Job Description:

An established fresh produce distribution business in West London is seeking a Depot Manager to lead its Hayes operation, overseeing warehouse, transport, and team performance to deliver excellent service and efficiency. The role requires a hands-on operations leader with FMCG or logistics experience, strong people management skills, and the ability to drive safety, cost control, and continuous improvement.

Client Details

Our client is a well-established and growing distribution-led organisation operating within the fresh produce sector. With a strong reputation for quality, service, and operational excellence, the business is undergoing continued expansion and is seeking an experienced Depot Manager to lead its Hayes-based operation.

Description

As Depot Manager, you will take full ownership of the site's operational performance, ensuring efficient, compliant, and customer-focused delivery across warehousing, transport, and team leadership functions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading day-to-day depot operations, ensuring service levels, cost control, and productivity targets are consistently achieved
• Managing warehouse and transport teams, fostering a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement
• Overseeing stock management, inventory accuracy, and waste reduction within a fresh/temperature-controlled environment
• Driving health & safety compliance, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards
• Optimising fleet utilisation and route planning in coordination with logistics teams
• Managing budgets, P&L responsibility, and identifying cost-saving opportunities
• Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and customers
• Leading, coaching, and developing a team of supervisors and operatives to support succession planning

Profile

The ideal candidate will bring strong operational leadership experience from a fast-paced distribution or FMCG environment.

You will demonstrate:

• Proven operational or depot management experience, ideally in multi-drop logistics, food distribution or chilled supply chain
• Background in food, fresh produce, FMCG, or temperature-controlled logistics (highly desirable)
• Full UK driving licence (3.5 tonne van experience preferred)
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop large teams
• Solid understanding of transport and warehouse operations
• Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and KPIs
• Knowledge of health & safety and compliance regulations
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills
• A hands-on approach with the ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment

Job Offer

• Competitive base salary - £40k
• Performance-related bonus
• Pension and benefits package
• Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation
• The opportunity to play a key leadership role in a critical operational site

Logistics Distribution and Supply Chain