Despatch operations manager

With an increasing level of operational throughput across of distribution across sites, the despatch operations manager role is a significant business enabler to strengthen our position as a market leader, ensuring that we take full advantage of service innovations, flow of site outbound volume to support the future needs of our publishers and customers.

Responsible for leading a despatch operational team and coordinating with all levels of the business to ensure our product is packed and delivered to exacting and legal standards both domestically in the UK and internationally in full and on time to the customer.

The distribution centre and this role is responsible for maintaining the operational flow of outbound goods, loading of departing trailers to facilitate the daily requirements, it involves all aspects of despatch process management as well as a good understanding of multiple departmental knowledge, health and safety, security, and cross site functions.

The role will also require a strong working relationship with our publishing service team, parcel carrier partners and management of key stakeholders.

This role must demonstrate a strong methodical approach to the ways of working with proven skills, experience, expertise in leading a high performing team. Have proven experience of working within a despatch operational function that understands the importance of lead times and multiple customer specification management to ensure all product leaves the site within the required pull-out times of our carrier partners. Quality control to ensure delivery is made first time in full, with an understanding of international shipping requirements and document requirements.

Have experience in multiple warehouse interfaces with warehouse management systems ideally Blue Yonder (JDA) and voice picking applications. Understand targets, expectations and requirements for deliverables for all areas of the business. This role is a blend of team and site leadership, analytical mythology, and strong people management skills with great stakeholder communications, with great integration skills with other all management levels., With proven experience of leading large, multi-skilled teams within a warehouse and distribution environment, you will be able to demonstrate delivery of continuous improvements through maximising teams, systems, technology and equipment. Drawing on your knowledge of warehouse management, automation solutions and control systems, alongside proven strategic ownership of scale 3rd party relationships and stakeholder management, you will be a strong communicator, able to influence at all levels and bring people with you.

Your analytical skills will see you providing data led insights, combined with strong commercial and industry awareness to translate strategy to action. With great decision-making capabilities, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, you will be skilled at delivering through others and seek opportunities to coach and develop your team.

In a fast-moving operation, there are always times when you will need to pull up your sleeves and draw on your personal motivation and resilience to successfully overcome challenges, showing high levels of tenacity and judgement to solving problems. Your growth mindset and relationship driven approach (internally and externally) will support your enthusiasm for innovation as well as solutions focus and underpin a performance culture.

You will also have considerable understanding of environmentally sustainable packaging solutions, ideally ISO accredited in environmental and H&S in the workplace, with proven project management capability.

We, Hachette UK Distribution, are the leading book distribution company in the UK. We are one of the most advanced distribution centres in Europe, with leading-edge automation and modern systems which will ensure world-class service to customers and publisher clients. We ship in excess of 60 million books globally each year and supply one out of every four books to the UK trade.

Our mission is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment and opportunity.

Hachette UK Distribution is part of the Hachette UK publishing group., Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

£43,000 - £46,000, Our people are our greatest asset and our benefits reflect this. Therefore, we offer an extensive list of benefits that include:

• 33 days annual holiday including Bank Holidays


• Pension Plan and Life Assurance schemes


• Company enhanced family policy including maternity, paternity and shared parental


• Reward programme giving discounts, savings and cash back at numerous retailers


• 2 Community Days per year


• Cycle to Work scheme


• Eye care vouchers


• Generous discounts on books we publish


• Mental Health First Aiders / Champions and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)


• Wide-ranging training library


• Development Programmes including Mentoring


• Staff Events e.g. Burrito van, Pie van, Ice Cream van, Staff Party


• Many employee networks to join


• Free onsite parking


• Free tea and coffee


• Creating an environment of inclusion so everyone can be their true self #Ibelong #AndSoDoYou #OneTeam