Outbound Operations Manager

As our new Outbound Operations Manager, you’ll play a key role in leading outbound operations and continuous improvement across our World Distribution Centre. Working closely with the Head of Logistics and wider Distribution Centres Management team, you’ll help deliver excellent service, strong productivity and a positive colleague experience for our customers and colleagues.

Providing day-to-day leadership and guidance to senior operational colleagues, you’ll use a customer lens to challenge performance, create consistent standards across the network and improve how work gets done. If you’re a practical and engaging operations leader who enjoys being close to the detail and helping people perform at their best, we’d love to hear from you. 

Some of your key responsibilities: 

• Lead and improve outbound operations across the distribution centre network, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient customer fulfilment, while supporting the overall leadership of the distribution centre alongside Inbound, Inventory Control, Transport and other distribution centre leaders. 

• Provide clear day-to-day guidance, challenge and support to senior operational leaders and their teams, encouraging teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement and high performance. 

• Use customer experience, service performance and operational data to identify priorities, monitor key performance indicators, produce meaningful reports and turn insight into practical action. 

• Develop and deliver continuous improvement and change projects, including process redesign, technology and systems improvement, to increase efficiency, productivity, quality and consistency. 

• Ensure standard operating procedures, risk assessments, operational controls and training are current, understood and consistently applied, supporting health, safety, environmental and quality compliance, including relevant ISO audits. 

• Manage resources and operational risks responsibly, contributing to budget planning and cost reduction while building strong relationships across Transport, Inventory Control, Quality Assurance, Systems, Branch Network and Customer Experience. 

What do I need to be successful in this role? 

You’ll be an experienced distribution centre or warehouse operations leader with a strong understanding of outbound fulfilment and the realities of running a high-volume operation. You’ll be comfortable balancing service, quality, safety, productivity and people priorities, moving confidently between strategic improvement work and day-to-day operational challenges. 

You are likely to bring: 

• Proven experience leading distribution centre, warehouse or fulfilment operations in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. 

• A track record of delivering continuous improvement and measurable productivity gains, with knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or other structured improvement methods. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to identify issues, make decisions and improve operational performance. 

• Experience leading projects, implementing change and embedding new processes, with a strong understanding of health and safety, operational risk, standard operating procedures and audit readiness. 

• Experience developing leaders, engaging teams and creating a culture of accountability, with clear communication skills and the confidence to influence colleagues across functions and levels. 

• Good commercial awareness, including resource planning, budget support and cost reduction. A relevant qualification in logistics, supply chain, operations, business or a related discipline would be beneficial, but substantial relevant experience will be valued equally. 

What's in it for me? 

• A competitive salary and benefits package. 

• The opportunity to make a visible impact across Cromwell’s logistics network and develop your leadership career. 

• Enhanced employer pension contribution. 

• 22 days annual leave entitlement plus Bank Holidays. We also offer the opportunity to purchase additional annual leave should you need a little extra time. 

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity pay to support you and your family during life’s important moments. 

• A company-funded Healthcare Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Cycle to Work, Company Sick Pay, employee discounts and discounted Cromwell products. 

Who are Cromwell? 

No matter where you are in your career – or where you want to be – we're here to create a great place to work where you can grow, perform and love what you do. At Cromwell, we're all individuals with unique backgrounds and personalities, but we have one thing in common: delivering exceptional service for our customers. And we do this through our purpose of Keeping Industry Working. 

About Cromwell

Cromwell has been around for over 50 years, supplying an unrivalled choice of cutting tools, power tools, hand tools and safety equipment into all industries, professions and trades. We offer next day delivery or collection from our nationwide branch network, supported by an overnight UK logistics operation. Our team of over 1500 people are proud to be keeping industry working.

We’re all individuals, yet we’re very much one united team. We treat everyone fairly – regardless of gender, sexual orientation, background, age or disability – and give everyone opportunities for new and varied experiences. Inclusion means not just accepting people for who they are, but showing respect and making adjustments to help people and remove all barriers; it’s about creating a culture where everyone is respected, empowered and able to realise their full potential.

Cromwell is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We are also committed to offering applicants from the armed forces community (current and past) an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. 

Information for Recruitment Agencies

We always prefer to recruit candidates direct to our business and first, and foremost believe in promoting talent from within whenever possible.

We do not accept speculative approaches including CVs and candidate profiles sent direct to Managers, by receipt of any such email or correspondence, we do not agree to terms and conditions. Any speculative CVs will be considered our own and we will not pay any agency fees. 

We have a PSL and those on this will have access to our portal to accept CVs. Should you want to be considered for our PSL, please email talentacquisition@cromwell.co.uk