Salary: £29,700 - £38,550 per annum
Location: Whittlesford, near Duxford, UK
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time – 35 hours per week
Every exam sat anywhere in the world relies on a hidden operation of precision, trust and scale — and this role sits right at the centre of it. We are looking for a Distribution Manager to lead a high-performing distribution team in our Post Exams department. We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.
About the role
Have you ever thought about what happens once an exam paper is sat and completed by candidates across the globe? You might be surprised at how complex it is. At Group Print and Operations, each year we securely process over half a billion A4 sides of question papers. With our partners, we safely deliver them to millions of learns, in thousands of schools, spread over 170 different countries. Find out more about our distribution centres and what we do by watching our short video here.
This role sits at the heart of a complex, time‑critical Post Exams operation, ensuring materials are processed, distributed and delivered accurately and securely. Working across Group Print and Operations, you'll coordinate activity at scale while keeping quality, cost and service at the forefront.
You will lead a committed team in a warehouse and distribution environment, balancing day‑to‑day delivery with longer‑term planning. Strong collaboration with internal stakeholders and external suppliers will be key to resolving issues, improving service and maintaining operational confidence.
Alongside people leadership, the role plays an important part in shaping how the department operates—using data, insight and continuous improvement to strengthen performance, compliance and future planning.
You will be responsible for:
* Managing resources, equipment capacity and supplier relationships to support efficient delivery
* Using data, KPIs and reporting to monitor performance and inform decision‑making
* Supporting budgets, forecasts and operational planning through accurate insight
* Contributing expertise to projects, cross‑team working and wider operational improvements
* Risk management - develop and implement effective compliance policies and procedures.
* Health, Safety and Wellbeing - upholding a strong understanding of health, safety, and wellbeing.
About You
You will be flexible and passionate about the role we play, going above and beyond to get it right for learners, dedicated to upholding standards and open to views of our customers, partners and colleagues.
You will be confident with the ability to motivate and lead a team efficiently, along with being an energetic and enthusiastic team player who is able to effectively communicate to all members of staff as well as visitors.
You will have excellent time management skills with the ability to work under pressure, as well as good computer, numeracy, and literacy skills.
We have committed ourselves to a culture of continuous improvement and actively encourage new ideas and suggestions. We value what you can do, so we will recognise your contributions and often implement your ideas.
You will have an understanding of Health, Safety and Wellbeing and be able to strictly follow our procedures.
If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria:
* Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies
* Familiarity with risk management principles
* project management skills, with the ability to manage projects and priorities simultaneously
* Customer facing experience
For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.
We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, and disclose a disability or a long-term health condition, and best meet the minimum criteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable, we prioritise those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to the gov uk website for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.
Rewards and benefits
We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:
* 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
* Discretionary annual bonus
* Group personal pension scheme
* Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
* Green travel schemes
Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.
We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications will be 21 April 2026. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place week commencing 27 April 2026.
If you are shortlisted and progressed through the stages, you can expect:
* In person interview at our offices in Whittlesford.
If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.
We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. As such, applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter.
Why join us
Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.
We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.
Distribution Manager application closing date - 21st April 2026
Salary description
£29700.00 - £38550.00 per year