Warehouse Operations Manager in Wellingborough

This isn't a desk job. We're looking for a Warehouse Operations Manager who genuinely enjoys being on the warehouse floor. Someone who believes the best leaders don't manage from behind a laptop – they lead from the front, roll their sleeves up and earn the respect of their team. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing operation where you'll have the autonomy to make a real impact. It's a hands-on environment with a genuine start-up mentality, so you'll need to be comfortable wearing several hats, making decisions quickly and driving improvements every single day. If you enjoy building high-performing teams, creating structure where it's needed and taking ownership of an operation, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

Reporting into senior leadership, you'll take full responsibility for the day-to-day warehouse operation, leading two Shift Managers and a team of up to 100 colleagues. This is a highly visible leadership role. You'll spend the majority of your time on the warehouse floor, coaching your managers, supporting your teams, removing obstacles and ensuring the operation performs safely, efficiently and consistently. You'll be responsible for driving productivity, improving processes, developing your people and creating a culture where accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement become the norm.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading all warehouse operations across Goods In, Storage, Picking, Packing and Dispatch.
• Managing, coaching and developing two Shift Managers and up to 100 warehouse colleagues.
• Being a visible leader who spends time on the floor rather than behind a desk.
• Driving operational performance through strong leadership, coaching and accountability.
• Building a positive, high-performance culture where people are engaged and motivated.
• Monitoring KPIs including productivity, throughput, pick rates, accuracy, OTIF and labour efficiency.
• Taking ownership of labour planning, resource allocation and shift performance.
• Improving warehouse processes and identifying opportunities to increase efficiency.
• Maintaining high standards of health & safety, housekeeping and compliance.
• Working closely with planning, transport and customer service teams to ensure smooth operational flow.
• Taking ownership of operational challenges and implementing practical solutions quickly.

About You

We're far more interested in how you lead than the size of the warehouse you've managed. You'll be someone who naturally gains the respect of your team by being present, approachable and willing to get involved. You won't be afraid to challenge poor performance, but equally you'll enjoy coaching people to achieve more than they thought possible.

You probably have:

• Experience managing warehouse operations within a fast-paced distribution environment.
• Experience leading frontline managers as well as large operational teams.
• A hands‑on leadership style with a genuine passion for being on the warehouse floor.
• Strong commercial awareness, ideally with exposure to operational budgets or P&L.
• Experience driving productivity and continuous improvement initiatives.
• A solid understanding of warehouse KPIs, WMS systems and operational reporting.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to influence at all levels.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with the ability to thrive in a changing environment.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to shape an operation rather than simply maintain one. You’ll have the autonomy to make decisions, implement improvements and build a culture you’re proud of. If you enjoy working in an environment where no two days are the same, where your ideas are listened to and where you’ll genuinely make a difference, this could be the role for you. If you’re a hands‑on Operations Manager who loves leading from the front and wants to be part of an ambitious, growing business, we’d love to hear from you.