication and influencing skills.
- A collaborative and pragmatic approach to problem solving.
- The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on operational delivery.
What's in it for you?
As well as the opportunity to play a key role in driving the future success of one of the UK's leading pet care businesses, you'll enjoy a fantastic range of benefits including:
- Competitive salary
- Annual bonus opportunity
- Pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Colleague discount across Pets at Home, Vets for Pets and Groom Room
- Holiday allowance increasing with service
- Access to wellbeing support and colleague assistance programmes
- Excellent career development opportunities within a growing and evolving supply chain network
Pets just see people. We take our inspiration from pets.
At Pets at Home, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to be their authentic self.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.
If you're passionate about Lean, continuous improvement and developing high-performing teams, we'd love to hear from you.
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Continuous Improvement Manager in Creswell employer: Pets at Home
At Pets at Home, we are not just building a pet insurance business; we are creating a vibrant and innovative environment where your contributions truly matter. As a Senior Pricing Analyst, you will enjoy the unique opportunity to work with unparalleled data assets while being part of a passionate team dedicated to improving outcomes for pets and their owners. With a supportive culture that values diversity and encourages personal growth, this role offers a chance to make a significant impact in a dynamic start-up atmosphere backed by the stability of a leading brand.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Continuous Improvement Manager in Creswell
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Continuous Improvement Manager at Pets at Home!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Pets at Home or be willing to refer you for that Continuous Improvement Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Pets at Home who’s on the lookout for their next Continuous Improvement Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Continuous Improvement Manager role at Pets at Home!
We think you need these skills to ace Continuous Improvement Manager in Creswell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Pets at Home. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pets at Home
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
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Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Pets at Home. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
