Warehouse & Transport Operations
Salary: From £35,500 per annum, dependent on experience
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Hours: 3:00am until operations are complete—typically around 11:30am–12:00pm once fully trained
Working pattern: Alternating five and six-day weeks, Monday to Saturday
Location: Site-based
Take Ownership of a Fast-Moving Early Shift
A well-established and growing, family-owned food distribution business is looking for an experienced Early Shift Logistics Manager to lead its morning warehouse and transport operation.
This is a key leadership position with responsibility for ensuring that customer orders are picked, loaded and dispatched accurately and on time. You will lead a team of approximately 20 warehouse and transport colleagues, creating a positive, organised and productive working environment.
This is a hands-on role for a manager who enjoys being visible on the floor, supporting their team and leading by example. It is not a desk-based position.
Key Responsibilities
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Take ownership of the daily warehouse and transport operation during the early shift, ensuring customer orders are picked, loaded and dispatched accurately and on schedule.
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Lead, motivate and support a team of approximately 20 warehouse colleagues and drivers.
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Coordinate vehicle loading, delivery schedules and daily fleet activity, while planning staff rotas and allocating resources according to operational requirements.
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Monitor team performance, attendance, absence and productivity.
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Maintain clear communication between drivers, warehouse employees and senior management, providing practical support with order picking and vehicle loading when required.
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Identify and resolve operational issues quickly to prevent delays while maintaining consistently high standards of quality, customer service and operational efficiency.
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Ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety, transport and legal requirements.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and dependable operational leader who is comfortable managing people in a busy, time-sensitive environment.
You will need:
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At least five years’ management experience within transport, logistics, distribution or warehousing, together with previous hands-on warehouse and transport experience.
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Strong leadership skills and the ability to get the best from a team, with excellent organisation, prioritisation and problem-solving abilities.
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The confidence to make decisions and remain composed under pressure, with clear and professional communication skills.
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A proactive, adaptable and team-focused approach.
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A full UK driving licence and the flexibility to work early mornings and remain until the day’s operation is complete.
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The physical fitness to work on your feet and safely lift items weighing up to 25kg. A forklift truck licence would be advantageous but is not essential.
What’s on Offer?
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Salary from £35,500, with flexibility depending on experience and suitability, together with permanent, full-time employment.
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28 days’ annual leave and a structured, alternating five and six-day working pattern.
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Early finishes—normally around late morning or midday once fully trained.
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Employee discount and free on-site parking, together with a significant leadership role within an established and growing business and the opportunity to influence standards, team performance and the day-to-day operation.
Important Information
The shift begins at 3:00am and finishes when the day’s operational requirements have been completed. Although the usual finish time is approximately 11:30am–12:00pm once fully trained, this cannot always be guaranteed due to the nature of logistics and distribution.
This is a genuinely hands-on management role involving order picking, vehicle loading, prolonged periods on your feet and lifting items weighing up to 25kg. Applicants must be comfortable working alongside the team and providing practical support whenever required.
If you are an experienced warehouse or transport leader who takes pride in running an efficient operation and leading from the front, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Job types: Full-time, permanent
Salary: From £35,500 per annum
Work location: On-site
Salary description
£35500.00 - £38000.00 per year