Warehouse Operations Leader

Job Title: Warehouse Operations Leader

Location: Leeds
Reports to: Operations Manager

JOB PURPOSE

Lead a high-hazard, highly automated warehouse aerosol operation where safety and service truly matter. As our Warehouse & Internal Logistics Leader, you’ll turn Run to Standard (R2S) into daily habits, protect people and product, and orchestrate a partner ecosystem (Mitie, DHL, Linde, Stobarts) to deliver flawless flow. If you’re energised by solving real problems on the floor, using data and digital technology to make work safer and simpler—and you want your leadership to be felt every shift—this is the role to make your mark.

Role Context

• Warehouse Cell Leader: owns conveyors, cranes and automation assets; governs the R2S technical processes for the cell and is accountable for equipment reliability.

• Warehouse & Internal Logistics Leader (this role): leads the people and ensures adherence to R2S (CILs, CL, Tag entry), setting and holding the standard every shift.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Team & Ways of Working: lead, coach and develop; standardise SOPs/visual standards across crews.

• R2S Support & Assurance: ensure CILs to standard; warehouse team participates in daily meetings; escalate via governance.

• Safety & Zero Harm: challenge unsafe behaviours; verify RA/PTW/LOTOTO; lead SEWO RCA and preventative actions.

• Purple Book (S507) Compliance: keep aerosol warehousing audit-ready; cage controls (EE-rated MHE, Ex-equipment) and aged-stock reviews.

• Global Standards & 3PL: embed G306-02; verify Warehouse MMR (S3014); support Transport MMR (S3008); align with UPA/CTC.

• Stock & Quality: inventory accuracy; manage aged/blocked/quarantine; traceability/recall readiness; QMS/GMP; QualityOne e-incidents (RCA/CAPA).

• Performance & Governance: achieve SQSC&P targets; turn KPI trends into actions; run effective daily/weekly tiers.

• Flow, Systems & Automation: assure accurate WMS transactions; remove constraints; keep AGVs/ASRS and data reliable with IT/OT (asset ownership sits with the Cell Leader).

• Third-Party Management: Mitie/DHL/Linde/Stobarts—SLAs, service reviews, inductions/RAMS/permits.

• BCP & Emergency: maintain warehouse BCP; participate in COMAH drills and learning reviews.

• AI & Digital Safety: pilot proximity/computer-vision/YMS/telematics solutions; embed in Purple Book/G306-02; track KPI impact.

ALL ABOUT YOU

What You’ll Bring (Essential)

• Safety-first, visible floor leader; confident on Upper Tier COMAH (RA/PTW/LOTOTO).

• R2S discipline: Ensure CIL routines and tier meeting cadence are maintained to uphold operational standards.

• WMS in automated environments (AGVs/ASRS) integrated to ERP; SAP familiarity.

• Data-driven with a track record of turning SQSC&P KPIs into sustained results.

• Strong communication and partner influence.

• Digital safety/quality tools (SEWO, Q-Kaizen/BuildApp) and RCA/CAPA leadership.

• Contractor management competence for safe, compliant, cost-effective delivery.

• Inventory control (counts, stocktakes, variance RCA, write-off prevention).

• Warehouse QMS/GMP and traceability.

• Demonstrates understanding of secure storage practices, zoning, and managing aged stock in a warehouse environment, with a willingness to learn and apply relevant industry standards.

• Uses digital safety data (YMS/telematics/proximity, CCTV analytics, SEWO trends) to close gaps.

Nice to Have (Preferred)

• NEBOSH General Certificate or IOSH Managing Safely

• Delivered R2S improvements (CIL/5S/loss elimination) with measurable impact.

• Led automation/flow optimisation (layout, MHE utilisation, system change).

• Experience in multi-shift/24×7 operations and governance stabilisation.

• Deeper SAP and WMS reporting.

• COMAH or highly audited environment exposure.

• Inventory integrity programmes (shrink reduction, master-data, PI governance).

• Quality exposure (ISO 9001/GMP, internal auditor); hosted customer/3PL audits.

• Purple Book audit familiarity; UPA/CTC safety/security exposure.

• Piloted AI/proximity/computer-vision safety solutions with KPI improvements.

How You’ll Lead (Personal Qualities)

• Excellent communicator; clear, confident and audience-aware.

• Structured, data-led problem solver; drives root cause and prevention.

• Collaborative and engaging; builds trust across cells and functions.

• Energising coach; develops others and role-models leadership standard work.

• Resilient under pressure; delivers without compromising safety or quality.

• Safety advocate; persistent about Zero Harm and standardisation.

• CI mindset; challenges the status quo through R2S.

• Digitally confident; uses WMS/SEWO/Power BI to tell the story and drive action.

• Commercially aware; manages partner performance, cost and compliance.

• Quality mindset; protects consumer safety, product quality and stock integrity.
  

NOTES

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, free gym, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, click here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

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