Operations Manager
OPERATIONS MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION
ABOUT CITY HARVEST
City Harvest is London’s original food redistribution charity on a mission to rescue food, people, and the planet! Our HQ is in Acton Central, with satellite food rescue sites in east and south London. Our mission is to alleviate food poverty across the capital and reduce industry food waste and its harmful effects on the planet. We currently rescue and deliver enough free food for over 1\.2 million meals a month to London communities. Our work environment is dynamic and exciting. We operate from a modern office, attached to our food rescue warehouse where all the action happens. We provide a supportive working environment, and opportunities to grow and learn while making a real difference.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Operations Manager leads a safe, efficient, and high\-performing warehouse operation that enables the redistribution of surplus food. This pivotal role drives a shift from reactive, day\-to\-day working to a proactive, planned and data\-led operation. You will strengthen operational discipline, improve stock accuracy, reduce waste and maintain high standards of food safety and compliance.
The role spans two sites, our main warehouse in Acton, as well as a smaller site at New Covent Garden Market, and is key to establishing consistent, scalable operational practices.
Reporting to the Operations Director (Food \& Warehouse), four Supply Chain General Managers will report directly to you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Warehouse \& Operational Leadership
- Lead the day\-to\-day warehouse operation in Acton, with operational oversight of our satellite site at New Covent Garden Market.
- Set clear expectations and standards so the operations are well planned, prepared and controlled, rather than reactive.
- Implement and maintain stronger ways of working following the Acton warehouse refurbishment, ensuring the operation is set up day one for day two: right food, right people, right time.
- Ensure picking and sorting processes are structured, efficient and aligned to daily and next\-day redistribution priorities.
- Provide leadership and direction to Supply Chain General Managers to ensure consistent performance across operating hours.
- Ensure compliance with food safety standards and best practices (including HACCP).
- Maintain high standards of health and safety across our sites, including risk assessments and incident reporting.
- Ensure site equipment and facilities are maintained and used safely.
- Lead improvements in the accuracy, consistency and timeliness of inbound and outbound stock recording across both sites.
- Ensure systems and processes are followed correctly to provide reliable data.
- Use data proactively to plan resource, space and redistribution activity, anticipating pressure points before they arise.
- Maintain accountability for stock control and data quality.
- Take ownership of reducing food waste through better planning, forecasting and operational control.
- Monitor waste levels proactively, identifying root causes and preventative actions.
- Lead the introduction of new recycling and waste\-stream initiatives to comply with Government legislation.
- Work closely with the Food Team to understand inbound stock volumes, product types and availability, supporting effective planning and prioritisation.
- Collaborate with the Volunteering Team to understand both daily and weekly volunteer capacity, ensuring resource is aligned to operational need.
- Work closely with the Logistics Team to ensure the right food is ready to be loaded efficiently and quickly.
- Act as a key link between teams to ensure information flows clearly and decisions are made proactively rather than at the last minute.
- Work collaboratively with other food redistribution charities across the UK to maximise overall impact, coordinating the acceptance of stock and offering of overflow to partners where required.
- Line manage four Supply Chain General Managers, supporting them to lead confident, well\-organised teams.
- Ensure comprehensive training for staff particularly around warehouse processes and equipment as well as food safety, planning and health and safety.
- Promote a positive, inclusive and accountable working culture aligned with the charity’s values.
- Work closely with the Operations Director (Food \& Warehouse) to plan capacity, staffing and operational priorities across sites.
- Provide regular, clear reporting on performance, stock movement, waste and compliance.
- Lead continuous improvement activity and support the delivery of operational change and new initiatives.
You will ideally have experience leading warehouse or operational environments, including managing managers or supervisors. You can communicate effectively both internally and externally and work collaboratively with teams across food, volunteering, logistics, and external partners. You are comfortable operating in a fast\-moving, agile environment and can respond effectively at short notice.
A self\-starter, you show initiative and make confident decisions to achieve positive outcomes for the charity. You are organised, solutions\-focused, and motivated by the mission of reducing food waste and supporting communities.
DESIRED SKILLS \& EXPERIENCE
- 5\+ years’ experience in an operations management role, ideally involving food and drink.
- Proven experience leading managers or supervisors.
- Strong understanding of stock control, operational data and forward planning.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build healthy work relationships.
- Ability to cope with high work volumes and perform well under pressure.
- Problem\-solving skills and positive, proactive "can\-do" attitude.
- Technological proficiency in relevant software – e.g. proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Google products.
- Job Type: Full\-time, permanent, Monday to Friday
- Hours of Work: 9am – 5pm (with a 30\-minute unpaid lunch break) but occasional early starts, late finishes or weekend attendance may be required.
- Place of Work: Unit 8, Acton Park Industrial Estate, London, W3 7QE but will require regular travel to, for example, New Covent Garden Market, Nine Elms, London SW8 5NJ.
*We adhere to the Equality Act 2010 and our policy is to be fair and consistent in all aspects of our organisation. Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to select candidates based on their abilities and merits to perform the tasks required. All applications received will be dealt with confidentially and subject to our company's recruitment and selection processes. Employment is subject to satisfactory pre\-employment checks and eligibility to live and work in the UK.*
- *At City Harvest London, we embrace equality as part of our ways of working because we believe it is the right thing to do for our people, our community, and our success. We do not discriminate in employment based on race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, marital status, medical history, parental status, or genetic information.*
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- Health \& wellbeing programme
- On\-site parking
- Pay rise
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
- Operations management: 1 year (required)
- United Kingdom (required)
- 25% (preferred)
This listing is from Indeed. View original listing ↗