Opertions Manager in Armagh

The Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and controlled execution of all operational activities within SDG, including warehouse operations, goods-in, stock handling, light manufacturing, and customer delivery. The role ensures that materials flow effectively from receipt (post-procurement) through to production and final delivery, maintaining high service levels while optimising cost, efficiency, and working capital performance. The Operations Manager owns health & safety, operational compliance, and transport management (including drivers), ensuring all activities are carried out safely, legally, and in line with company standards. This role is accountable not just for execution, but for driving productivity, controlling cost, and continuously improving operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership & Performance
  • Lead the operations function across warehouse, manufacturing, and transport (drivers).
  • Establish clear structure, accountability, and performance standards.
  • Deliver consistent performance across: On-time delivery, Order accuracy, Production output vs plan.
  • Ensure operations supports sales growth and customer delivery commitments.
  • Create a disciplined, high-accountability culture focused on results.
• Goods Inwards & Internal Handover
  • Own the goods-in process from receipt through to storage.
  • Ensure all goods are checked, receipted, and stored correctly.
  • Maintain tight coordination with Procurement to ensure no delays in handover and immediate issue escalation.
  • Eliminate inefficiencies in goods handling and storage processes.
• Warehouse Management & Stock Control
  • Own all warehouse operations: Storage, handling, picking, internal movements.
  • Ensure high stock accuracy, efficient warehouse layout, and minimal handling and waste.
  • Drive productivity through measured output (e.g. picks per hour), reduced double handling, and efficient space utilisation.
  • Conduct Daily/weekly cycle counts and resolve discrepancies quickly.
• Manufacturing
  • Own the planning, coordination, and output performance of manufacturing.
  • Ensure production is planned in advance, properly resourced, and delivered on time.
  • Actively manage output vs plan, labour utilisation, material usage, and waste.
  • Identify and eliminate bottlenecks, downtime, and inefficiencies.
  • Drive improvements in throughput, cost per unit, and productivity.
• Customer Fulfilment, Dispatch & Transport Management
  • Own end-to-end order fulfilment and delivery execution.
  • Manage dispatch operations, delivery scheduling, and route planning and optimisation.
  • Directly manage drivers, ensuring clear daily plans, high productivity, and strong customer service standards.
  • Continuously improve delivery efficiency, route utilisation, and cost per delivery.
  • Ensure all deliveries are on time, in full, and delivered professionally.
• Slow-Moving & Excess Stock (Execution)
  • Support Procurement in reducing slow-moving and excess stock.
  • Ensure clear identification and segregation, and efficient handling and storage.
  • Minimise stock damage and unnecessary movement.
  • Support clearance, reallocation, and disposal activity.
• Health, Safety & Operational Compliance
  • Own and lead health & safety and compliance across warehouse, manufacturing, and transport.
  • Ensure full compliance with legal requirements and company procedures.
  • Maintain a proactive safety culture through risk assessments, audits, training, and incident management.
  • Ensure driver compliance with vehicle checks, legal regulations, and safe practices.
• Operational Efficiency & Cost Control
  • Own and drive efficiency and cost performance across operations.
  • Actively manage labour productivity, transport costs (fuel, routing, overtime), warehouse efficiency, and manufacturing cost per unit.
  • Measure and improve output per labour hour, deliveries per driver, cost per order/delivery, and production efficiency.
  • Identify and eliminate inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement and cost reduction initiatives.
  • Work with Finance to track costs and deliver savings.
• Systems, Process & Continuous Improvement
  • Ensure all operational activities are accurately recorded in systems.
  • Improve data quality and process efficiency.
  • Lead improvements in warehouse flow, production processes, and dispatch systems.
• Cross-Functional Alignment
  • Work closely with Procurement (materials & inbound flow), Sales (priorities and delivery expectations), and Finance (cost and stock control).
  • Ensure operations supports overall business performance and profitability.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead warehouse, manufacturing, and driver teams in line with the company values.
  • Set clear expectations and performance metrics through weekly L10 meetings.
  • Drive accountability and ownership.
  • Ensure teams are trained, engaged, and productive, and manage and review their roles quarterly.
• Governance & Communication
  • Participate in daily and weekly operational reviews.
  • Provide clear reporting on performance, risks, cost, and efficiency.
  • Escalate issues proactively with solutions.
• Decision Authority
  • Own operational processes and performance, warehouse, manufacturing, and transport execution, labour utilisation and workflow, and health & safety implementation.
  • Escalate capacity constraints, major service or safety risks, significant cost issues, and customer satisfaction decline.
• KPIs
  • Operational Performance: On-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery, order accuracy, dispatch lead times.
  • Efficiency & Cost Control: Cost per delivery/order, labour productivity (warehouse & production), transport cost vs budget, production cost per unit, overtime levels.
  • Warehouse & Stock: Stock accuracy, stock loss/damage, cycle count compliance.
  • Manufacturing: Output vs plan, on-time completion, waste levels.
  • Transport: Delivery performance, driver productivity, route efficiency.
  • Safety & Compliance: Incident rates, audit performance, compliance adherence.

What Good Looks Like (Success Profile)

Operations run in a controlled, predictable manner with no surprises. Customer deliveries are reliable, on time, and accurate. Warehouse, manufacturing, and transport operate with clear productivity and efficiency standards. Costs are actively managed and continuously reduced. Drivers are productive, routes are optimised, and delivery performance is strong. Manufacturing consistently delivers against plan with minimal waste. Stock is well managed, visible, and accurately handled. Health & safety is embedded — not reactive. Issues are identified early, owned, and resolved quickly. The operations team is accountable, structured, and high-performing. Operations is seen as a competitive advantage, not a constraint.