Operations Manager

DS Smith; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sustainable packaging company is looking for an Operations Manager at their Milton Keynes Distribution Centre. This role is pivotal in driving operational performance and continuous improvement. You will lead performance, ensure compliance, and foster a high-performing team culture. Candidates should have significant experience in distribution centers and knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems. Benefits include 25 days of holiday, a pension scheme, and employee assistance programs.

Benefits

25 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Income protection

Employee assistance program

Cycle to work scheme

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Proven track record in large distribution centre environment.
• 5+ years experience with Warehouse Management Systems.
• Strong team management abilities and development skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily performance across various operational metrics.
• Build and develop a high-performing team through coaching.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and success.

Skills

Operational leadership

WMS experience

Team management

Adaptability

Growth mindset

Job description

Acting as the deputy to the Distribution Centre Manager, you will represent the site with senior stakeholders, customers, and external partners. This role is pivotal in building a culture of safety, accountability, and high engagement while enabling sustainable growth.***Key Responsibilities: (included but not limited)*****Operational Leadership & Performance Delivery*** Lead daily performance across throughput, labour efficiency, stock accuracy, and service quality.* Translate business strategy into clear operational plans and measurable targets.* Drive cost optimisation through labour planning, process design, and lean methodology.* Ensure accurate reporting and data integrity within WMS and supporting systems.* Act as site lead when required, providing full operational governance.**Safety, Compliance & Risk Management*** Own the Health & Safety culture on site, ensuring safe systems of work and proactive risk control.* Govern statutory compliance and regulatory requirements for people, equipment, and environment.* Sponsor structured safety improvements through audits and corrective actions.**Customer Experience & Stakeholder Management*** Maintain strong relationships with customers and internal teams to ensure service alignment.* Lead resolution of service risks and escalations, implementing preventative measures.* Represent the site in divisional forums and with external partners.**People, Culture & Capability*** Build and develop a high-performing team through coaching, clear expectations, and recognition.* Drive succession planning, skills development, and talent retention.* Champion diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity across all employee groups.**Continuous Improvement & Change*** Lead transformation projects including process automation and WMS enhancements.* Drive measurable improvements in cost, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.* Benchmark performance to adopt best practices and innovation.**About You**We’re looking for someone with:* Experience in large distribution centre or 3PL environment with a proven track record of operational leadership.* Previous experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) – ideally 5 years.* Strong team management skills with the ability to build and develop high-performing teams.* Growth mindset – eager to learn, develop, and be part of a business that values progression.* Comfortable managing high-value contracts in a challenging, fast-paced environment.* Driven, energetic, and able to deliver under pressure.* Experience working in large sites handling high-volume accounts* Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and operational demands.* Ability to thrive in a highly competitive talent market.**Benefits**Additional benefits include:* 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays* Pension scheme* Life assurance* Income protection* Employee assistance program* Cycle to work scheme* Shopping discounts**Location**: Milton Keynes**Hours**: 37.5 hours per week – on siteWe’re DS Smith, the company who are redefining packaging for a changing world. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. Today, we operate in more than 30 different countries, supporting customers across sectors like FMCG, industrial, and e-commerce. We deliver on quality, service, innovation, and added value to deliver market-leading sustainable packaging solutions our customers need. Our industry needs to transform, and we’re building the team to drive change across Europe and North America***To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.******Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.******#LI-CE***We have an exciting opportunity for an **Operations** **Manager** to join our established Milton Keynes Distribution Centre in a **newly created leadership role****.** This position is critical to driving operational performance, service excellence, and continuous improvement across the site. You will own output, safety, cost, and capability development, ensuring the operation delivers against business commitments and customer expectations.We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products.We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 60,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation,manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!As the journey continues of bringing together the strengths of both organisations, during your candidate experience you may engage with our colleagues from International Paper! You could visit an International Paper or DS Smith site or office.