Section Manager - Outbound & Returns in Derby

Shift Pattern – 4 on 4 off | 10am to 10pm | Across 7 days

About us. We’re the team behind digital retailer Very. Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do. And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you’re high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you’ll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go.

If you love making a difference, you’ll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers.

About the role. This is a big, fast-moving role at the heart of our fulfilment operation. As a Section Manager, you will lead large operational teams across Outbound and Returns, keeping our customers front of mind while hitting performance, safety and quality targets. You will own your area end to end. That means creating an environment where people feel supported, processes work smoothly, and performance keeps improving shift after shift. You will also be a key cultural ambassador for The Very Group, setting the tone, role modelling our values and building strong, open relationships across the site.

What you will be doing:

• Lead large operational teams to deliver and exceed site KPIs
• Work closely with your Operations Managers to create and deliver improvement plans across all shifts
• Identify, plan and implement operational and process improvements, engaging stakeholders every step of the way
• Set clear departmental targets that drive productivity, quality and process adherence
• Maintain a strong understanding of the end to end fulfilment process and how your area fits into the bigger picture
• Develop a flexible, multi skilled team by actively managing and growing the skills base
• Optimise storage, conveyor usage and resource deployment to maximise productivity
• Drive effective cross functional working to deliver overall site performance
• Ensure stock accuracy through robust process management and strong operational discipline
• Keep Health and Safety front of mind, participating in SOP and risk assessment reviews
• Act as a subject matter expert in your area while understanding wider site operations
• Champion open, two-way communication in a performance driven environment

About you. This role suits a confident, resilient leader who thrives in a fast paced, automated environment and genuinely enjoys developing people. You will bring:

• Proven experience leading large teams in a fulfilment or manufacturing environment
• A strong track record of delivering departmental and site KPIs
• Experience coaching, developing and engaging teams, with teamwork as the norm
• A passion for colleague engagement and creating inclusive, high performing cultures
• Deep operational knowledge within an automated fulfilment centre
• A clear understanding of end-to-end fulfilment processes
• Confidence deputising for senior leaders when required
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence at all levels
• Experience using Continuous Improvement tools to drive results
• A data led mindset, with commercial awareness in decision making
• The ability to delegate effectively and develop future talent
• A flexible, proactive approach with a genuine desire to exceed targets
• The resilience to handle challenges, especially in a growing or start up environment

Some of our benefits:

• Inclusive culture and environment
• 22 days holiday + bank holidays
• LinkedIn learning access
• Bonus potential (performance and business-related)
• Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
• Matched pension up to 6%

How to apply: Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.

What happens next? Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely. You can expect a two-stage interview process for this position:

• 1st stage - An informal 30-minute video call with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience.
• 2nd Stage – A one-hour formal on-site interview where you can expect both competency and technical questions.

As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities: We’re building a culture of everyday inclusion, and welcome applications from anyone who believes they can do the job. We don’t discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply, interview, or perform a role, let us know via talentacquisition@theverygroup.com. We’ll be happy to support you.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have nine brilliant colleague networks - including DAWN (Disability Awareness at Very) and Think (Neurodiversity at Very) - that are helping us make Very an even more inclusive place to work.