Operations Director - Warehouse & Distribution - Consumer Products

Our client is a well-established business operating in the Consumer Durables / Retail sector. It has a good record of profitability supplying a wide range of innovative and design led products to a wide variety of retail channels.  The company is planning significant growth in the next 3 – 5 years – based on investment in strengthening sales and marketing efforts and the development of a multi-channel approach. They are known for their high standards of customer service which is partly supported by their ability to pick small items in small order quantities.

The company aims to be an internationally dominant force and has recently moved into a newly commissioned, greenfield, operating hub. A “hands on” Operations Director is now required who will ensure the business benefits from a first-class warehouse and distribution function.

Reporting to the Managing Director, you must have experience of managing multi-site operations, be customer centric and have experience of process mapping and warehouse management system implementations. You must also have experience of transformation projects within a large distribution organisation and be a driven professional who can deliver large scale change.

Role Responsibilities

• Responsible for the operational management of the organisation delivering the Warehouse and Logistics strategy.
• Management of the day-to-day operation, delivery of cost reduction programs, project management of internal initiatives, leveraging technology to drive out efficiencies, challenging the status quo and getting the best out of our people.
• Ensuring the pick, pack and despatch operation works smoothly and in a customer centric manner.
• Drive rapid and consistent operational improvement to ensure on-time and on budget delivery, to the quality standards, to customer expectations and with the most effective use of resources.
• Work with the senior leaders on the strategic vision of the business engaging in the growth agenda driven organically, through the development of key brands, and strategic acquisitions.
• Maintain and develop external relationships with logistics providers, business advisors and other third parties.
• Develop and manage direct staff, guide larger multi-disciplinary teams outside of direct span of control to include risk management.

Candidate

• Mature, seasoned and proactive leader with demonstrated excellence in managing complex multi-site warehouse and distribution operations with the values of integrity and transparency.
• Experience gained in the Consumer Products or Retail sectors dealing with large SKU numbers is essential.
• Skilled knowledge and experience of international supply chains and warehousing operations abroad.
• Experience of change management and transformation projects within a large distribution organisation would be ideal.
• Sound knowledge of working with Sarbanes Oxley S404 and the ability to work in that context and requirement.
• Working knowledge of Warehouse Management systems (SAP or similar) and the ability to develop and adapt these tools.
• Experience of interpreting, analysing complex data sets, with ability to translate with ease into purposeful communications
• Demonstrable continuous improvement experience within a leadership role within a warehouse and distribution environment
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build strong business relationship with a diverse customer group
• Proven ability to communicate at all levels and with all parties across different cultures and countries.

Interested?  Please send your CV and salary details by email to gb@friisberg.com quoting reference 2011.