Head of Nights Job at Didcot, UK Full Time

Who we are and what we do

We, Hachette UK Distribution, are the leading book distribution company in the UK.   We are one of the most advanced distribution centres in Europe, with leading-edge automation and modern systems which will ensure world-class service to customers and publisher clients. We ship in excess of 60 million books globally each year and supply one out of every four books to the UK trade.

Our mission is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment and opportunity.

Hachette UK Distribution is part of the Hachette UK publishing group.

What you’ll be doing

With an increasing level of operational throughput across of distribution across sites, this role is a significant business enabler to strengthen our position as a market leader, ensuring that we take full advantage of service innovations, flow of site outbound volume to support the future needs of our publishers and customers. Acting as the business lead in site operations operating on a 24/5 operation, the role will require an Head of Night operations to lead and deliver the business requirements to fulfil the needs of our clients. Responsible for leading a complete operational team whilst overseeing multiple all areas of flow for all outbound volume despatches and overall responsibility of the site through the night. The distribution centre and this role is responsible for maintaining the operational flow and loading of departing trailers to facilitate the daily requirements and needs to maintain the outbound volume, it involves all aspects of distribution centre management in terms of multiple departmental knowledge, health and safety, security, and cross site functions. This position requires comprehensive expertise across all aspects of distribution centre management, including cross-functional operations, health and safety, security, and inter-site collaboration. The Head of Nights Operations will maintain strong, effective working relationships with operational leadership teams, Security, and key internal and external stakeholders, including strategic supplier partners.

Who we are looking for

With proven experience of leading large, multi-skilled teams within a warehouse and distribution environment, you will be able to demonstrate delivery of continuous improvements through maximising teams, systems, technology and equipment. Drawing on your knowledge of warehouse management, automation solutions and control systems, alongside proven strategic ownership of scale 3rd party relationships and stakeholder management, you will be a strong communicator, able to influence at all levels and bring people with you. Your analytical skills will see you providing data led insights, combined with strong commercial and industry awareness to translate strategy to action. With great decision-making capabilities, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, you will be skilled at delivering through others and seek opportunities to coach and develop your team. In a fast-moving operation, there are always times when you will need to pull up your sleeves and draw on your personal motivation and resilience to successfully overcome challenges, showing high levels of tenacity and judgement to solving problems. Your growth mindset and relationship driven approach (internally and externally) will support your enthusiasm for innovation as well as solutions focus and underpin a performance culture. You will also have considerable understanding of environmentally sustainable packaging solutions, ideally ISO accredited in environmental and H&S in the workplace, with proven project management capability.

What we offer

Our people are our greatest asset and our benefits reflect this. Therefore, we offer an extensive list of benefits that include:

• 35 days annual holiday including Bank Holidays
• Pension Plan and Life Assurance schemes
• Company enhanced family policy including maternity, paternity and shared parental
• Reward programme giving discounts, savings and cash back at numerous retailers
• 2 Community Days per year
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Generous discounts on books we publish
• Mental Health First Aiders / Champions and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development Programmes including Mentoring
• Staff Events 
• Many employee networks to join
• Free onsite parking
• Free tea and coffee

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities.  We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend your interview, please let us know.

We will notify all candidates of the outcome of their application.