Digital Distribution Cell Leader

Digital Distribution Centre Cell Leader

Proactive Personnel are recruiting on behalf of a well-established business based in Telford.

We are seeking an experienced Digital Distribution Centre Cell Leader to lead and motivate a team within a semi-automated Distribution Centre.

The role is responsible for delivering safe, high-quality and efficient warehouse operations, driving continuous improvement, maximising the use of automation and technology, and supporting DMUK strategic goals across Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost (SQDC).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 30+ associates, including Team Leaders and agency/contract staff, ensuring safe, efficient and productive shift operations.
• Promote a Quality First / Right First Time (RFT) culture, ensuring accurate goods receipt, storage, picking and dispatch, with full stock integrity and traceability.
• Challenge non-conformance, implement corrective actions and ensure compliance with standardised work, DKM and audit requirements, supporting IATF/ISO audits.
• Lead a Safety-First culture, ensuring PPE, Health & Safety, environmental and DMUK procedures are followed, including ISO 14001/45001 requirements.
• Conduct H&S inspections, risk assessments and Safe Systems of Work, ensuring incidents are reported, investigated and appropriately actioned.
• Champion 5S, workplace organisation, cleanliness, Lean and Kaizen activity to improve safety, quality and efficiency.
• Manage daily Distribution Centre operations across goods-in, storage, picking and dispatch, ensuring customer and production requirements are achieved.
• Ensure Just-In-Time (JIT) parts delivery to production lines and monitor shift performance against KPIs, deadlines and service levels.
• Coordinate labour and resources to meet business demand, balancing operational requirements and cost, while managing agency/contract labour effectively.
• Ensure effective escalation of operational issues, shift handovers and communication, supporting NPI and operational changes.
• Support budget adherence, cost improvement and waste reduction initiatives while driving productivity and operational efficiency.
• Lead, coach and develop team members through engagement, performance management, appraisals, training needs analysis and development plans.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and retention, delivering effective shift briefings and developing a strong continuous improvement culture.
• Work closely with HR, Materials, Engineering and other cross-functional teams to achieve departmental and personal objectives.
• Take accountability for SQDC performance, including accuracy, productivity, service levels, incidents, errors, waste, engagement, development, audit and compliance standards.

Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience managing teams in a fast-paced operational/warehouse environment, with strong leadership and communication skills.
• Strong planning, analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-complexity environment.
• Experience with WMS/warehouse systems, stock control and KPI-driven operations.
• High level of numeracy and literacy, with good MS Office skills, particularly Excel and Power Point.
• Understanding of Health & Safety requirements within a warehouse or Distribution Centre.
• Experience delivering KPI targets and continuous improvement through Lean/Kaizen.
• Ability to motivate, engage and develop teams to achieve operational objectives.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within an automated or semi-automated warehouse/Distribution Centre.
• Knowledge of robotics, AGVs or AMRs/autonomous systems.
• Formal management qualification such as CMI or equivalent.
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent.
• FLT licences, including Counterbalance and/or Bendi.
• Experience within automotive manufacturing.
• Interested? Please call Taylor Butterfield on (phone number removed)