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- Tasks: Lead operational excellence initiatives to enhance efficiency and drive sustainable improvements.
- Company: Join the UK's largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, health cash plan, and training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming operations and mentoring future leaders.
- Qualifications: Extensive OE experience, leadership skills, and expertise in Lean and Six Sigma.
- Other info: Flexible travel required; dynamic role with significant career growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 £ per year.
£65,000 to £75,000 per annum plus £5,688 per annum car allowance, bonus and benefits. Field based - visiting SN operations across England and Wales.
Our reputation as the UK’s largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler speaks for itself. Every day, we serve more than 22,000 customers from 34 distribution centres across the country. Behind every nightly miracle is a team of dedicated people carrying out more roles than you realise – we’re the unseen force that delivers. So when we say we’re excited for what the future holds for our customers and colleagues, you can trust we’re as good as our word.
The Head of Operational Excellence for Smiths News is accountable for designing and driving the OE architecture and methodology across the business, leading the transformational journey towards sustainable operational excellence. The outputs are to improve efficiency, remove waste, increase capacity and value to our customers. Reporting to the Director of Strategy and Change and leading all central OE resources and activities whilst coaching and advising all leaders across the business in the adoption of OE principles, tools, skills, methods and approaches to driving consistency and sustainable operational improvement.
Bringing new resources, materials, thinking and approaches to SN to help with the OE objectives supported by coaching and development to drive the OE capability across the business.
About the role
- Driving the OE principles, focusing on the initial prioritised 6 (Committed Leadership, Right First Time, Standardisation, Visual Management, Go, See, Do & Customer).
- Designing OE activities and interventions to improve operational performance and enhance colleague capability in the use of ‘Think Work Behave’ model and supporting tools and techniques.
- Responsible for the quality of OE design, supporting establishment of standard training materials, templates and the governance framework.
- Identifying scale opportunity and applying OE to support interventions to deliver measurable business benefit.
- Preparing reports and materials to support the understanding, approach, outcomes, recommendations of all centrally led OE activity.
- Acting as mentor and coach to key leaders within the business who are developing their OE competencies.
- Being subject matter expert to the organisation on operational excellence.
Flexibility and Travel
Requires ability and willingness to work at any SN operating location as required, and flexibility to travel as the role requires. On occasion requires working early hours to review, support night operations (e.g. 02:00 – 10:00).
What we can offer you
- Not only do we offer free onsite parking, 4x salary life assurance and 5% match pension but you’ll also have access to:
- £5,688 per annum car allowance.
- Company bonus.
- Company funded Health Cash Plan – providing cash back for everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy.
- 24/7 E-Learning modules, Training and Development opportunities.
- Sharesave Scheme, Cycle to work schemes, Health cash plan.
- Private medical insurance.
About you
- Extensive experience in implementing OE across a range of sectors and functions.
- Ability to lead operational interventions, working with site teams to test, trial and implement process efficiency changes.
- Experience with implementing and leading OE in non-operational / transactional areas.
- Extensive experience in designing and leading focused improvement events resulting in validated step change in efficiency, key performance indicators and enhancing colleague knowledge and capability.
- Expertise in material flow design and layout optimisation.
- Highly skilled in influencing stakeholders and effectively engaging with all levels of business.
- Certification in Lean, 6 Sigma, CI preferred.
- Experience of leading and inspiring and knowledge transfer.
Please note: you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.
A career with us is a career filled with people, pride, and passion. We rely on each other to get the job done, and we deliver what we say we will. Let’s see if we can rely on you, too. Apply now.
Head of Operational Excellence employer: Smiths News plc
Contact Detail:
Smiths News plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operational Excellence
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operational excellence initiatives. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your past successes in operational excellence to the table. Use metrics and results to demonstrate how you've made a difference in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operational Excellence
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Operational Excellence role. Highlight your experience in implementing OE principles and any relevant certifications you have.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about operational excellence. Share specific examples of how you've driven efficiency and improved processes in previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves mentoring and coaching, be sure to include examples of how you've led teams or influenced stakeholders in your past positions. We want to see your leadership style!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Smiths News plc
✨Know Your OE Principles
Make sure you’re well-versed in the six prioritised OE principles: Committed Leadership, Right First Time, Standardisation, Visual Management, Go, See, Do & Customer. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in your previous roles and how they can be tailored to fit the needs of Smiths News.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past where you’ve successfully implemented operational excellence initiatives. Highlight measurable outcomes, such as efficiency improvements or enhanced colleague capabilities, to demonstrate your impact.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since influencing stakeholders is key for this role, think about how you’ve engaged with different levels of a business in the past. Be prepared to share strategies you’ve used to gain buy-in for OE initiatives and how you’ve navigated challenges.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the company’s current OE practices and future goals. This not only demonstrates your enthusiasm but also gives you valuable insights into how you can contribute to their operational excellence journey.
